madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第35节
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colder than any ice on earth； and yet； simply by pressing against the air
above our heads； they had their motion turned into heat； till they burned
themselves up into trains of fiery dust。 So remember that wherever you
have pressure you have heat； and that the pressure of the upper rocks upon
the lower is quite enough； some think； to account for the older and lower
rocks being harder than the upper and newer ones。
But why should the lower rocks be older and the upper rocks newer？
You told me just now that the high mountains in Wales were ages older
than Windsor Forest； upon which we stand： but yet how much lower we
are here than if we were on a Welsh mountain。
Ah； my dear child； of course that puzzles you； and I am afraid it must
puzzle you still till we have another talk； or rather it seems to me that the
best way to explain that puzzle to you would be for you and me to go a
journey into the far west； and look into the matter for ourselves； and from
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here to the far west we will go； either in fancy or on a real railroad and
steamboat； before we have another talk about these things。
Now it is time to stop。 Is there anything more you want to know？ for
you look as if something was puzzling you still。
Were there any men in the world while all this was going on？
I think not。 We have no proof that there were not： but also we have
no proof that there were； the cave…men； of whom I told you； lived many
ages after the coal was covered up。 You seem to be sorry that there were
no men in the world then。
Because it seems a pity that there was no one to see those beautiful
coral…reefs and coal…forests。
No one to see them； my child？ Who told you that？ Who told you
there are not； and never have been any rational beings in this vast universe；
save certain weak； ignorant； short…sighted creatures shaped like you and
me？ But even if it were so； and no created eye had ever beheld those
ancient wonders； and no created heart ever enjoyed them； is there not one
Uncreated who has seen them and enjoyed them from the beginning？
Were not these creatures enjoying themselves each after their kind？ And
was there not a Father in Heaven who was enjoying their enjoyment； and
enjoying too their beauty； which He had formed according to the ideas of
His Eternal Mind？ Recollect what you were told on Trinity Sunday
That this world was not made for man alone： but that man； and this
world； and the whole Universe was made for God； for He created all
things； and for His pleasure they are； and were created。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
CHAPTER X
FIELD AND WILD
Where were we to go next？ Into the far west； to see how all the way
along the railroads the new rocks and soils lie above the older； and yet
how； when we get westward； the oldest rocks rise highest into the air。
Well； we will go： but not； I think； to…day。 Indeed I hardly know
how we could get as far as Reading； for all the world is in the hay…field；
and even the old horse must go thither too； and take his turn at the hay…cart。
Well； the rocks have been where they are for many a year； and they will
wait our leisure patiently enough： but Midsummer and the hay…field will
not wait。 Let us take what God gives when He sends it； and learn the
lesson that lies nearest to us。 After all； it is more to my old mind； and
perhaps to your young mind too； to look at things which are young and
fresh and living； rather than things which are old and worn and dead。 Let
us leave the old stones； and the old bones； and the old shells； the wrecks of
ancient worlds which have gone down into the kingdom of death； to teach
us their grand lessons some other day； and let us look now at the world of
light and life and beauty； which begins here at the open door； and stretches
away over the hay…fields； over the woods； over the southern moors； over
sunny France； and sunnier Spain； and over the tropic seas； down to the
equator； and the palm…groves of the eternal summer。 If we cannot find
something； even at starting from the open door； to teach us about Why and
How； we must be very short…sighted； or very shallow…hearted。
There is the old cock starling screeching in the eaves； because he
wants to frighten us away； and take a worm to his children； without our
finding out whereabouts his hole is。 How does he know that we might
hurt him？ and how again does he not know that we shall not hurt him？ we；
who for five…and…twenty years have let him and his ancestors build under
those eaves in peace？ How did he get that quantity of half…wit； that sort
of stupid cunning； into his little brain； and yet get no more？ And why
（for this is a question of Why； and not of How） does he labour all day long；
hunting for worms and insects for his children； while his wife nurses them
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in the nest？ Why； too； did he help her to build that nest with toil and care
this spring； for the sake of a set of nestlings who can be of no gain or use
to him； but only take the food out of his mouth？ Simply out ofwhat
shall I call it； my child？Love； that same sense of love and duty； coming
surely from that one Fountain of all duty and all love； which makes your
father work for you。 That the mother should take care of her young； is
wonderful enough； but that （at least among many birds） the father should
help likewise； is （as you will find out as you grow older） more wonderful
far。 So there already the old starling has set us two fresh puzzles about
How and Why； neither of which we shall get answered； at least on this side
of the grave。
Come on； up the field； under the great generous sun； who quarrels with
no one； grudges no one； but shines alike upon the evil and the good。
What a gay picture he is painting now； with his light… pencils； for in them；
remember； and not in the things themselves the colour lies。 See how；
where the hay has been already carried； he floods all the slopes with
yellow light； making them stand out sharp against the black shadows of
the wood； while where the grass is standing still； he makes the sheets of
sorrel…flower blush rosy red； or dapples the field with white oxeyes。
But is not the sorrel itself red； and the oxeyes white？
What colour are they at night； when the sun is gone？
Dark。
That is； no colour。 The very grass is not green at night。
Oh； but it is if you look at it with a lantern。
No； no。 It is the light of the lantern； which happens to be strong
enough to make the leaves look green； though it is not strong enough to
make a geranium look red。
Not red？
No； the geranium flowers by a lantern look black； while the leaves
look green。 If you don't believe me； we will try。
But why is that？
Why； I cannot tell： and how； you had best ask Professor Tyndall； if
you ever have the honour of meeting him。
But nowhark to the mowing…machine； humming like a giant night…
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jar。 Come up and look at it； and see how swift and smooth it shears the
long grass down； so that in the middle of the swathe it seems to have
merely fallen flat； and you must move it before you find that it has been
cut off。
Ah； there is a proof to us of what men may do if they will only learn
the lessons which Madam How can teach them。 There is that boy； fresh
from the National School； cutting more grass in a day than six strong
mowers could have cut； and cutting it better； too； for the mowing…machine
goes so much nearer to the ground than the scythe； that we gain by it two
hundredweight of hay on every acre。 And see； too； how
