madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第16节
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fancying the end of the world was come。 But a learned man who was
there； finding that； though the sun was risen； it was still pitchy dark；
opened his window； and found that it was stuck fast by something on the
ledge outside； and； when he thrust it open； found the ledge covered deep in
soft red dust； and he instantly said； like a wise man as he was； 〃The
volcano of St。 Vincent must have broken out； and these are the ashes from
it。〃 Then he ran down stairs and quieted the poor negroes； telling them
not to be afraid； for the end of the world was not coming just yet。 But
still the dust went on falling till the whole island； I am told； was covered
an inch thick； and the same thing happened in the other islands round。
People thoughtand they had reason to think from what had often
happened elsewherethat though the dust might hurt the crops for that
year； it would make them richer in years to come； because it would act as
manure upon the soil； and so it did after a few years； but it did terrible
damage at the time； breaking off the boughs of trees and covering up the
crops； and in St。 Vincent itself whole estates were ruined。 It was a
frightful day； but I know well that behind that How there was a Why for its
happening； and happening too； about that very time； which all who know
the history of negro slavery in the West Indies can guess for themselves；
and confess； I hope； that in this case； as in all others； when Lady Why
seems most severe she is often most just and kind。
Ah！ my dear child； that I could go on talking to you of this for hours
and days！ But I have time now only to teach you the alphabet of these
mattersand； indeed； I know little more than the alphabet myself； but if
the very letters of Madam How's book； and the mere A； B； AB； of it；
which I am trying to teach you； are so wonderful and so beautiful； what
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must its sentences be and its chapters？ And what must the whole book be
like？ But that last none can read save He who wrote it before the worlds
were made。
But now I see you want to ask a question。 Let us have it out。 I
would sooner answer one question of yours than tell you ten things
without your asking。
Is there potash and magnesia and silicates in the soil here？ And if
there is； where did they come from？ For there are no volcanos in
England。
Yes。 There are such things in the soil； and little enough of them； as
the farmers here know too well。 For we here； in Windsor Forest； are on
the very poorest and almost the newest soil in England； and when Madam
How had used up all her good materials in making the rest of the island；
she carted away her dry rubbish and shot it down here for us to make the
best of； and I do not think that we and our forefathers have done so very ill
with it。 But where the rich part； or staple； of our soils came from first it
would be very difficult to say； so often has Madam How made； and
unmade； and re…made England； and sifted her materials afresh every time。
But if you go to the Lowlands of Scotland； you may soon see where the
staple of the soil came from there； and that I was right in saying that there
were atoms of lava in every Scotch boy's broth。 Not that there were ever
（as far as I know） volcanos in Scotland or in England。 Madam How has
more than one string to her bow； or two strings either； so when she pours
out her lavas； she does not always pour them out in the open air。
Sometimes she pours them out at the bottom of the sea； as she did in the
north of Ireland and the south…west of Scotland； when she made the
Giant's Causeway； and Fingal's Cave in Staffa too； at the bottom of the old
chalk ocean； ages and ages since。 Sometimes she squirts them out
between the layers of rock； or into cracks which the earthquakes have
made； in what are called trap dykes； of which there are plenty to be seen in
Scotland； and in Wales likewise。 And then she lifts the earth up from the
bottom of the sea； and sets the rain to wash away all the soft rocks； till the
hard lava stands out in great hills upon the surface of the ground。 Then
the rain begins eating away those lava…hills likewise； and manuring the
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earth with them； and wherever those lava…hills stand up； whether great or
small； there is pretty sure to be rich land around them。 If you look at the
Geological Map of England and Ireland； and the red spots upon it； which
will show you where those old lavas are； you will see how much of them
there is in England； at the Lizard Point in Cornwall； and how much more
in Scotland and the north of Ireland。 In South Devon； in Shropshire… …
with its beautiful Wrekin； and Caradoc； and Lawleyin Wales； round
Snowdon （where some of the soil is very rich）； and； above all； in the
Lowlands of Scotland； you see these red marks； showing the old lavas；
which are always fertile； except the poor old granite； which is of little use
save to cut into building stone； because it is too full of quartzthat is； flint。
Think of this the next time you go through Scotland in the railway；
especially when you get near Edinburgh。 As you run through the
Lothians； with their noble crops of corn； and roots； and grassesand their
great homesteads； each with its engine chimney； which makes steam do
the work of menyou will see rising out of the plain； hills of dark rock；
sometimes in single knobs； like Berwick Law or Stirling Cragsometimes
in noble ranges； like Arthur's Seat； or the Sidlaws； or the Ochils。 Think
what these black bare lumps of whinstone are； and what they do。
Remember they are minesnot gold mines； but something richer still
food mines； which Madam How thrust into the inside of the earth； ages
and ages since； as molten lava rock； and then cooled them and lifted them
up； and pared them away with her ice…plough and her rain…spade； and
spread the stuff of them over the wide carses round； to make in that bleak
northern climate； which once carried nothing but fir…trees and heather； a
soil fit to feed a great people； to cultivate in them industry； and science；
and valiant self…dependence and self…help； and to gather round the Heart of
Midlothian and the Castle Rock of Edinburgh the stoutest and the ablest
little nation which Lady Why has made since she made the Greeks who
fought at Salamis。
Of those Greeks you have read； or ought to read； in Mr。 Cox's Tales of
the Persian War。 Some day you will read of them in their own books；
written in their grand old tongue。 Remember that Lady Why made them；
as she has made the Scotch； by first preparing a country for them； which
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would call out all their courage and their skill； and then by giving them the
courage and the skill to make use of the land where she had put them。
And now think what a wonderful fairy tale you might write for
yourselfand every word of it trueof the adventures of one atom of
Potash or some other Salt； no bigger than a needle's point； in such a lava
stream as I have been telling of。 How it has run round and round； and
will run round age after age； in an endless chain of change。 How it began
by being molten fire underground； how then it became part of a hard cold
rock； lifted up into a cliff； beaten upon by rain and storm； and washed
down into the soil of the plain； till； perhaps； the little atom of mineral met
with the rootlet of some great tree； and was taken up into its sap in spring；
through tiny veins； and hardened the next year into a piece of solid wood。
And then how that
