Peoplethought——andtheyhadreasontothinkfromwhathadoftenhappenedelsewhere——thatthoughthedustmighthurtthecropsforthatyear，itwouldmakethemricherinyearstocome，becauseitwouldactasmanureuponthesoil；andsoitdidafterafewyears；butitdidterribledamageatthetime，breakingofftheboughsoftreesandcoveringupthecrops；andinSt。Vincentitselfwholeestateswereruined。Itwasafrightfulday，butI
knowwellthatbehindthatHowtherewasaWhyforitshappening，andhappeningtoo，aboutthatverytime，whichallwhoknowthehistoryofnegroslaveryintheWestIndiescanguessforthemselves，andconfess，Ihope，thatinthiscase，asinallothers，whenLadyWhyseemsmostseveresheisoftenmostjustandkind。
Ah！mydearchild，thatIcouldgoontalkingtoyouofthisforhoursanddays！ButIhavetimenowonlytoteachyouthealphabetofthesematters——and，indeed，Iknowlittlemorethanthealphabetmyself；butiftheverylettersofMadamHow’sbook，andthemereA，B，AB，ofit，whichIamtryingtoteachyou，aresowonderfulandsobeautiful，whatmustitssentencesbeanditschapters？Andwhatmustthewholebookbelike？ButthatlastnonecanreadsaveHewhowroteitbeforetheworldsweremade。
ButnowIseeyouwanttoaskaquestion。Letushaveitout。I
wouldsooneransweronequestionofyoursthantellyoutenthingswithoutyourasking。
Istherepotashandmagnesiaandsilicatesinthesoilhere？Andifthereis，wheredidtheycomefrom？FortherearenovolcanosinEngland。
Yes。Therearesuchthingsinthesoil；andlittleenoughofthem，asthefarmershereknowtoowell。Forwehere，inWindsorForest，areontheverypoorestandalmostthenewestsoilinEngland；andwhenMadamHowhadusedupallhergoodmaterialsinmakingtherestoftheisland，shecartedawayherdryrubbishandshotitdownhereforustomakethebestof；andIdonotthinkthatweandourforefathershavedonesoveryillwithit。Butwheretherichpart，orstaple，ofoursoilscamefromfirstitwouldbeverydifficulttosay，sooftenhasMadamHowmade，andunmade，andre—madeEngland，andsiftedhermaterialsafresheverytime。ButifyougototheLowlandsofScotland，youmaysoonseewherethestapleofthesoilcamefromthere，andthatIwasrightinsayingthattherewereatomsoflavaineveryScotchboy’sbroth。Notthattherewereever（asfarasIknow）volcanosinScotlandorinEngland。MadamHowhasmorethanonestringtoherbow，ortwostringseither；sowhenshepoursoutherlavas，shedoesnotalwayspourthemoutintheopenair。Sometimesshepoursthemoutatthebottomofthesea，asshedidinthenorthofIrelandandthesouth—westofScotland，whenshemadetheGiant’sCauseway，andFingal’sCaveinStaffatoo，atthebottomoftheoldchalkocean，agesandagessince。Sometimesshesquirtsthemoutbetweenthelayersofrock，orintocrackswhichtheearthquakeshavemade，inwhatarecalledtrapdykes，ofwhichthereareplentytobeseeninScotland，andinWaleslikewise。
Andthensheliftstheearthupfromthebottomofthesea，andsetstheraintowashawayallthesoftrocks，tillthehardlavastandsoutingreathillsuponthesurfaceoftheground。Thentherainbeginseatingawaythoselava—hillslikewise，andmanuringtheearthwiththem；andwhereverthoselava—hillsstandup，whethergreatorsmall，thereisprettysuretoberichlandaroundthem。IfyoulookattheGeologicalMapofEnglandandIreland，andtheredspotsuponit，whichwillshowyouwherethoseoldlavasare，youwillseehowmuchofthemthereisinEngland，attheLizardPointinCornwall，andhowmuchmoreinScotlandandthenorthofIreland。InSouthDevon，inShropshire—
—withitsbeautifulWrekin，andCaradoc，andLawley——inWales，roundSnowdon（wheresomeofthesoilisveryrich），and，aboveall，intheLowlandsofScotland，youseetheseredmarks，showingtheoldlavas，whicharealwaysfertile，exceptthepooroldgranite，whichisoflittleusesavetocutintobuildingstone，becauseitistoofullofquartz——thatis，flint。
ThinkofthisthenexttimeyougothroughScotlandintherailway，especiallywhenyougetnearEdinburgh。AsyourunthroughtheLothians，withtheirnoblecropsofcorn，androots，andgrasses——andtheirgreathomesteads，eachwithitsenginechimney，whichmakessteamdotheworkofmen——youwillseerisingoutoftheplain，hillsofdarkrock，sometimesinsingleknobs，likeBerwickLaworStirlingCrag——sometimesinnobleranges，likeArthur’sSeat，ortheSidlaws，ortheOchils。Thinkwhattheseblackbarelumpsofwhinstoneare，andwhattheydo。Remembertheyaremines——notgoldmines，butsomethingricherstill——foodmines，whichMadamHowthrustintotheinsideoftheearth，agesandagessince，asmoltenlavarock，andthencooledthemandliftedthemup，andparedthemawaywithherice—ploughandherrain—spade，andspreadthestuffofthemoverthewidecarsesround，tomakeinthatbleaknorthernclimate，whichoncecarriednothingbutfir—treesandheather，asoilfittofeedagreatpeople；tocultivateinthemindustry，andscience，andvaliantself—dependenceandself—help；andtogatherroundtheHeartofMidlothianandtheCastleRockofEdinburghthestoutestandtheablestlittlenationwhichLadyWhyhasmadesinceshemadetheGreekswhofoughtatSalamis。
OfthoseGreeksyouhaveread，oroughttoread，inMr。Cox’sTalesofthePersianWar。Somedayyouwillreadofthemintheirownbooks，writtenintheirgrandoldtongue。RememberthatLadyWhymadethem，asshehasmadetheScotch，byfirstpreparingacountryforthem，whichwouldcalloutalltheircourageandtheirskill；andthenbygivingthemthecourageandtheskilltomakeuseofthelandwhereshehadputthem。
Andnowthinkwhatawonderfulfairytaleyoumightwriteforyourself——andeverywordofittrue——oftheadventuresofoneatomofPotashorsomeotherSalt，nobiggerthananeedle’spoint，insuchalavastreamasIhavebeentellingof。Howithasrunroundandround，andwillrunroundageafterage，inanendlesschainofchange。Howitbeganbybeingmoltenfireunderground，howthenitbecamepartofahardcoldrock，liftedupintoacliff，beatenuponbyrainandstorm，andwasheddownintothesoiloftheplain，till，perhaps，thelittleatomofmineralmetwiththerootletofsomegreattree，andwastakenupintoitssapinspring，throughtinyveins，andhardenedthenextyearintoapieceofsolidwood。Andthenhowthattreewascutdown，anditslogs，itmaybe，burntuponthehearth，tillthelittleatomofminerallayamongthewood—ashes，andwasshovelledoutandthrownuponthefieldandwashedintothesoilagain，andtakenupbytherootsofacloverplant，andbecameanatomofvegetablematteroncemore。Andthenhow，perhaps，arabbitcameby，andatetheclover，andthegrainofmineralbecamepartoftherabbit；andthenhowahawkkilledthatrabbit，andateit，andsothegrainbecamepartofthehawk；andhowthefarmershotthehawk，anditfellperchanceintoastream，andwascarrieddownintothesea；
