Andhowisitkeptgood?
  Lookatallthoseloadsofhay,whicharebeingcarriedoffthefield。Doyouthinkyoucantakeallthatawaywithoutputtinganythinginitsplace?
  Whynot?
  IfItookallthebutteroutofthechurn,whatmustIdoifI
  wantmorebutterstill?
  Putmorecreamin。
  So,ifIwantmoregrasstogrow,Imustputonthesoilmoreofwhatgrassismadeof。
  Butthebutterdon’tgrow,andthegrassdoes。
  Whatdoesthegrassgrowin?
  Thesoil。
  Yes。Justasthebuttergrowsinthechurn。Soyoumustputfreshgrass—stuffcontinuallyintothesoil,asyouputfreshcreamintothechurn。Youhaveheardthefarmmensay,"Thatcrophastakenagooddealoutoftheland"?
  Yes。
  Thentheyspokeexacttruth。WhatwillthathayturnintobyChristmas?Can’tyoutell?Intomilk,ofcourse,whichyouwilldrink;andintohorsefleshtoo,whichyouwilluse。
  Usehorseflesh?Noteatit?
  No;wehavenotgotasfarasthat。WedidnotevenmakeupourmindstotastetheCambridgedonkey。Buteverytimethehorsedrawsthecarriage,heusesupsomuchmuscle;andthatmusclehemustgetbackagainbyeatinghayandcorn;andthathayandcornmustbeputbackagainintothelandbymanure,ortherewillbeallthelessforthehorsenextyear。Foronecannoteatone’scakeandkeepittoo;andnomorecanoneeatone’sgrass。
  Sothisfieldisatrulywonderfulplace。Itisnouglypileofbrickandmortar,withatallchimneypouringoutsmokeandevilsmells,withunhealthy,haggardpeopletoilinginside。Whydoyoulooksurprised?
  Because——becausenobodyeversaiditwas。Youmeanamanufactory。
  Well,andthishay—fieldisamanufactory:onlylikemostofMadamHow’sworkshops,infinitelymorebeautiful,aswellasinfinitelymorecrafty,thananymanufactoryofman’sbuilding。
  Itisbeautifultobehold,andhealthytoworkin;ajoyandblessingaliketotheeye,andthemind,andthebody:andyetitisamanufactory。
  Butamanufactoryofwhat?
  Ofmilkofcourse,andcows,andsheep,andhorses;andofyourbodyandmine——forweshalldrinkthemilkandeatthemeat。Andthereforeitisafleshandmilkmanufactory。Wemustputintoiteveryyearyard—stuff,tank—stuff,guano,bones,andanythingandeverythingofthatkin,thatMadamHowmaycookitforusintograss,andcookthegrassagainintomilkandmeat。Butifwedon’tgiveMadamHowmaterialtoworkon,wecannotexpecthertoworkforus。Andwhatdoyouthinkwillhappenthen?Shewillsettoworkforherself。Therichgrasseswilldwindleforwantofammonia(thatissmellingsalts),andtherichcloversforwantofphosphates(thatisbone—earth):andintheirplaceswillcomeoverthebanktheoldweedsandgrassoffthemoor,whichhavenotroomtogetinnow,becausethegroundiscovetedalready。Theywantnoammonianorphosphates——atalleventstheyhavenone,andthatiswhythecattleonthemoornevergetfat。Sotheycanlivewheretheserichgrassescannot。Andthentheywillconquerandthrive;andtheFieldwillturnintoWildoncemore。
  Ah,mychild,thankGodforyourforefathers,whenyoulookoverthatboundarymark。ForthedifferencebetweentheFieldandtheWildisthedifferencebetweentheoldEnglandofMadamHow’smaking,andthenewEnglandwhichshehastaughtmantomake,carryingonwhatshehadonlybegunandhadnottimetofinish。
  Thatmoorisapatternbitlefttoshowwhatthegreaterpartofthislandwaslikeforlongagesafterithadrisenoutofthesea;whentherewaslittleornothingontheflatuppermoorssaveheaths,andling,andclub—mosses,andsoftgorse,andneedle—
  whin,andcreepingwillows;andfurzeandfernuponthebrows;andinthebottomsoakandash,beechandalder,hazelandmountainash,hollyandthorn,withhereandthereanaspenorabuckthorn(berry—bearingalderasyoucallit),andeverywhere——wherehecouldthrustdownhislongroot,andthrustuphislongshoots——
  thatintrudingconquerorandinsolenttyrant,thebramble。Thereweresedgesandrushes,too,inthebogs,andcoarsegrassontheforestpastures——or"leas"aswecallthemtothisdayroundhere—
