madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第36节
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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 persevering old
Madam How will not stop her work； though the machine has cut off all the
grass which she has been making for the last three months； for as fast as
we shear it off； she makes it grow again。 There are fresh blades； here at
our feet； a full inch long； which have sprung up in the last two days； for
the cattle when they are turned in next week。
But if the machine cuts all the grass； the poor mowers will have
nothing to do。
Not so。 They are all busy enough elsewhere。 There is plenty of
other work to be done； thank God； and wholesomer and easier work than
mowing with a burning sun on their backs； drinking gallons of beer； and
getting first hot and then cold across the loins； till they lay in a store of
lumbago and sciatica； to cripple them in their old age。 You delight in
machinery because it is curious： you should delight in it besides because it
does good； and nothing but good； where it is used； according to the laws of
Lady Why； with care； moderation； and mercy； and fair…play between man
and man。 For example： just as the mowing…machine saves the mowers；
the threshing…machine saves the threshers from rheumatism and chest
complaints；which they used to catch in the draught and dust of the
unhealthiest place in the whole parish； which is； the old…fashioned barn's
floor。 And so； we may hope； in future years all heavy drudgery and dirty
work will be done more and more by machines； and people will have more
and more chance of keeping themselves clean and healthy； and more and
more time to read； and learn； and think； and be true civilised men and
women； instead of being mere live ploughs； or live manure…carts； such as I
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
have seen ere now。
A live manure…cart？
Yes； child。 If you had seen； as I have seen； in foreign lands； poor
women； haggard； dirty； grown old before their youth was over； toiling up
hill with baskets of foul manure upon their backs； you would have said； as
I have said； 〃Oh for Madam How to cure that ignorance！ Oh for Lady
Why to cure that barbarism！ Oh that Madam How would teach them that
machinery must always be cheaper in the long run than human muscles
and nerves！ Oh that Lady Why would teach them that a woman is the
most precious thing on earth； and that if she be turned into a beast of
burden； Lady Whyand Madam How likewisewill surely avenge the
wrongs of their human sister！〃 There； you do not quite know what I
mean； and I do not care that you should。 It is good for little folk that big
folk should now and then 〃talk over their heads；〃 as the saying is； and
make them feel how ignorant they are； and how many solemn and earnest
questions there are in the world on which they must make up their minds
some day； though not yet。 But now we will talk about the hay： or rather
do you and the rest go and play in the hay and gather it up； build forts of it；
storm them； pull them down； build them up again； shout； laugh； and
scream till you are hot and tired。 You will please Madam How thereby；
and Lady Why likewise。
How？
Because Madam How naturally wants her work to succeed； and she is
at work now making you。
Making me？
Of course。 Making a man of you； out of a boy。 And that can only
be done by the life…blood which runs through and through you。 And the
more you laugh and shout； the more pure air will pass into your blood； and
make it red and healthy； and the more you romp and playunless you
overtire yourselfthe quicker will that blood flow through all your limbs；
to make bone and muscle； and help you to grow into a man。
But why does Lady Why like to see us play？
She likes to see you happy； as she likes to see the trees and birds happy。
For she knows well that there is no food； nor medicine either； like
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
happiness。 If people are not happy enough； they are often tempted to do
many wrong deeds； and to think many wrong thoughts： and if by God's
grace they know the laws of Lady Why； and keep from sin； still
unhappiness； if it goes on too long； wears them out； body and mind； and
they grow ill and die； of broken hearts； and broken brains； my child； and
so at last； poor souls； find 〃Rest beneath the Cross。〃
Children； too； who are unhappy； children who are bullied； and
frightened； and kept dull and silent； never thrive。 Their bodies do not
thrive； for they grow up weak。 Their minds do not thrive； for they grow
up dull。 Their souls do not thrive； for they learn mean； sly； slavish ways；
which God forbid you should ever learn。 Well said the wise man； 〃The
human plant； like the vegetables； can only flower in sunshine。〃
So do you go； and enjoy yourself in the sunshine； but remember this
You know what happiness is。 Then if you wish to please Lady Why； and
Lady Why's Lord and King likewise； you will never pass a little child
without trying to make it happier； even by a passing smile。 And now be
off； and play in the hay； and come back to me when you are tired。
* * * * *
Let us lie down at the foot of this old oak； and see what we can see。
And hear what we can hear； too。 What is that humming all round us；
now that the noisy mowing…machine has stopped？
And as much softer than the noise of mowing…machine hum； as the
machines which make it are more delicate and more curious。 Madam
How is a very skilful workwoman； and has eyes which see deeper and
clearer than all microscopes； as you would find； if you tried to see what
makes that 〃Midsummer hum〃 of which the haymakers are so fond；
because it promises fair weather。
Why； it is only the gnats and flies。
Only the gnats and flies？ You might study those gnats and flies for
your whole life without finding out allor more than a very littleabout
them。 I wish I knew how they move those tiny wings of theirsa
thousand times in a second； I dare say； some of them。 I wish I knew how
far they know that they are happyfor happy they must be； whether they
know it or not。 I wish I knew how they live at all。 I wish I even knew
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
how many sorts there are humming round us at this moment。
How many kinds？ Three or four？
More probably thirty or forty round this single tree。
But why should there be so many kinds of living things？ Would not
one or two have done just as well？
Why； indeed？ Why should there not have been only one sort of
butterfly； and he only of one colour； a plain brown； or a plain white？
And why should there be so many sorts of birds； all robbing the garden
at once？ Thrushes； and blackbirds； and sparrows； and chaffinches； and
greenfinches； and bullfinches； and tomtits。
And there are four kinds of tomtits round here； remember： but we
may go on with such talk for ever。 Wiser men than we have asked the
same question： but Lady Why will not answer them yet。 However； there
is another question； which Madam How seems inclined to answer just now；
which is almost as deep and mysterious。
What？
HOW all these different kinds of things became different。
Oh； do tell me！
Not I。 You must begin at the beginning； before you can end at the
end； or even make one step towards the end。
What do you mean？
You must learn the differences between things； before you can find out
how those differences came about。 You must learn Madam How's
alphabet before you can read her book。 And Madam How's alphab