andwhenitsbodydecayed，thelittlegrainsankthroughthewater，andwasmingledwiththemudatthebottomofthesea。Butdoitswanderingsstopthere？Notso，mychild。Nothinguponthisearth，asItoldyouoncebefore，continuesinonestay。
Thatgrainofmineralmightstayatthebottomoftheseaathousandortenthousandyears，andyetthetimewouldcomewhenMadamHowwouldsettoworkonitagain。Slowly，perhaps，shewouldsinkthatmudsodeep，andcoveritupwithsomanyfreshbedsofmud，orsand，orlime，thatundertheheavyweight，andperhaps，too，undertheheatoftheinsideoftheearth，thatMudwouldslowlychangetohardSlateRock；andagesafter，itmaybe，MadamHowmightmeltthatSlateRockoncemore，andblastitout；
andthenthroughthemouthofavolcanothelittlegrainofmineralmightriseintotheopenairagaintomakefreshsoil，asithaddonethousandsofyearsbefore。ForMadamHowcanmanufacturemanydifferentthingsoutofthesamematerials。Shemayhavesowroughtwiththatgrainofmineral，thatshemayhaveformeditintopartofapreciousstone，andmenmaydigitoutoftherock，orpickitupintheriver—bed，andpolishit，andsetit，andwearit。Thinkofthat——thatinthejewelswhichyourmotheroryoursisterswear，orinyourfather’ssignetring，theremaybeatomswhichwerepartofaliveplant，oraliveanimal，millionsofyearsago，andmaybepartsofaliveplantoraliveanimalmillionsofyearshence。
Thinkoveragain，andlearnbyheart，thelinksofthisendlesschainofchange：FireturnedintoStone——StoneintoSoil——SoilintoPlant——PlantintoAnimal——AnimalintoSoil——SoilintoStone——
StoneintoFireagain——andthenFireintoStoneagain，andtheoldthingrunroundoncemore。
Soitis，andsoitmustbe。ForallthingswhichareborninTimemustchangeinTime，anddieinTime，tillthatLastDayofthisourlittleearth，inwhich，"Liketothebaselessfabricofavision，Thecloud—cappedtowers，thegorgeouspalaces，Thesolemntemples，thegreatglobeitself，Yea，allthingswhichinherit，shalldissolve，And，likeanunsubstantialpageantfaded，Leavenotarackbehind。"
Soallthingschangeanddie，andsoyourbodytoomustchangeanddie——butnotyourself。MadamHowmadeyourbody；andshemustunmakeitagain，assheunmakesallherworksinTimeandSpace；
butyou，child，yourSoul，andLife，andSelf，shedidnotmake；
andoveryoushehasnopower。Foryouwerenot，likeyourbody，createdinTimeandSpace；andyouwillendurethoughTimeandSpaceshouldbenomore：becauseyouarethechildoftheLivingGod，whogivestoeachthingitsownbody，andcangiveyouanotherbody，evenasseemsgoodtoHim。
CHAPTERV——THEICE—PLOUGH
YouwanttoknowwhyIamsofondofthatlittlebitoflimestone，nobiggerthanmyhand，whichliesupontheshelf；whyIponderoveritsooften，andshowittoallsensiblepeoplewhocometoseeme？
Idoso，notonlyforthesakeofthepersonwhogaveittome，butbecausethereiswrittenonitaletteroutofMadamHow’salphabet，whichhastakenwisemenmanyayeartodecipher。I
couldnotdecipherthatletterwhenfirstIsawthestone。Moreshameforme，forIhadseenitoftenbefore，andunderstooditwellenough，inmanyanotherpageofMadamHow’sgreatbook。Takethestone，andseeifyoucanfindoutanythingstrangeaboutit。
Well，itisonlyabitofmarbleasbigasmyhand，thatlooksasifithadbeen，andreallyhasbeen，brokenoffbyahammer。Butwhenyoulookagain，youseethereisasmoothscrapedpartononeedge，thatseemstohavebeenrubbedagainstastone。
Nowlookatthatrubbedpart，andtellmehowitwasdone。
Youhaveseenmenoftenpolishonestoneonanother，orscourfloorswithaBathbrick，andyouwillguessatfirstthatthiswaspolishedso：butifithadbeen，thentherubbedplacewouldhavebeenflat：butifyouputyourfingersoverit，youwillfindthatitisnotflat。Itisrolled，fluted，channelled，sothatthethingorthingswhichrubbeditmusthavebeensomewhatround。Anditiscovered，too，withveryfineandsmoothscratchesorgrooves，allrunningoverthewholeinthesameline。
Nowwhatcouldhavedonethat？
Ofcourseamancouldhavedoneit，ifhehadtakenalargeroundstoneinhishand，andworkedthelargechannellingswiththat，andthenhadtakenfinesandandgraveluponthepointsofhisfingers，andworkedthesmallscratcheswiththat。Butthisstonecamefromaplacewheremanhad，perhaps，neverstoodbefore，——ay，which，perhaps，hadneverseenthelightofdaybeforesincetheworldwasmade；andasIhappentoknowthatnomanmadethemarksuponthatstone，wemustsettoworkandthinkagainforsometoolofMadamHow’swhichmayhavemadethem。
AndnowIthinkyoumustgiveupguessing，andImusttellyoutheanswertotheriddle。Thosemarksweremadebyahandwhichisstrongandyetgentle，toughandyetyielding，likethehandofaman；ahandwhichhandlesandusesinagripstrongerthanagiant’sitsowncarvingtools，fromthegreatboulderstoneaslargeasthiswholeroomtothefinestgrainofsand。AndthatisICE。
ThatpieceofstonecamefromthesideoftheRosenlauiglacierinSwitzerland，anditwaspolishedbytheglacierice。Theglaciermeltedandshrankthislasthotsummerfartherbackthanithaddoneformanyyears，andleftbaresheetsofrock，whichithadbeenscrapingatforages，withallthemarksfreshuponthem。
Andthatbitwasbrokenoffandbroughttome，whoneversawaglaciermyself，toshowmehowthemarkswhichtheicemakesinSwitzerlandareexactlythesameasthosewhichtheicehasmadeinSnowdonandintheHighlands，andmanyanotherplacewhereI
havetracedthem，andwrittenalittle，too，abouttheminyearsgoneby。AndsoItreasurethis，asasignthatMadamHow’swaysdonotchangenorherlawsbecomebroken；that，asthatgreatphilosopherSirCharlesLyellwilltellyou，whenyoureadhisbooks，MadamHowismakingandunmakingthesurfaceoftheearthnow，byexactlythesamemeansasshewasmakingandunmakingagesandagessince；andthatwhatisgoingonslowlyandsurelyintheAlpsinSwitzerlandwasgoingononceherewherewestand。