  —butnorealgreenfields;and,Isuspect,veryfewgayflowers,saveinspringthesheetsofgoldengorse,andinsummerthepurpleheather。SuchwasoldEngland——orrather,suchwasthislandbeforeitwasEngland;afarsadder,damper,poorerlandthannow。Foronemanoronecoworsheepwhichcouldhavelivedonitthen,ahundredcanlivenow。Andyet,whatitwasonce,thatitmightbecomeagain,——itsurelywouldroundhere,ifthisbraveEnglishpeoplediedoutofit,andthelandwaslefttoitselfoncemore。
  Whatwouldhappenthen,youmayguessforyourself,fromwhatyouseehappenwheneverthelandislefttoitself,asitisinthewoodabove。Inthatwoodyoucanstillseethegrassridgesandfurrowswhichshowthatitwasonceploughedandsownbyman;
  perhapsaslateasthetimeofHenrytheEighth,whenagreatdealofpoorland,asyouwillreadsomeday,wasthrownoutoftillage,tobecomeforestanddownoncemore。Andwhatisthemountnow?Ajungleofoakandbeech,cherryandholly,youngandoldallgrowinguptogether,withthemountainashandbrambleandfurzecomingupsofastbeneaththem,thatwehavetocutthepathsclearagainyearbyyear。Why,eventhelittlecow—wheat,averyold—worldplant,whichonlygrowsinancientwoods,hasfounditswaybackagain,Iknownotwhence,andcoverstheopenspaceswithitsprettyyellowandwhiteflowers。Manhadconqueredthismount,yousee,fromMadamHow,hundredsofyearsago。Andshealwaysletsmanconquerher,becauseLadyWhywishesmantoconquer:onlyhemusthaveafairfightwithMadamHowfirst,andtryhisstrengthagainstherstotheutmost。Somanconqueredthewoodforawhile;anditbecamecornfieldinsteadofforest:buthewasnotstrongandwiseenoughthreehundredyearsagotokeepwhathehadconquered;andbackcameMadamHow,andtooktheplaceintoherownhands,andbadetheoldforesttreesandplantscomebackagain——astheywouldcomeiftheywerenotstoppedyearbyyear,downfromthewood,overthepastures——killingtherichgrassesastheywent,tilltheymetanotherforestcomingupfrombelow,andfoughtitformanyayear,tillbothmadepeace,andlivedquietlysidebysideforages。
  Anotherforestcomingupfrombelow?Wherewoulditcomefrom?
  Fromwhereitisnow。Comedownandlookalongthebrook,andeverydrainandgripwhichrunsintothebrook。Whatishere?
  Seedlingalders,andsomewithiesamongthem。
  Verywell。Youknowhowwepullthesealdersup,andcutthemdown,andyettheycontinuallycomeagain。Now,ifweandallhumanbeingsweretoleavethispastureforafewhundredyears,wouldnotthosealdersincreaseintoawood?Wouldtheynotkillthegrass,andspreadrightandleft,seedingthemselvesmoreandmoreasthegrassdied,andleftthegroundbare,tilltheymettheoaksandbeechescomingdownthehill?Andthenwouldbeginagreatfight,foryearsandyears,betweenoakandbeechagainstalderandwillow。
  Buthowcantreesfight?Couldtheymoveorbeateachotherwiththeirboughs?
  Notquitethat;thoughtheydobeateachotherwiththeirboughs,fiercelyenough,inagaleofwind;andthenthetreeswhohavestrongandstiffboughswoundthosewhohavebrittleandlimpboughs,andsohurtthem,andifthestormscomeoftenenough,killthem。Butamongthesetreesinashelteredvalleythelargerandstrongerwouldkilltheweakerandsmallerbysimplyovershadowingtheirtops,andstarvingtheirroots;starvingthem,indeed,somuchwhentheygrowverythick,thatthepoorlittleacorns,andbeechmast,andalderseedswouldnotbeabletosproutatall。Sotheywouldfight,killingeachother’schildren,tillthewarended——IthinkIcanguesshow。
  How?
  Thebeechesareasdaintyastheyarebeautiful;andtheydonotliketogettheirfeetwet。Sotheywouldventuredownthehillonlyasfarasthedrygroundlasts,andthosewhotriedtogrowanylowerwoulddie。Buttheoaksarehardy,anddonotcaremuchwheretheygrow。Sotheywouldfighttheirwaydownintothewetgroundamongthealdersandwillows,tilltheycametowheretheirenemiesweresothickandtall,thattheacornsastheyfellcouldnotsproutinthedarkness。Andsoyouwouldhaveatlast,alongthehill—side,aforestofbeechandoak,lowerdownaforestofoakandalder,andalongthestream—sidealdersandwillowsonly。
  Andthatwouldbeaveryfairexampleofthegreatlawofthestruggleforexistence,whichcausesthecompetitionofspecies。
  Whatisthat?
