Short story where a box contains a miniature version of the Earth

I read this in the early 80's but it could have been written in the 50's or 60's. A man (boy?) finds a small box, peers into it and sees a miniature version of the earth. Curious, he peers into it again and again, until maybe the third or fourth time he feels something sting his eye painfully, after which he throws the box down and stomps on it. A few days later, an enormous disembodied eye appears in the sky...does anyone recognize this?

Answer

The story is the "The IFTH of OOFTH" by Walter Tevis, originally published in 1957 in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine.

“George,” he said, “there is something in there.” His voice now was very steady and yet strange.

“What?” I asked. What else do you say?

“A little ball,” he said. “A little round ball. Quite misted over, but nonetheless a ball.”

Shortly afterwards the protagonist gets shot in the eye and goes on a rampage with a red hot poker...

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You can read a full version of the story here

Comments

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