Itisverydifficult，Iknow，foralittleboylikeyoutounderstandhowice，andmuchmorehowsoftsnow，shouldhavesuchstrengththatitcangrindthislittlestone，muchmoresuchstrengthastogrindwholemountainsintoplains。Youhaveneverseeniceandsnowdoharm。YoucannotevenrecollecttheCrimeanWinter，asitwascalledthen；andwellforyouyoucannot，consideringallthemiseryitbroughtathomeandabroad。Youcannot，Isay，recollecttheCrimeanWinter，whentheThameswasfrozenoverabovethebridges，andtheicepiledinlittlebergstentofifteenfeethigh，whichlay，someofthem，strandedontheshores，aboutLondonitself，anddidnotmelt，ifIrecollect，untiltheendofMay。Youneverstood，asIstood，inthegreatwinterof1837—8onBatterseaBridge，toseetheicebreakupwiththetide，andsawthegreatslabsandblocksleapingandpilinguponeachother’sbacks，andfeltthebridgetremblewiththeirshocks，andlistenedtotheirhorriblegrindandroar，tillonegotsomelittlepictureinone’smindofwhatmustbethebreakingupofanice—floeintheArcticregions，andwhatmustbethedangerofashipnippedintheiceandlifteduponhigh，likethoseinthepicturesofArcticvoyageswhichyouaresofondoflookingthrough。YoucannotrecollecthowthatwintereveninourlittleBlackwaterBrookthealderstemswereallpeeledwhite，andscarred，asiftheyhadbeengnawedbyharesanddeer，simplybytherushingandscrapingoftheice，——asightwhichgavemeagainalittlepictureofthedestructionwhichtheicemakesofquays，andstages，andhousesalongtheshoreuponthecoastsofNorthAmerica，whensuddenlysettinginwithwindandtide，itjamsandpilesuphighinland，asyoumayreadforyourselfsomedayinadelightfulbookcalledFrostandFire。Yourecollectnoneofthesethings。Iceandsnowaretoyoumereplaythings；andyoulongforwinter，thatyoumaymakesnowballsandplayhockeyandskateupontheponds，andeaticelikeafoolishboytillyoumakeyourstomachache。AndIdaresayyouhavesaid，likemanyanotherboy，onabrightcheeryringingfrostyday，"Oh，thatitwouldbealwayswinter！"Youlittleknewforwhatyouasked。Youlittlethoughtwhattheearthwouldsoonbelike，ifitwerealwayswinter，——ifonesheetoficeonthepondglueditselfontothebottomofthelastsheet，tillthewholepondwasasolidmass，——ifonesnow—falllayuponthetopofanothersnow—falltillthemoorwascoveredmanyfeetdeepandthesnowbeganslidingslowlydowntheglenfromCoombs’s，buryingthegreenfields，tearingthetreesupbytheirroots，buryinggraduallyhouse，church，andvillage，andmakingthisplaceforafewthousandyearswhatitwasmanythousandyearsago。Good—byethen，afteraveryfewwinters，tobees，andbutterflies，andsinging—birds，andflowers；andgood—byetoallvegetables，andfruit，andbread；
good—byetocottonandwoollenclothes。Youwouldhave，ifyouwereleftalive，todressinskins，andeatfishandseals，ifanycamenearenoughtobecaught。Youwouldhavetoliveinaword，ifyoucouldliveatall，asEsquimauxlivenowinArcticregions，andaspeoplehadtoliveinEnglandagessince，inthetimeswhenitwasalwayswinter，andicebergsfloatedbetweenhereandFinchampstead。Ohno，mychild：thankHeaventhatitisnotalwayswinter；andrememberthatwintericeandsnow，thoughitisaverygoodtoolwithwhichtomaketheland，mustleavethelandyearbyyearifthatlandistobefittolivein。
Isaidthatifthesnowpiledhighenoughuponthemoor，itwouldcomedownthegleninafewyearsthroughCoombs’sWood；andI
saidthenyouwouldhaveasmallglacierhere——suchaglacier（tocomparesmallthingswithgreat）asnowcomesdownsomanyvalleysintheAlps，orhascomedownallthevalleysofGreenlandandSpitzbergentilltheyreachthesea，andthereendascliffsofice，fromwhichgreaticebergssnapoffcontinually，andfallandfloataway，wanderingsouthwardintotheAtlanticformanyahundredmiles。YouhaveseendrawingsofsuchglaciersinCaptainCook’sVoyages；andyoumayseephotographsofSwissglaciersinanygoodLondonprint—shop；andthereforeyouhaveseenalmostasmuchaboutthemasIhaveseen，andmayjudgeforyourselfhowyouwouldliketolivewhereitisalwayswinter。
Nowyoumustnotaskmetotellyouwhataglacierislike，forI
haveneverseenone；atleast，thosewhichIhaveseenweremorethanfiftymilesaway，lookinglikewhitecloudshangingonthegraymountainsides。Anditwouldbeanimpertinence——thatmeansameddlingwiththingswhichIhavenobusiness——topicturetoyouglacierswhichhavebeenpicturedsowellandoftenbygentlemenwhoescapeeveryyearfromtheirhardworkintowntofindamongtheglaciersoftheAlpshealthandrefreshment，andsoundknowledge，andthatmostwholesomeandstrengtheningofallmedicines，toil。
SoyoumustreadoftheminsuchbooksasPeaks，Passes，andGlaciers，andMr。Willes’sWanderingsintheHighAlps，andProfessorTyndall’sdifferentworks；oryoumustlookatthem（asIjustnowsaid）inphotographsorinpictures。Butwhenyoudothat，orwhenyouseeaglacierforyourself，youmustbearinmindwhataglaciermeans——thatitisariverofice，fedbyalakeofsnow。Thelakefromwhichitspringsistheeternalsnow—
fieldwhichstretchesformilesandmilesalongthemountaintops，fedcontinuallybyfreshsnow—stormsfallingfromthesky。Thatsnowslidesoffintothevalleyshourbyhour，andasitrushesdownisgroundandpounded，andthawedandfrozenagainintoastickypasteofice，whichflowsslowlybutsurelytillitreachesthewarmvalleyatthemountainfoot，andtheremeltsbitbybit。
Thelongblacklineswhichyouseewindingalongthewhiteandgreeniceoftheglacierarethestoneswhichhavefallenfromthecliffsabove。Theywillbedroppedattheendoftheglacier，andmixedwithsiltandsandandotherstoneswhichhavecomedowninsidetheglacieritself，andpiledupinthefieldingreatmounds，whicharecalledmoraines，suchasyoumayseeandwalkoninScotlandmanyatime，thoughyoumightneverguesswhattheyare。
Theriverwhichrunsoutattheglacierfootis，youmustremember，allfoulandmilkywiththefinestmud；andthatmudisthegrindingoftherocksoverwhichtheglacierhasbeencrawlingdown，andscrapingthemasitscrapedmybitofstonewithpebblesandwithsand。Andthisisthealphabet，which，ifyoulearnbyheart，youwilllearntounderstandhowMadamHowuseshergreatice—ploughtoploughdownheroldmountains，andspreadthestuffofthemaboutthevalleystomakerichstrathsoffertilesoil。
Nay，soimmenselystrong，becauseimmenselyheavy，istheshareofthishergreatice—plough，thatsomewilltellyou（anditisnotformetosaythattheyarewrong）thatwithitshehasploughedoutallthemountainlakesinEuropeandinNorthAmerica；thatsuchlakes，forinstance，asUllswaterorWindermerehavebeenscoopedcleanoutofthesolidrockbyicewhichcamedowntheseglaciersinoldtimes。Andbesureofthis，thatnexttoMadamHow’ssteam—pumpandherrain—spade，hergreatice—ploughhashad，andhasstill，themosttodowithmakingthegroundonwhichwelive。
DoImeanthattherewereeverglaciershere？No，Idonot。
TherehavebeenglaciersinScotlandinplenty。AndifanyScotchboyshallreadthisbook，itwilltellhimpresentlyhowtofindthemarksofthemfarandwideoverhisnativeland。Butasyou，mychild，caremostaboutthiscountryinwhichyoulive，Iwillshowyouinanygravel—pit，orhollowlaneuponthemoor，themarks，notofaglacier，whichisanice—river，butofawholeseaofice。