  MadamHowisverystern,thoughsheisalwaysperfectlyjust;andthereforeshemakeseverylivingthingfightforitslife,andearnitsbread,fromitsbirthtillitsdeath;andrewardsitexactlyaccordingtoitsdeserts,andneithermorenorless。
  Andthecompetitionofspeciesmeans,thateachthing,andkindofthings,hastocompeteagainstthethingsroundit;andtoseewhichisthestronger;andthestrongerlive,andbreed,andspread,andtheweakerdieout。
  Butthatisveryhard。
  Iknowit,mychild,Iknowit。Butsoitis。AndMadamHow,nodoubt,wouldbeoftenveryclumsyandverycruel,withoutmeaningit,becausesheneverseesbeyondherownnose,orthinksatallabouttheconsequencesofwhatsheisdoing。ButLadyWhy,whodoesthinkaboutconsequences,ishermistress,andordersheraboutforever。AndLadyWhyis,Ibelieve,aslovingassheiswise;andthereforewemusttrustthatsheguidesthisgreatwarbetweenlivingthings,andtakescarethatMadamHowkillsnothingwhichoughtnottodie,andtakesnothingawaywithoutputtingsomethingmorebeautifulandsomethingmoreusefulinitsplace;
  andthatevenifEnglandwere,whichGodforbid,overrunoncemorewithforestsandbramble—brakes,thattoowouldbeofusesomehow,somewhere,somewhen,inthelongageswhicharetocomehereafter。
  Andyoumustremember,too,thatsincemencameintotheworldwithrationalheadsontheirshoulders,LadyWhyhasbeenhandingovermoreandmoreofMadamHow’sworktothem,andsomeofherownworktoo:andbidsthemtoputbeautifulandusefulthingsintheplaceofuglyanduselessones;sothatnowitismen’sownfaultiftheydonotusetheirwits,anddobyalltheworldwhattheyhavedonebythesepastures——changeitfromabarrenmoorintoarichhay—field,bycopyingthelawsofMadamHow,andmakinggrasscompeteagainstheath。Butyoulookthoughtful:
  whatisityouwanttoknow?
  Why,yousayalllivingthingsmustfightandscrambleforwhattheycangetfromeachother:andmustnotItoo?ForIamalivingthing。
  Ah,thatistheoldquestion,whichourLordansweredlongago,andsaid,"Benotanxiouswhatyeshalleatorwhatyeshalldrink,orwherewithalyoushallbeclothed。Forafterallthesethingsdotheheathenseek,andyourHeavenlyFatherknoweththatyehaveneedofthesethings。ButseekyefirstthekingdomofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddedtoyou。"Afew,veryfew,peoplehavetakenthatadvice。Buttheyhavebeenjustthesaltoftheearth,whichhaskeptmankindfromdecaying。
  Butwhathasthattodowithit?
  See。Youarealivingthing,yousay。Areyouaplant?
  No。
  Areyouananimal?
  Idonotknow。Yes。IsupposeIam。Ieat,anddrink,andsleep,justasdogsandcatsdo。
  Yes。Thereisnodenyingthat。NooneknewthatbetterthanSt。
  Paulwhenhetoldmenthattheyhadaflesh;thatis,abody,andananimal’snatureinthem。ButSt。Paultoldthem——ofcoursehewasnotthefirsttosayso,forallthewiseheathenshaveknownthat——thattherewassomethingmoreinus,whichhecalledaspirit。Somecallitnowthemoralsentiment,someonething,someanother,butwewillkeeptotheoldword:weshallnotfindabetter。
  Yes,IknowthatIhaveaspirit,asoul。
  Bettertosaythatyouareaspirit。ButwhatdoesSt。Paulsay?
  Thatourspiritistoconquerourflesh,andkeepitdown。Thatthemaninus,inshort,whichismadeinthelikenessofGod,istoconquertheanimalinus,whichismadeinthelikenessofthedogandthecat,andsometimes(Ifear)inthelikenessoftheapeorthepig。Youwouldnotwishtobelikeacat,muchlesslikeanapeorapig?
  Ofcoursenot。
  Thendonotcopythem,bycompetingandstrugglingforexistenceagainstotherpeople。
  Whatdoyoumean?
  Didyouneverwatchthepigsfeeding?
  Yes,andhowtheygrudgeandquarrel,andshoveeachother’snosesoutofthetrough,andevenbiteeachotherbecausetheyaresojealouswhichshallgetmost。
  Thatisit。Andhowthebiggestpigdrivestheothersaway,andwouldstarvethemwhilehegotfat,ifthemandidnotdrivehimoffinhisturn。
  Oh,yes;Iknow。
  Thennowiserthanthosepigsareworldlymenwhocompete,andgrudge,andstrugglewitheachother,whichshallgetmostmoney,mostfame,mostpowerovertheirfellow—men。Theywilltellyou,mychild,thatthatisthetruephilosophy,andthetruewisdom;
  thatcompetitionisthenaturallawofsociety,andthesourceofwealthandprosperity。Donotyoulistentothem。Thatisthewisdomofthisworld,whichthefleshteachestheanimals;andthosewhofollowit,liketheanimals,willperish。SuchmenarenotevenaswiseasSweeptheretriever。
  NotaswiseasSweep?
  Notthey。SweepwillnottakeawayVictor’sbone,thoughheistentimesasbigasVictor,andcouldkillhiminamoment;andwhenhecatchesarabbit,doesheeatithimself?
  Ofcoursenot;hebringsitandlaysitdownatourfeet。
  Becausehelikesbettertodohisduty,andbepraisedforit,thantoeattherabbit,dearlyashelongstoeatit。
  Butheisonlyananimal。Whotaughthimtobegenerous,anddutiful,andfaithful?
  Who,indeed!Notwe,youknowthat,forhehasgrownupwithussinceapuppy。Howhelearntit,andhisparentsbeforehim,isamystery,ofwhichwecanonlysay,Godhastaughtthem,weknownothow。Butseewhathashappened——thatjustbecausedogshavelearntnottobeselfishandtocompete——thatis,havebecomecivilisedandtame——thereforeweletthemlivewithus,andlovethem。Becausetheytrytobegoodintheirsimpleway,thereforetheytoohaveallthingsaddedtothem,andlivefarhappier,andmorecomfortablelivesthantheselfishwolfandfox。
  Butwhyhavenotallanimalsfoundoutthat?
  Icannottell:theremaybewiseanimalsandfoolishanimals,astherearewiseandfoolishmen。Indeedthereare。Iseeaverywiseanimalthere,whonevercompetes;forshehaslearnedsomethingofthegoldenlesson——thatitismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive;andsheactsonwhatshehaslearnt,alldaylong。
  Whichdoyoumean?Why,thatisabee。
  Yes,itisabee:andIwishIwereasworthyinmyplaceasthatbeeisinhers。IwishIcouldactupaswellasshedoestothetruewisdom,whichisself—sacrifice。Forwhomisthatbeeworking?Forherself?Ifthatwasall,sheonlyneedstosuckthehoneyasshegoes。Butsheisstoringupthewaxunderherstomach,andbee—breadinherthighs——forwhom?Notforherselfonly,orevenforherownchildren:butforthechildrenofanotherbee,herqueen。Forthemshelaboursalldaylong,buildsforthem,feedsthem,nursesthem,spendsherloveandcunningonthem。Sodoesthatantonthepath。Sheiscarryinghomethatsticktobuildforotherants’children。Sodothewhiteantsinthetropics。Theyhavelearntnottocompete,buttohelpeachother;nottobeselfish,buttosacrificethemselves;andthereforetheyarestrong。
  Butyoutoldmeoncethatantswouldfightandplundereachother’snests。Andoncewesawtwohivesofbeesfightingintheair,andfallingdeadbydozens。
  Mychild,donotmenfight,andkilleachotherbythousandswithsharpshotandcoldsteel,because,thoughtheyhavelearntthevirtueofpatriotism,theyhavenotyetlearntthatofhumanity?
  Wemustnotblamethebeesandantsiftheyarenowiserthanmen。
  Atleasttheyarewiseenoughtostandupfortheircountry,thatis,theirhive,andworkforit,anddieforit,ifneedbe;andthatmakesthemstrong。
  Buthowdoesthatmakethemstrong?
  How,isadeepquestion,andoneIcanhardlyansweryet。Butthatithasmadethemsothereisnodoubt。Lookatthesolitarybees——thegovernorsaswecallthem,wholiveinpairs,inlittleholesinthebanks。Howfewofthemthereare;andtheyneverseemtoincreaseinnumbers。Thenlookatthehivebees,how,justbecausetheyarecivilised,——thatis,becausetheyhelpeachother,andfeedeachother,insteadofbeingsolitaryandselfish,——theybreedsofast,andgetsomuchfood,thatiftheywerenotkilledfortheirhoney,theywouldsoonbecomeanuisance,anddriveusoutoftheparish。
  Butthenwegivethemtheirhivesreadymade。
  True。Butinoldforestcountries,wheretreesdecayandgrowhollow,thebeesbreedinthem。
  Yes。Irememberthebeetreeinthefiravenue。
  Wellthen,inmanyforestsinhotcountriesthebeesswarminhollowtrees;andthey,andtheants,andthewhiteants,haveitalltheirownway,andarelordsandmasters,drivingtheverywildbeastsbeforethem,whiletheantsandwhiteantseatupallgardens,andplantations,andclothes,andfurniture;tillitisaseriousquestionwhetherinsomehotcountriesmanwilleverbeabletosettle,sostronghavetheantsgrown,byagesofcivilisation,andnotcompetingagainsttheirbrothersandsisters。
  ButmayInotcompeteforprizesagainsttheotherboys?
  Well,thereisnoharminthat;foryoudonotharmtheothers,evenifyouwin。Theywillhavelearntallthemore,whiletryingfortheprize;andsowillyou,evenifyoudon’tgetit。ButI
  tellyoufairly,tryingforprizesisonlyfitforachild;andwhenyoubecomeaman,youmustputawaychildishthings——
  competitionamongtherest。
  ButsurelyImaytrytobebetterandwiserandmorelearnedthaneverybodyelse?
  Mydearestchild,whytryforthat?Trytobeasgood,andwise,andlearnedasyoucan,andifyoufindanyman,ortenthousandmen,superiortoyou,thankGodforit。Doyouthinkthattherecanbetoomuchwisdomintheworld?
  Ofcoursenot:butIshouldliketobethewisestmaninit。
  Thenyouwouldonlyhavetheheaviestburdenofallmenonyourshoulders。
  Why?
  Becauseyouwouldberesponsibleformorefoolishpeoplethananyoneelse。RememberwhatwiseoldMosessaid,whensomeonecameandtoldhimthatcertainmeninthecampwereprophesying——"WouldGodalltheLord’speopledidprophesy!"Yes;itwouldhavesavedMosesmanyaheartache,andmanyasleeplessnight,ifalltheJewshadbeenwiseashewas,andwiserstill。Sodonotyoucompetewithgoodandwisemen,butsimplycopythem:andwhateveryoudo,donotcompetewiththewolves,andtheapes,andtheswineofthisworld;forthatisagameatwhichyouaresuretobebeaten。
  Why?