Letuscomeuptothepituponthetopofthehill，andlookcarefullyatwhatweseethere。Thelowerpartofthepitofcourseisasolidrockofsand。Onthetopofthatisacapofgravel，five，six，tenfeetthick。Nowthesandwaslaiddowntherebywateratthebottomofanoldsea；andthereforethetopofitwouldnaturallybeflatandsmooth，asthesandsatHunstantonoratBournemouthare；andthegravel，ifitwaslaiddownbywater，wouldnaturallylieflatonitagain：butitdoesnot。Seehowthetopofthesandisdugoutintodeepwavesandpits，filledupwithgravel。Andsee，too，howoversomeofthegravelyougetsandagain，andthengravelagain，andthensandagain，tillyoucannottellwhereonefairlybeginsandtheotherends。Why，herearelittledotsofgravel，sixoreightfeetdown，inwhatlooksthesolidsandrock，yetthesandmusthavebeenopenedsomehowtoputthegravelin。
Yousayyouhaveseenthatbefore。YouhaveseenthesamecurioustwistingofthegravelandsandintoeachotheronthetopofFarleyHill，andinthenewcuttingonMinleyHill；and，bestofall，intherailwaycuttingbetweenAscotandSunningdale，whereuponthetopthewhitesandandgravelisarrangedinredandbrownwaves，andfestoons，andcurlicues，almostlikePrinceofWales’sfeathers。Yes，thatlastisabeautifulsectionofice—
work；sobeautiful，thatIhopetohaveitphotographedsomeday。
Now，howdidicedothis？
Well，IwasmanyayearbeforeIfoundoutthat，andIdaresayI
nevershouldhavefounditoutformyself。AgentlemannamedTrimmer，who，alas！isnowdead，was，Ibelieve，thefirsttofinditout。HeknewthatalongthecoastofLabrador，andothercoldpartsofNorthAmerica，andontheshores，too，ofthegreatriverSt。Lawrence，thestrandedicebergs，andtheice—foot，asitiscalled，whichiscontinuallyformingalongthefreezingshores，grubandplougheverytideintothemudandsand，andshoveupbeforethem，likeaploughshare，heapsofdirt；andthat，too，theiceitselfisfullofdirt，ofsandandstones，whichitmayhavebroughtfromhundredsofmilesaway；andthat，asthisploughshareofdirtyicegrubsonward，thenoseoftheploughiscontinuallybeingbrokenoff，andleftunderneaththemud；andthat，whensummercomes，andtheicemelts，themudfallsbackintotheplacewheretheicehadbeen，andcoversupthegravelwhichwasintheice。So，whatbetweenthegrubbingoftheice—ploughintothemud，andthedirtwhichitleavesbehindwhenitmelts，thestones，andsand，andmudupontheshorearejumbledupintocuriouscurvedandtwistedlayers，exactlylikethosewhichMr。
Trimmersawincertaingravel—pits。AndwhenIfirstreadaboutthat，Isaid，"AndexactlylikewhatIhavebeenseeingineverygravel—pitroundhere，andtryingtoguesshowtheycouldhavebeenmadebycurrentsofwater，andyetnevercouldmakeanyguesswhichwoulddo。"Butafterthatitwasallexplainedtome；andI
said，"HonourtothemanwhohasletMadamHowteachhimwhatshehadbeentryingtoteachmeforfifteenyears，whileIwastoostupidtolearnit。NowIamcertain，ascertainasIcanbeofanyearthlything，thatthewholeoftheseWindsorForestFlatswereagesagoploughedandharrowedoverandoveragain，byice—
floesandicebergsdriftingandstrandinginashallowsea。"
Andifyousay，mydearchild，assomepeoplewillsay，thatitislikebuildingalargehouseuponasinglebricktobesurethattherewasanicebergseahere，justbecauseIseeafewcurlicuesinthegravelandsand——thenImusttellyouthattherearesometimes——notoften，butsometimes——pagesinMadamHow’sbookinwhichonesinglelettertellsyouasmuchasawholechapter；inwhichifyoufindonelittlefact，andknowwhatitreallymeans，itmakesyoucertainthatathousandothergreatfactshavehappened。Youmaybeastonished：butyoucannotdenyyourowneyes，andyourowncommonsense。YoufeellikeRobinsonCrusoewhen，walkingalongtheshoreofhisdesertisland，hesawforthefirsttimetheprintofaman’sfootinthesand。Howitcouldhavegottherewithoutamiraclehecouldnotdream。Butthereitwas。Onefootprintwasasgoodasthefootprintsofawholearmywouldhavebeen。Amanhadbeenthere；andmoremenmightcome。
Andinfearofthesavages——andifyouhavereadRobinsonCrusoeyouknowhowjusthisfearswere——hewenthometremblingandloadedhismuskets，andbarricadedhiscave，andpassedsleeplessnightswatchingforthesavageswhomightcome，andwhocameafterall。
Andsotherearecertainfootprintsingeologywhichthereisnomistaking；andtheprintsoftheice—ploughareamongthem。
Forinstance：—WhentheyweretrenchingthenewplantationclosetoWellingtonCollegestation，thementurnedupoutofthegroundagreatmanySarsdenstones；thatis，piecesofhardsugarysand，suchasStonehengeismadeof。AndwhenIsawtheseIsaid，"I
suspectthesewerebroughtherebyicebergs："butIwasnotsure，andwaited。Asthemendugon，theydugupagreatmanylargeflints，withbottle—greencoats。"Now，"Isaid，"Iamsure。ForIknowwheretheseflintsmusthavecomefrom。"Andforreasonswhichwouldbetoolongtotellyouhere，Isaid，"Sometimeorother，icebergshavebeenfloatingnorthwardfromtheHog’sBackoverAldershotandFarnborough，andhavebeentryingtogetintotheValeofThamesbytheslopeatWellingtonCollegestation；andtheyhavestranded，anddroppedtheseflints。"AndIamsosureofthat，thatifIfoundmyselfoutwrongafterallIshouldbeatmywit’send；forIshouldknowthatIwaswrongaboutahundredthingsbesides。
Oragain，ifyouevergoupDeesideinScotland，towardsBalmoral，andturnupGlenMuick，towardsAlt—na—guisach，ofwhichyoumayseeapictureintheQueen’slastbook，youwillobservestandingonyourrighthand，justaboveBirkHall，threeprettyroundedknolls，whichtheycalltheCoileHills。Youmayeasilyknowthembytheirbeingcoveredwithbeautifulgreengrassinsteadofheather。Thatisbecausetheyaremadeofserpentineorvolcanicrock，which（asyouhaveseen）oftencutsintobeautifulredandgreenmarble；andwhichalsocarriesaveryrichsoilbecauseitisfullofmagnesia。Ifyougoupthosehills，yougetagloriousview——themountainssweepingroundyouwhereyoustand，uptothetopofLochnagar，withitsbleakwallsathousandfeetperpendicular，andgulliesintowhichthesunnevershines，androundtothedarkfirforestsoftheBallochbuie。Thatisthearcofthebow；andthecordofthebowisthesilverDee，morethanathousandfeetbelowyou；andinthecentreofthecord，wherethearrowwouldbefittedin，standsBalmoral，withitsCastle，anditsGardens，anditsPark，andpleasantcottagesandhomesteadsallaround。Andwhenyouhavelookedatthebeautifulamphitheatreofforestatyourfeet，andlookedtooatthegreatmountainstothewestward，andBenaun，andBenna—buirdandBenna—