  BecauseLadyWhy,ifshelovesyou(asItrustshedoes),willtakecarethatyouarebeaten,lestyoushouldfancyitwasreallyprofitabletolivelikeacunningsortofanimal,andnotlikeatrueman。AndhowshewilldothatIcantellyou。Shewilltakecarethatyoualwayscomeacrossaworsemanthanyouaretryingtobe,——amoreapishman,whocantumbleandplaymonkey—tricksforpeople’samusementbetterthanyoucan;oramoreswinishman,whocangetatmoreofthepig’s—washthanyoucan;oramorewolfishman,whowilleatyouupifyoudonotgetoutofhisway;
  andsoshewilldisappointanddisgustyou,mychild,withthatgreedy,selfish,vainanimallife,tillyouturnroundandseeyourmistake,andtrytolivethetruehumanlife,whichalsoisdivine;——tobejustandhonourable,gentleandforgiving,generousanduseful——inoneword,tofearGod,andkeepHiscommandments:
  andasyoulivethatlife,youwillfindthat,bytheeternallawsofLadyWhy,allotherthingswillbeaddedtoyou;thatpeoplewillbegladtoknowyou,gladtohelpyou,gladtoemployyou,becausetheyseethatyouwillbeofusetothem,andwilldothemnoharm。Andifyoumeet(asyouwillmeet)withpeoplebetterandwiserthanyourself,thensomuchthebetterforyou;fortheywillloveyou,andbegladtoteachyouwhentheyseethatyouarelivingtheunselfishandharmlesslife;andthatyoucometothem,notasfoolishCritiascametoSocrates,tolearnpoliticalcunning,andbecomeaselfishandambitioustyrant,butaswisePlatocame,thathemightlearnthelawsofLadyWhy,andlovethemforhersake,andteachthemtoallmankind。Andsoyou,liketheplantsandanimals,willgetyourdesertsexactly,withoutcompetingandstrugglingforexistenceastheydo。
  Andallthishascomeoutoflookingatthehay—fieldandthewildmoor。
  Whynot?Thereisananimalinyou,andthereisamaninyou。
  Iftheanimalgetstheupperhand,allyourcharacterwillfallbackintowilduselessmoor;ifthemangetstheupperhand,allyourcharacterwillbecultivatedintorichandfertilefield。
  Choose。
  Nowcomedownhome。Thehaymakersarerestingunderthehedge。
  Thehorsesaredawdlinghometothefarm。Thesunisgettinglow,andtheshadowslong。Comehome,andgotobedwhilethehouseisfragrantwiththesmellofhay,anddreamthatyouarestillplayingamongthehaycocks。Whenyougrowold,youwillhaveotherandsadderdreams。
  CHAPTERXI——THEWORLD’SEND
  Hullo!hi!wakeup。Jumpoutofbed,andcometothewindow,andseewhereyouare。
  Whatawonderfulplace!
  Soitis:thoughitisonlypooroldIreland。Don’tyourecollectthatwhenwestartedItoldyouweweregoingtoIreland,andthroughittotheWorld’sEnd;andherewearenowsafeattheendoftheoldworld,andbeyondusthegreatAtlantic,andbeyondthatagain,thousandsofmilesaway,thenewworld,whichwillberichandprosperous,civilisedandnoble,thousandsofyearshence,whenthisoldworld,itmaybe,willbedead,andlittlechildrentherewillbereadingintheirhistorybooksofAncientEnglandandofAncientFrance,asyounowreadofGreeceandRome。
  Butwhatawonderfulplaceitis!Whatarethosegreatgreenthingsstandingupinthesky,alloverpurpleribsandbars,withtheirtopshidintheclouds?
  Thosearemountains;thebonesofsomeoldworld,whosepoorbaresidesMadamHowistryingtocoverwithrichgreengrass。
  Andhowfaroffarethey?
  HowIshouldliketowalkuptothetopofthatonewhichlooksquiteclose。
  Youwillfinditalongwalkupthere;threemiles,Idaresay,overblackbogsandbanksofrock,andupcorriesandcliffswhichyoucouldnotclimb。Thereareplentyofcowsonthatmountain:
  andyettheylooksosmall,youcouldnotseethem,norIeither,withoutaglass。Thatlongwhitestreak,zigzaggingdownthemountainside,isaroaringcataractoffoamfivehundredfeethigh,fullnowwithlastnight’srain;butbythisafternoonitwillhavedwindledtoalittlethread;andto—morrow,whenyougetup,ifnomorerainhascomedown,itwillbegone。MadamHowworkshereamongthemountainsswiftlyandhugely,andsometimesterriblyenough;asyoushallseewhenyouhavehadyourbreakfast,andcomedowntothebridgewithme。
  Butwhatabeautifulplaceitis!Flowersandwoodsandalawn;
  andwhatisthatgreatsmoothpatchinthelawnjustunderthewindow?
  Isitanemptyflower—bed?
  Ah,therebyhangsastrangetale。Wewillgoandlookatitafterbreakfast,andthenyoushallseewithyourowneyesoneofthewonderswhichIhavebeentellingyouof。
  Andwhatisthatshiningbetweenthetrees?
  Water。
  Isitalake?
  Notalake,thoughthereareplentyroundhere;thatissaltwater,notfresh。Lookawaytotheright,andyouseeitthroughtheopeningofthewoodsagainandagain:andnowlookabovethewoods。Youseeafaintblueline,andgrayandpurplelumpslikeclouds,whichrestuponitfaraway。That,child,isthegreatAtlanticOcean,andthoseareislandsinthefarwest。ThewaterwhichwashesthebottomofthelawnwasbutafewmonthsagopouringoutoftheGulfofMexico,betweentheBahamasandFlorida,andsweptawayhereasthegreatoceanriverofwarmwaterwhichwecalltheGulfStream,bringingwithitoutoftheopenoceantheshoalsofmackerel,andtheporpoisesandwhaleswhichfeeduponthem。Somefineafternoonwewillrundownthebayandcatchstrangefishes,suchasyouneversawbefore,andverylikelyseealivingwhale。
  What?suchawhaleastheygetwhalebonefrom,andwhicheatssea—
  moths?
  No,theylivefarnorth,intheArcticcircle;thesearegrampuses,andbottle—noses,whichfeedonfish;notsobigastherightwhales,butquitebigenoughtoastonishyou,ifonecomesupandblowsclosetotheboat。Getyourselfdressedandcomedown,andthenwewillgoout;weshallhaveplentytoseeandtalkofateverystep。
  Now,youhavefinishedyourbreakfastatlast,socomealong,andweshallseewhatweshallsee。Firstrunoutacrossthegravel,andscrambleupthatbankoflawn,andyouwillseewhatyoufanciedwasanemptyflower—bed。
  Why,itisallhardrock。
  Ah,youarecomeintothelandofrocksnow:outofthelandofsandandgravel;outofasoftyoungcorneroftheworldintoaveryhard,old,weather—beatencorner;andyouwillseerocksenough,andtoomanyforthepoorfarmers,beforeyougohomeagain。
  Buthowbeautifullysmoothandflattherockis:andyetitisallrounded。
  Whatisitlike?
  Like——likethehalfofashell。
  Notbadlysaid,butthinkagain。
  Like——like——Iknowwhatitislike。Likethebackofsomegreatmonsterpeepingupthroughtheturf。
  Youhavegotit。SuchrocksasthesearecalledinSwitzerland"rochesmoutonnees,"becausetheyare,peoplefancy,likesheep’sbacks。Nowlookatthecracksandlayersinit。Theyrunacrossthestone;theyhavenothingtodowiththeshapeofit。Youseethat?
  Yes:butherearecracksrunningacrossthem,allalongthestone,tilltheturfhidesthem。
  Lookatthemagain;theyarenocracks;theydonotgointothestone。
  Isee。Theyarescratched;somethinglikethoseontheelder—stemathome,wherethecatssharpentheirclaws。Butitwouldtakeabigcattomakethem。
  DoyourecollectwhatItoldyouofMadamHow’shand,moreflexiblethananyhandofman,andyetstrongenoughtogrindthemountainsintopaste?
  Iknow。Ice!ice!ice!Butarethesereallyice—marks?
  Child,ontheplacewherewenowstand,overrichlawns,andwarmwoods,andshininglochs,layonceonatimehundreds,itmaybethousands,offeetofsolidice,crawlingoffyondermountain—topsintotheoceanthereoutside;andthisisoneofitstracks。Seehowthescratchesallpointstraightdownthevalley,andstraightouttosea。Thosemountainsare2000feethigh:buttheyweremuchhigheronce;fortheicehasplanedthetopsoffthem。Then,itseemstome,theicesank,andleftthemountainsstandingoutofitabouthalftheirheight,andatthatlevelitstayed,tillithadplaneddownallthoselowermoorsofsmoothbarerockbetweenusandtheWesternocean;andthenitsankagain,anddwindledback,leavingmoraines(thatis,heapsofdirtandstones)allupthesevalleyshereandthere,tillatthelastitmeltedallaway,andpooroldIrelandbecamefittoliveinagain。
  Wewillgodownthebaysomedayandlookatthosemoraines,someofthemquitehillsofearth,andthenyouwillseeforyourselfhowmightyachiseltheice—chiselwas,andwhatvastheapsofchipsithasleftbehind。Nowthen,downoverthelawntowardsthebridge。Listentotheriver,louderandloudereverystepwetake。
  Whataroar!Isthereawaterfallthere?
  No。Itisonlytheflood。Andunderneaththeroarofthatflood,doyounothearadeepernote——adullrumbling,asiffromunderground?
  Yes。Whatisit?
  Therollingofgreatstonesunderwater,whicharebeingpolishedagainsteachother,astheyhurrytowardthesea。Now,upontheparapetofthebridge。Iwillholdyoutight。LookandseeMadamHow’srain—spadeatwork。Lookattheterribleyellowtorrentbelowus,almostfillingupthearchesofthebridge,andleapinghighinwavesandcrestsoffoam。
  Oh,thebridgeisfallingintothewater!
  Notabit。Youarenotaccustomedtoseewaterrunningbelowyouattenmilesanhour。Nevermindthatfeeling。Itwillgooffinafewseconds。Look;thewaterisfullsixfeetupthetrunksofthetrees;overthegrassandthekingfern,andthetallpurpleloose—strife—
  Oh!Herecomesatreedancingdown!