muicdhui，withtheirbrightpatchesofeternalsnow，Ishouldadviseyoutolookattherockonwhichyoustand，andseewhatyouseethere。AndyouwillseethatonthesideoftheCoilestowardsLochnagar，andbetweentheknollsofthem，arescatteredstreams，asitwere，ofgreatroundboulderstones——whicharenotserpentine，butgranitefromthetopofLochnagar，fivemilesaway。Andyouwillseethattheknollsofserpentinerock，oratleasttheirbacksandshoulderstowardsLochnagar，areallsmoothedandpolishedtilltheyareasroundasthebacksofsheep，"rochesmoutonnees，"astheFrenchcallice—polishedrocks；
andthen，ifyouunderstandwhatthatmeans，youwillsay，asI
said，"IamperfectlycertainthatthisgreatbasinbetweenmeandLochnagar，whichisnow3000feetdeepofemptyairwasoncefilledupwithicetotheheightofthehillsonwhichIstand——
about1700feethigh——andthatthaticeranoverintoGlenMuick，betweentheseprettyknolls，andcoveredthegroundwhereBirkHallnowstands。"
Andmore：—WhenyouseegrowingonthoseknollsofserpentineafewprettylittleAlpineplants，whichhavenobusinessdowntheresolow，youwillhaveafairrighttosay，asIsaid，"TheseedsoftheseplantswerebroughtbytheiceagesandagessincefromoffthemountainrangeofLochnagar，andlefthere，nestlingamongtherocks，tofoundafreshcolony，farfromtheiroldmountainhome。"
IfIcouldtakeyouwithmeuptoScotland，——takeyou，forinstance，alongtheTay，upthepassofDunkeld，orupStrathmoretowardsAberdeen，oruptheDeetowardsBraemar，——Icouldshowyousigns，whichcannotbemistaken，ofthetimewhenScotlandwas，justlikeSpitzbergenorlikeGreenlandnow，coveredinonevastsheetofsnowandicefromyear’sendtoyear’send；whenglacierswereploughingoutitsvalleys，icebergswerebreakingofftheicycliffsandfloatingouttosea；whennotabird，perhaps，wastobeseensavesea—fowl，notaplantupontherocksbutafewlichens，andAlpinesaxifrages，andsuchlike——desolationandcoldandlifelesseverywhere。Thatice—timewentonforagesandforages；andyetitdidnotgooninvain。ThroughitMadamHowwasploughingdownthemountainsofScotlandtomakeallthoserichfarmswhichstretchfromthenorthsideoftheFrithofForthintoSutherlandshire。Icouldshowyoueverywherethegreenbanksandknollsofearth，whichScotchpeoplecall"kames"and"tomans"——
perhapsbroughtdownbyancientglaciers，ordroppedbyancienticebergs——nowsosmoothandgreenthroughsummerandthroughwinter，amongthewildheathandtheroughpeat—moss，thattheoldScotsfancied，andIdaresayScotchchildrenfancystill，fairiesdweltinside。Ifyoulaidyourearagainstthemounds，youmighthearthefairymusic，sweetandfaint，beneaththeground。Ifyouwatchedthemoundatnight，youmightseethefairiesdancingtheturfshortandsmooth，orridingoutonfairyhorses，withgreensilkclothesandjinglingbells。Butifyoufellasleepuponthemounds，thefairyqueencameoutandcarriedyouforsevenyearsintoFairyland，tillyouawokeagaininthesameplace，tofindallchangedaroundyou，andyourselfgrownthinandold。
Thesearealldreamsandfancies——untrue，notbecausetheyaretoostrangeandwonderful，butbecausetheyarenotstrangeandwonderfulenough：formorewonderfulsurethananyfairytaleitis，thatMadamHowshouldmakearichandpleasantlandbythebruteforceofice。
Andwerethereanymenandwomeninthatoldageofice？Thatisalongstory，andadarkonetoo；wewilltalkofitnexttime。
CHAPTERVI——THETRUEFAIRYTALE
YouaskedifthereweremeninEnglandwhenthecountrywascoveredwithiceandsnow。Lookatthis，andjudgeforyourself。
Whatisit？apieceofoldmortar？Yes。ButmortarwhichwasmadeMadamHowherself，andnotbyanyman。Andwhatisinit？A
pieceofflintandsomebitsofbone。Butlookatthatpieceofflint。Itisnarrow，thin，sharp—edged：quitedifferentinshapefromanybitofflintwhichyouorIeversawamongthehundredsofthousandsofbrokenbitsofgravelwhichwetreadonherealldaylong；andherearesomemorebitslikeit，whichcamefromthesameplace——allverymuchthesameshape，likeroughknivesorrazorblades；andhereisacoreofflint，theremainingpartofalargeflint，fromwhich，asyoumaysee，bladeslikethosehavebeensplitoff。Thoseflakesofflint，mychild，weresplitoffbymen；evenyouryoungeyesoughttobeabletoseethat。Andhereareotherpiecesofflint——pear—shaped，butflattened，sharpatoneendandleftroundedattheother，whichlooklikespear—
heads，orarrow—heads，orpointedaxes，orpointedhatchets——evenyouryoungeyescanseethatthesemusthavebeenmadebyman。
Andtheyare，Imaytellyou，justlikethetoolsofflint，orofobsidian，whichisvolcanicglass，andwhichsavagesusestillwheretheyhavenotiron。Thereisagreatobsidianknife，youknow，inahouseinthisveryparish，whichcamefromMexico；andyoureyecantellyouhowlikeitistotheseflintones。Buttheseflinttoolsareveryold。Ifyoucrackafreshflint，youwillseethatitssurfaceisgray，andsomewhatrough，sothatitstickstoyourtongue。Thesetoolsaresmoothandshiny：andtheedgesofsomeofthemarealittlerubbedfrombeingwashedaboutingravel；whiletheironinthegravelhasstainedthemreddish，whichitwouldtakehundredsandperhapsthousandsofyearstodo。
Therearelittleroughmarkings，too，uponsomeofthem，which，ifyoulookatthroughamagnifyingglass，areiron，crystallisedintotheshapeoflittleseaweedsandtrees——anothersignthattheyareveryveryold。Andwhatismore，neartheplacewheretheseflintflakescomefromtherearenoflintsinthegroundforhundredsofmiles；sothatmenmusthavebroughtthemthereagesandagessince。Andtotellyouplainly，thesearescraperssuchastheEsquimauxinNorthAmericastillusetoscrapethefleshoffbones，andtocleantheinsidesofskins。
Butdidthesepeople（savagesperhaps）livewhenthecountrywasicycold？Lookatthebitsofbone。Theyhavebeensplit，yousee，lengthways；that，Isuppose，wastosuckthemarrowoutofthem，assavagesdostill。Buttowhatanimaldothebonesbelong？Thatisthequestion，andonewhichIcouldnothaveansweredyou，ifwisermenthanIamcouldnothavetoldme。
Theyarethebonesofreindeer——suchreindeerasarenowfoundonlyinLaplandandthehalf—frozenpartsofNorthAmerica，closetotheArcticcircle，wheretheyhavesixmonthsdayandsixmonthsnight。YouhavereadofLaplanders，andhowtheydrivereindeerintheirsledges，andliveuponreindeermilk；andyouhavereadofEsquimaux，whohuntsealsandwalrus，andliveinhousesofice，lightedbylampsfedwiththesameblubberonwhichtheyfeedthemselves。Ineednottellyouaboutthem。
Nowcomesthequestion——Whencedidtheseflintsandbonescome？
TheycameoutofacaveinDordogne，intheheartofsunnyFrance，——farawaytothesouth，whereitishottereverysummerthanitwashereeventhissummer，fromamongwoodsofboxandevergreenoak，andvineyardsofrichredwine。Inthatwarmlandoncelivedsavages，whohuntedamidiceandsnowthereindeer，andwiththereindeeranimalsstrangerstill。