  Andtherearesometurfswhichhavebeencutonthemountain。Andthereisareallysadsight。Lookwhatcomesnow。
  One——two——three。
  Why,theyaresheep。
  Yes。Andasadlosstheywillbetosomepoorfellowintheglenabove。
  Andoh!Lookatthepigturningroundandroundsolemnlyinthecornerundertherock。Poorpiggy!Heoughttohavebeenathomesafeinhisstye,andnotwanderingaboutthehills。Andwhatarethesecomingnow?
  Butterfirkins,Ithink。Yes。Thisisagreatflood。Itiswelliftherearenoliveslost。
  ButisitnotcruelofMadamHowtomakesuchfloods?
  Well——letusaskoneofthesemenwhoarelookingoverthebridge。
  Why,whatdoeshesay?Icannotunderstandoneword。IshetalkingIrish?
  Irish—Englishatleast:butwhathesaidwas,thatitwasamightyfinefloodentirely,praisedbeGod;andwouldhelponthepotatoesandoatsafterthedrought,andsetthegrassgrowingagainonthemountains。
  Andwhatishesayingnow?
  Thattheriverwillbefullofsalmonandwhitetroutafterthis。
  Whatdoeshemean?
  Thatunderourfeetnow,ifwecouldseethroughthemuddywater,dozensofsalmonandsea—troutarerunningupfromthesea。
  What!upthisfuriousstream?
  Yes。Whatwouldbedeathtoyouispleasureandplaytothem。Uptheyaregoing,tospawninthelittlebrooksamongthemountains;
  andallofthemarethebestoffood,fattenedontheherringsandspratsintheseaoutside,MadamHow’sfreegift,whichdoesnotcostmanafarthing,savetheexpenseofnetsandrodstocatchthem。
  Howcanthatbe?
  Iwillgiveyouabitofpoliticaleconomy。Supposeapoundofsalmonisworthashilling;andapoundofbeefisworthashillinglikewise。Beforewecaneatthebeef,ithascostperhapstenpencetomakethatpoundofbeefoutofturnipsandgrassandoil—cake;andsothecountryisonlytwopenceapoundricherforit。ButMr。Salmonhasmadehimselfoutofwhatheeatsinthesea,andsohascostnothing;andtheshillingapoundisallcleargain。There——youdon’tquiteunderstandthatpieceofpoliticaleconomy。Indeed,itisonlyinthelasttwoorthreeyearsthatolderheadsthanyourshavegottounderstandit,andhavepassedthewisenewsalmonlaws,bywhichtheriverswillbeoncemoreasrichwithfoodasthelandis,justastheywerehundredsofyearsago。Butnow,lookagainattheriver。Whatdoyouthinkmakesitsoyellowandmuddy?
  Dirt,ofcourse。
  Andwheredoesthatcomefrom?
  Offthemountains?
  Yes。Tonsontonsofwhitemudarebeingcarrieddownpastusnow;andwherewilltheygo?
  Intothesea?
  Yes,andsinkthereinthestillwater,tomakenewstrataatthebottom;andperhapsinthem,ageshence,someonewillfindthebonesofthosesheep,andofpoorMr。Pigtoo,fossil—
  Andthebutterfirkinstoo。Whatfuntofindafossilbutterfirkin!
  Butnowliftupyoureyestothejaggedmountaincrests,andtheirdarksidesalllacedwithsilverstreams。Outofeverycrackandcrannytherealoft,therainisbringingdowndirt,andstonestoo,whichhavebeensplitoffbythewinter’sfrosts,deepeningeverylittlehollow,andsharpeningeverypeak,andmakingthehillsmorejaggedandsteepyearbyyear。
  Whentheicewentaway,thehillswereallscrapedsmoothandroundbytheglaciers,liketheflatrockuponthelawn;anduglyenoughtheymusthavelooked,mostlikegreatbrownbuns。Buteversincethen,MadamHowhasbeenscoopingthemoutagainbyherwater—chiselintodeepglens,mightycliffs,sharppeaks,suchasyouseealoft,andmakingtheoldhillsbeautifuloncemore。Why,eventheAlpsinSwitzerlandhavebeencarvedoutbyfrostandrain,outofsomegreatflat。TheverypeakoftheMatterhorn,ofwhichyouhavesooftenseenapicture,isbutonesinglepointleftofsomeenormousbunofrock。Alltheresthasbeencarvedawaybyrainandfrost;andsomedaytheMatterhornitselfwillbecarvedaway,anditslaststonetoppleintotheglacieratitsfoot。See,aswehavebeentalking,wehavegotintothewoods。
  Oh,whatbeautifulwoods,justlikeourown。
  Notquite。Therearesomethingsgrowingherewhichdonotgrowathome,asyouwillsoonsee。Andtherearenorocksathome,either,astherearehere。
  Howstrange,toseetreesgrowingoutofrocks!Howdotheirrootsgetintothestone?