AndnowIwilltellyouafairytale：tomakeyouunderstanditatallImustputitintheshapeofatale。Icallitafairytale，becauseitissostrange；indeedIthinkIoughttocallitthefairytaleofallfairytales，forbythetimewegettotheendofitIthinkitwillexplaintoyouhowourforefathersgottobelieveinfairies，andtrolls，andelves，andscratlings，andallstrangelittlepeoplewhoweresaidtohauntthemountainsandthecaves。
Well，onceuponatime，solongagothatnomancantellwhen，thelandwassomuchhigher，thatbetweenEnglandandIreland，and，whatismore，betweenEnglandandNorway，wasfirmdryland。Thecountrythenmusthavelooked——atleastweknowitlookedsoinNorfolk——verylikewhatourmoorslooklikehere。TherewereforestsofScotchfir，andofsprucetoo，whichisnotwildinEnglandnow，thoughyoumayseeplentyineveryplantation。Therewereoaksandalders，yewsandsloes，justasthereareinourwoodsnow。Therewasbuck—beaninthebogs，asthereisinLarmer’sandHeathpond；andwhiteandyellowwater—lilies，horn—
wort，andpond—weeds，justastherearenowinourponds。Therewerewildhorses，wilddeer，andwildoxen，thoselastofanenormoussize。Therewerelittleyellowroe—deer，whichwillnotsurpriseyou，fortherearehundredsandthousandsinScotlandtothisday；and，asyouknow，theywillthrivewellenoughinourwoodsnow。Therewerebeaverstoo：butthatmustnotsurpriseyou，fortherewerebeaversinSouthWaleslongaftertheNormanConquest，andtherearebeaversstillinthemountainglensofthesouth—eastofFrance。Therewerehonestlittlewater—ratstoo，whoIdaresaysatupontheirhindlegslikemonkeys，nibblingthewater—lilypods，thousandsofyearsago，astheydoinourpondsnow。Well，sofarwehavecometonothingstrange：butnowbeginsthefairytale。Mixedwithalltheseanimals，therewanderedaboutgreatherdsofelephantsandrhinoceroses；notsmooth—skinned，mind，butcoveredwithhairandwool，likethosewhicharestillfoundstickingoutoftheeverlastingicecliffs，atthemouthoftheLenaandotherSiberianrivers，withtheflesh，andskin，andhairsofreshuponthem，thatthewildwolvestearitoff，andsnarlandgrowloverthecarcaseofmonsterswhowerefrozenupthousandsofyearsago。Andwiththem，strangerstill，weregreathippopotamuses；whocame，perhaps，northwardinsummertimealongthesea—shoreanddowntherivers，havingspreadhitherallthewayfromAfrica；forinthosedays，youmustunderstand，Sicily，andItaly，andMalta——lookatyourmap——werejoinedtothecoastofAfrica：andsoitmaybewastherockofGibraltaritself；andovertheseawheretheStraitsofGibraltarnowflowwasfirmdryland，overwhichhyaenasandleopards，elephantsandrhinocerosesrangedintoSpain；fortheirbonesarefoundatthisdayintheGibraltarcaves。Andthisisthefirstchapterofmyfairytale。
Nowwhileallthiswasgoingon，andperhapsbeforethisbegan，theclimatewasgettingcolderyearbyyear——wedonotknowhow；
and，whatismore，thelandwassinking；anditsanksodeepthatatlastnothingwasleftoutofthewaterbutthetopsofthemountainsinIreland，andScotland，andWales。ItsanksodeepthatitleftbedsofshellsbelongingtotheArcticregionsnearlytwothousandfeethighuponthemountainside。Andso"Itgrewwondrouscold，Andicemast—highcamefloatingby，Asgreenasemerald。"
Buttherewerenomaststhentomeasuretheicebergsby，noranyshipnorhumanbeingthere。Allweknowisthattheicebergsbroughtwiththemvastquantitiesofmud，whichsanktothebottom，andcoveredupthatpleasantoldforest—landinwhatiscalledboulder—clay；clayfullofbitsofbrokenrock，andofblocksofstonesoenormous，thatnothingbutanicebergcouldhavecarriedthem。Soalltheanimalsweredrownedordrivenaway，andnothingwasleftaliveperhaps，exceptafewlittlehardyplantswhichclungaboutcracksandgulliesinthemountaintops；andwhosedescendantslivetherestill。Thatwasadreadfultime；theworst，perhaps，ofalltheageofIce；andsoendsthesecondchapterofmyfairytale。
Nowformythirdchapter。"Whenthingscometotheworst，"saystheproverb，"theycommonlymend；"andsodidthispoorfrozenanddrownedlandofEnglandandFranceandGermany，thoughitmendedveryslowly。Thelandbegantoriseoutoftheseaoncemore，androsetillitwasperhapsashighasithadbeenatfirst，andhundredsoffeethigherthanitisnow：butstillitwasverycold，covered，inScotlandatleast，withonegreatseaoficeandglaciersdescendingdownintothesea，asIsaidwhenIspoketoyouabouttheIce—Plough。Butasthelandrose，andgrewwarmertoo，whileitrose，thewildbeastswhohadbeendrivenoutbythegreatdrowningcamegraduallybackagain。Asthebottomoftheoldicyseaturnedintodryland，andgotcoveredwithgrasses，andweeds，andshrubsoncemore，elephants，rhinoceroses，hippopotamuses，oxen——sometimesthesamespecies，sometimesslightlydifferentones——returnedtoFrance，andthentoEngland（fortherewasnoBritishChannelthentostopthem）；andwiththemcameotherstrangeanimals，especiallythegreatIrishelk，asheiscalled，aslargeasthelargesthorse，withhornssometimestenfeetacross。Apairofthosehornswiththeskullyouhaveseenyourself，andcanjudgewhatanobleanimalhemusthavebeen。Enormousbearscametoo，andhyaenas，andatigerorlion（Icannotsaywhich），aslargeasthelargestBengaltigernowtobeseeninIndia。
Andinthosedays——wecannot，ofcourse，exactlysaywhen——therecame——firstIsupposeintothesouthandeastofFrance，andthengraduallyonwardintoEnglandandScotlandandIreland——creatureswithoutanyhairtokeepthemwarm，orscalestodefendthem，withouthornsortuskstofightwith，orteethtoworryandbite；
theweakestyouwouldhavethoughtofthebeasts，andyetstrongerthanalltheanimals，becausetheywereMen，withreasonablesouls。Whencetheycamewecannottell，norwhy；perhapsfrommerehuntingafterfood，andloveofwanderingandbeingindependentandalone。Perhapstheycameintothaticylandforfearofstrongerandclevererpeoplethanthemselves；forwehavenoproof，mychild，noneatall，thattheywerethefirstmenthattrodthisearth。Butbethatasitmay，theycame；andsocunningwerethesesavagemen，andsobravelikewise，thoughtheyhadnoironamongthem，onlyflintandsharpenedbones，yettheycontrivedtokillandeatthemammoths，andthegiantoxen，andthewildhorses，andthereindeer，andtoholdtheirownagainstthehyaenas，andtigers，andbears，simplybecausetheyhadwits，andthedumbanimalshadnone。Andthatisthestrangestparttomeofallmyfairytale。Forwhataman’switsare，andwhyhehasthem，andthereforeisabletoinventandtoimprove，whileeventhecleverestapehasnone，andthereforecaninventandimprovenothing，andthereforecannotbetterhimself，butmustremainfromfathertoson，andfathertosonagain，astupid，pitiful，ridiculousape，whilemencangooncivilisingthemselves，andgrowingricherandmorecomfortable，wiserandhappier，yearbyyear——howthatcomestopass，Isay，istomeawonderandaprodigyandamiracle，strangerthanallthemostfantasticmarvelsyoueverreadinfairytales。
Youmayfindtheflintweaponswhichtheseoldsavagesusedburiedinmanyagravel—pitupanddownFranceandthesouthofEngland；
butyouwillfindnonehere，forthegravelherewasmade（Iamtold）atthebeginningoftheice—time，beforethenorthofEnglandsunkintothesea，andthereforelong，longbeforemencameintothisland。Butmostoftheirremainsarefoundincaveswhichwaterhaseatenoutofthelimestonerocks，likethatfamouscaveofKent’sHoleatTorquay。Init，andinmanyanothercave，liethebonesofanimalswhichthesavagesate，andcrackedtogetthemarrowoutofthem，mixedupwiththeirflint—weaponsandboneharpoons，andsometimeswithburntashesandwithroundstones，usedperhapstoheatwater，assavagesdonow，allbakedtogetherintoahardpasteorbrecciabythelime。Theseareinthewater，andareoftencoveredwithafloorofstalagmitewhichhasdrippedfromtheroofaboveandhardenedintostone。OfthesecavesandtheirbeautifulwondersImusttellyouanotherday。Wemustkeepnowtoourfairytale。Butinthesecaves，nodoubt，thesavageslived；fornotonlyhaveweaponsbeenfoundinthem，butactuallydrawingsscratched（Isupposewithflint）onboneormammothivory——drawingsofelk，andbull，andhorse，andibex——andone，whichwasfoundinFrance，ofthegreatmammothhimself，thewoollyelephant，withamaneonhisshoulderslikealion’smane。
Soyouseethatoneoftheearliestfanciesofthisstrangecreature，calledman，wastodraw，asyouandyourschoolfellowslovetodraw，andcopywhatyousee，youknownotwhy。Rememberthat。Youliketodraw；butwhyyoulikeitneitheryounoranymancantell。Itisoneofthemysteriesofhumannature；andthatpoorsavageclothedinskins，dirtyitmaybe，andmoreignorantthanyou（happily）canconceive，whenhesatscratchingonivoryinthecavethefiguresoftheanimalshehunted，wasprovingtherebythathehadthesamewonderfulandmysterioushumannatureasyou——thathewasthekinsmanofeverypainterandsculptorwhoeverfeltitadelightanddutytocopythebeautifulworksofGod。
Sometimes，again，especiallyinDenmark，thesesavageshaveleftbehindupontheshoremoundsofdirt，whicharecalledthere"kjokken—moddings"——"kitchen—middens"astheywouldsayinScotland，"kitchen—dirtheaps"asweshouldsayheredownSouth——
andaverygoodnameforthemthatis；fortheyaremadeupoftheshellsofoysters，cockles，mussels，andperiwinkles，andothershore—shellsbesides，onwhichthosepoorcreaturesfed；andmingledwiththemarebrokenbonesofbeasts，andfishes，andbirds，andflintknives，andaxes，andslingstones；andhereandtherehearths，onwhichtheyhavecookedtheirmealsinsomeroughway。Andthatisnearlyallweknowaboutthem；butthisweknowfromthesizeofcertainoftheshells，andfromotherreasonswhichyouwouldnotunderstand，thatthesemoundsweremadeanenormoustimeago，whenthewateroftheBalticSeawasfarmoresaltthanitisnow。
Butwhathasallthistodowithmyfairytale？This：—
Supposethatthesepeople，afterall，hadbeenfairies？
Iaminearnest。Ofcourse，Idonotmeanthatthesefolkcouldmakethemselvesinvisible，orthattheyhadanysupernaturalpowers——anymore，atleast，thanyouandIhave——orthattheywereanythingbutsavages；butthisIdothink，thatoutofoldstoriesofthesesavagesgrewupthestoriesoffairies，elves，andtrolls，andscratlings，andcluricaunes，andogres，ofwhichyouhavereadsomany。
Whenstrongerandbolderpeople，liketheIrish，andtheHighlandersofScotland，andtheGaulsofFrance，camenorthwardwiththeirbronzeandironweapons；andstillmore，whenourownforefathers，theGermansandtheNorsemen，came，thesepoorlittlesavageswiththeirflintarrowsandaxes，werenomatchforthem，andhadtorunawaynorthward，ortobeallkilledout；forpeoplewerefierceandcruelinthoseoldtimes，andlookedoneveryoneofadifferentracefromthemselvesasanaturalenemy。Theyhadnotlearnt——alas！toomanyhavenotlearnedityet——thatallmenarebrothersforthesakeofJesusChristourLord。Sothesepoorsavagesweredrivenout，tillnonewereleft，savethelittleLappsupinthenorthofNorway，wheretheylivetothisday。
Butstoriesofthem，andofhowtheydweltincaves，andhadstrangecustoms，andusedpoisonedweapons，andhowtheelf—bolts（astheirflintarrow—headsarestillcalled）belongedtothem，lingeredon，andweretoldroundthefireonwinternightsandaddedto，andplayedwithhalfinfun，tillahundredlegendssprangupaboutthem，whichusedoncetobebelievedbygrown—upfolk，butwhichnowonlyamusechildren。Andbecausesomeofthesesavageswereveryshort，astheLappsandEsquimauxarenow，thestorygrewoftheirbeingsosmallthattheycouldmakethemselvesinvisible；andbecauseothersofthemwere（butprobablyonlyafew）verytallandterrible，thestorygrewthatthereweregiantsinthatoldworld，likethatfamousGogmagog，whomBrutusandhisBritonsmet（sooldfablestell），whentheylandedfirstatPlymouth，andfoughthim，andthrewhimoverthecliff。Ogres，too——ofwhomyoureadinfairytales——Iamafraidthatthereweresuchpeopleonce，evenhereinEurope；strongandterriblesavages，whoatehumanbeings。Ofcourse，thelegendsandtalesaboutthembecameridiculousandexaggeratedastheypassedfrommouthtomouthovertheChristmasfire，inthedayswhennoonecouldreadorwrite。Butthatthetalesbeganbybeingtrueanyonemaywellbelievewhoknowshowmanycannibalsavagesthereareintheworldevennow。Ithinkthat，ifevertherewasanogreintheworld，hemusthavebeenverylikeacertainpersonwholived，orwasburied，inacaveintheNeanderthal，betweenElberfeldandDusseldorf，ontheLowerRhine。
Theskullandboneswhichwerefoundthere（andwhichareveryfamousnowamongscientificmen）belongedtoapersonagewhomI
shouldhavebeenverysorrytomeet，andstillmoretoletyoumeet，inthewildforest；toasavageofenormousstrengthoflimb（andIsupposeofjaw）likewise"likeanape，Withforeheadvillainouslow，"
whocouldhaveeatenyouifhewould；and（Ifear）alsowouldhaveeatenyouifhecould。Suchsavagesmayhavelingered（Ibelieve，fromtheoldballadsandromances，thattheydidlinger）foralongtimeinlonelyforestsandmountaincaves，tilltheywereallkilledoutbywarriorswhoworemail—armourandcarriedsteelsword，andbattle—axe，andlance。
Buthadthesepeopleanyreligion？
Mydearchild，wecannotknow，andneednotknow。Butweknowthis——thatGodbeholdsalltheheathen。Hefashionstheheartsofthem，andunderstandethalltheirworks。AndweknowalsothatHeisjustandgood。Thesepoorfolkswere，Idoubtnot，happyenoughintheirway；andweareboundtobelieve（forwehavenoproofagainstit），thatmostofthemwerehonestandharmlessenoughlikewise。Ofcourse，ogresandcannibals，andcruelandbrutalpersons（iftherewereanyamongthem），deservedpunishment——andpunishment，Idonotdoubt，theygot。But，ofcourse，again，noneofthemknewthingswhichyouknow；butforthatveryreasontheywerenotboundtodomanythingswhichyouareboundtodo。Forthosetowhomlittleisgiven，ofthemshalllittleberequired。Whattheirreligionwaslike，orwhethertheyhadanyreligionatall，wecannottell。Butthiswecantell，thatknownuntoGodareallHisworksfromthecreationoftheworld；andthatHismercyisoverallHisworks，andHehatethnothingthatHehasmade。Thesemenandwomen，whatevertheywere，wereGod’swork；andthereforewemaycomfortourselveswiththecertaintythat，whetherornottheyknewGod，Godknewthem。
Andsoendsmyfairytale。
Butisitnotawonderfultale？Morewonderful，ifyouwillthinkoverit，thananystoryinventedbyman。Butsoitalwaysis。
"Truth，"wisementellus，"isstrangerthanfiction。"Evenachildlikeyouwillseethatitmustbeso，ifyouwillbutrecollectwhomakesfiction，andwhomakesfacts。
Manmakesfiction：heinventsstories，prettyenough，fantasticalenough。Butoutofwhatdoeshemakethemup？Outofafewthingsinthisgreatworldwhichhehasseen，andheard，andfelt，justashemakesuphisdreams。Butwhomakestruth？Whomakesfacts？Who，butGod？
Thentruthisasmuchlargerthanfiction，asGodisgreaterthanman；asmuchlargerasthewholeuniverseislargerthanthelittlecornerofitthatanyman，eventhegreatestpoetorphilosopher，cansee；andasmuchgrander，andasmuchmorebeautiful，andasmuchmorestrange。Foroneisthewhole，andtheotherisone，afewtinyscrapsofthewhole。TheoneistheworkofGod；theotheristheworkofman。Besurethatnomancaneverfancyanythingstrange，unexpected，andcurious，withoutfindingifhehadeyestosee，ahundredthingsaroundhisfeetmorestrange，moreunexpected，morecurious，actuallyready—madealreadybyGod。Youarefondoffairytales，becausetheyarefanciful，andlikeyourdreams。Mydearchild，asyoureyesopentothetruefairytalewhichMadamHowcantellyoualldaylong，nurserystorieswillseemtoyoupooranddull。Allthosefeelingsinyouwhichyournurserytalescallout，——imagination，wonder，awe，pity，andItrusttoo，hopeandlove——willbecalledout，Ibelieve，bytheTaleofallTales，thetrue"MarchenallenMarchen，"somuchmorefullyandstronglyandpurely，thatyouwillfeelthatnovelsandstory—booksarescarcelyworthyourreading，aslongasyoucanreadthegreatgreenbook，ofwhicheverybudisaletter，andeverytreeapage。
Wonderifyouwill。Youcannotwondertoomuch。Thatyoumightwonderallyourlifelong，Godputyouintothiswondrousworld，andgaveyouthatfacultyofwonderwhichhehasnotgiventothebrutes；whichisatoncethemotherofsoundscience，andapledgeofimmortalityinaworldmorewondrouseventhanthis。Butwonderattherightthing，notatthewrong；attherealmiraclesandprodigies，notatthesham。Wondernotattheworldofman。
Wastenotyouradmiration，interest，hopeonit，itsprettytoys，gayfashions，fineclothes，tawdryluxuries，sillyamusements。
WonderattheworksofGod。Youwillnot，perhaps，takemyadviceyet。Theworldofmanlookssopretty，thatyouwillneedshaveyourpeepatit，andstareintoitsshopwindows；andifyoucan，gotoafewofitsstageplays，anddanceatafewofitsballs。
Ah——well——Afterawilddreamcomesanuneasywakening；andaftertoomanysweetthings，comesasickheadache。Andonemorningyouwillawake，Itrustandpray，fromtheworldofmantotheworldofGod，andwonderwherewonderisdue，andworshipwhereworshipisdue。Youwillawakelikeachildwhohasbeenatapantomimeovernight，staringatthe"fairyhalls，"whichareallpaintandcanvas；andthe"dazzlingsplendours，"whicharegasandoil；andthe"magictransformations，"whicharedonewithropesandpulleys；andthe"brilliantelves，"whoarepoorlittlechildrenoutofthenextfoulalley；andtheharlequinandclown，whothroughalltheirfunarethinkingwearilyovertheolddebtswhichtheymustpay，andthehungrymouthsathomewhichtheymustfeed：andso，havingthoughtitallwondrouslyglorious，andquiteafairyland，slipstiredandstupidintobed，andwakesnextmorningtoseethepurelightshininginthroughthedelicatefrost—laceonthewindow—pane，andlooksoutoverfieldsofvirginsnow，andwatchestherosydawnandcloudlessblue，andthegreatsunrisingtothemusicofcawingrooksandpipingstares，andsays，"Thisisthetruewonder。Thisisthetrueglory。Thetheatrelastnightwasthefairylandofman；butthisisthefairylandofGod。"
CHAPTERVII——THECHALK—CARTS
Whatdoyouwanttoknowaboutnext？Moreaboutthecavesinwhichtheoldsavageslived，——howtheyweremade，andhowthecuriousthingsinsidethemgotthere，andsoforth。
Well，wewilltalkaboutthatingoodtime：butnow——Whatisthatcomingdownthehill？
Oh，onlysomechalk—carts。
Onlysomechalk—carts？Itseemstomethatthesechalk—cartsaretheverythingswewant；thatifwefollowthemfarenough——Idonotmeanwithourfeetalongthepublicroad，butwithourthoughtsalongaroadwhich，Iamsorrytosay，thepublicdonotyetknowmuchabout——weshallcometoacave，andunderstandhowacaveismade。Meanwhile，donotbeinahurrytosay，"Onlyachalk—cart，"oronlyamouse，oronlyadeadleaf。Chalk—carts，likemice，anddeadleaves，andmostothermattersintheuniverseareverycuriousandoddthingsintheeyesofwiseandreasonablepeople。WheneverIhearyoungmensaying"only"thisand"only"
that，Ibegintosuspectthemofbelonging，nottothenoblearmyofsages——muchlesstothemostnoblearmyofmartyrs，——buttotheignoblearmyofnoodles，whothinknothinginterestingorimportantbutdinners，andballs，andraces，andback—bitingtheirneighbours；andIshouldbesorrytoseeyouenlistinginthatregimentwhenyougrowup。Butthink——arenotchalk—cartsveryoddandcuriousthings？Ithinktheyare。Tomymind，itisacuriousquestionhowmeneverthoughtofinventingwheels；and，again，whentheyfirstthoughtofit。Itisacuriousquestion，too，howmeneverfoundoutthattheycouldmakehorsesworkforthem，andsobegantotamethem，insteadofeatingthem，andacuriousquestion（whichIthinkweshallnevergetanswered）whenthefirsthorse—tamerlived，andinwhatcountry。Andaverycurious，and，tome，abeautifulsightitis，toseethosetwonoblehorsesobeyingthatlittleboy，whomtheycouldkillwithasinglekick。