  Thereisplentyofrichmouldinthecracksforthemtofeedon—
  "Healthtotheoakofthemountains;hetruststothemightoftherock—clefts。
  Deeplyhemines,andinpeacefeedsonthewealthofthestone。"
  Howmanysortsoftreesthereare——oak,andbirchandnuts,andmountain—ash,andhollyandfurze,andheather。
  Andifyouwenttosomeoftheislandsinthelakeupintheglen,youwouldfindwildarbutus——strawberry—tree,asyoucallit。Wewillgoandgetsomeonedayorother。
  Howlongandgreenthegrassis,evenontherocks,andtheferns,andthemoss,too。Everythingseemsricherherethanathome。
  Ofcourseitis。Youarehereinthelandofperpetualspring,wherefrostandsnowseldom,ornevercomes。
  Oh,lookatthefernsunderthisrock!Imustpicksome。
  Pickaway。Iwillwarrantyoudonotpickallthesorts。
  Yes。Ihavegotthemallnow。
  Notsohasty,child;thereisplentyofabeautifulferngrowingamongthatmoss,whichyouhavepassedover。Lookhere。
  What!thatlittlethingafern!
  Holdituptothelight,andsee。
  Whatalovelylittlething,likeatransparentsea—weed,hungonblackwire。Whatisit?
  Filmfern,Hymenophyllum。Butwhatareyoustaringatnow,withallyoureyes?
  Oh!thatrockcoveredwithgreenstarsandacloudoflittlewhiteandpinkflowersgrowingoutofthem。
  Aha!mygoodlittledog!Ithoughtyouwouldstandtothatgamewhenyoufoundit。
  Whatisit,though?
  Youmustanswerthatyourself。Youhaveseenitahundredtimesbefore。
  Why,itisLondonPride,thatgrowsinthegardenathome。
  Ofcourseitis:buttheIrishcallitSt。Patrick’scabbage;
  thoughitgotherealongtimebeforeSt。Patrick;andSt。Patrickmusthavebeenveryshortofgarden—stuffifheeverateit。
  ButhowdiditgetherefromLondon?
  No,no。HowdiditgettoLondonfromhence?Forfromthiscountryitcame。IsupposetheEnglishbroughtithomeinQueenBess’sorJamestheFirst’stime。
  Butifitiswildhere,andwillgrowsowellinEngland,whydowenotfinditwildinEnglandtoo?
  ForthesamereasonthattherearenotoadsorsnakesinIreland。
  TheyhadnotgotasfarasIrelandbeforeIrelandwaspartedofffromEngland。AndSt。Patrick’scabbage,andagoodmanyotherplants,hadnotgotasfarasEngland。
  Butwhy?
  Why,Idon’tknow。ButthisIknow:thatwhenMadamHowmakesanewsortofplantoranimal,shestartsitinonesingleplace,andleavesittotakecareofitselfandearnitsownliving——asshedoesyouandmeandeveryone——andspreadfromthatplaceallroundasfarasitcango。SoSt。Patrick’scabbagegotintothissouth—westofIreland,long,longago;andwassuchabravesturdylittleplant,thatitclambereduptothetopofthehighestmountains,andoveralltherocks。Butwhenitgottotherichlowlandstotheeastward,incountyCork,itfoundallthegroundtakenupalreadywithotherplants;andastheyhadenoughtodotolivethemselves,theywouldnotletSt。Patrick’scabbagesettleamongthem;andithadtobecontentwithlivinghereinthefar—west——and,whatwasverysad,hadnomeansofsendingwordtoitsbrothersandsistersinthePyreneeshowitwasgettingon。
  Whatdoyoumean?Areyoumakingfunofme?
  Nottheleast。Iamonlytellingyouaverystrangestory,whichisliterallytrue。Come,andsitdownonthisbench。Youcan’tcatchthatgreatbutterfly,heistoostrongonthewingforyou。
  Butoh,whatabeautifulone!
  Yes,orangeandblack,silverandgreen,agloriouscreature。Butyoumayseehimathomesometimes:thatplantclosetoyou,youcannotseeathome。
  Why,itisonlygreatspurge,suchasgrowsinthewoodsathome。
  No。ItisIrishspurgewhichgrowshere,andsometimesinDevonshire,andthenagaininthewestofEurope,downtothePyrenees。Don’ttouchit。Ourwoodspurgeispoisonousenough,butthisisworsestill;ifyougetadropofitsmilkonyourliporeye,youwillbeinagoniesforhalfaday。Thatistheevilplantwithwhichthepoacherskillthesalmon。
  Howdotheydothat?
  Whenthesalmonarespawningupinthelittlebrooks,andthewaterislow,theytakethatspurge,andgrinditbetweentwostonesunderwater,andletthemilkrundownintothepool;andatthatallthepoorsalmonturnupdead。Thencomesthewater—
  bailiff,andcatchesthepoachers。Thencomesthepoliceman,withhisswordathissideandhistruncheonunderhisarm:andthencomesa"cheapjourney"toTraleeGaol,inwhichthosefoolishpoacherssitandreconsiderthemselves,anddeterminenottobreakthesalmonlaws——atleasttillnexttime。
  Butwhyisitthatthisspurge,andSt。Patrick’scabbage,growonlyhereinthewest?Iftheygothereofthemselves,wheredidtheycomefrom?Alloutsidethereissea;andtheycouldnotfloatoverthat。
  Come,Isay,andsitdownonthisbench,andIwilltellyouatale,——thestoryoftheOldAtlantis,thesunkenlandinthefarWest。OldPlato,theGreek,toldlegendsofit,whichyouwillreadsomeday;andnowitseemsasifthoseoldlegendshadsometruthinthem,afterall。WearestandingnowononeofthelastremainingscrapsoftheoldAtlanticland。Lookdownthebay。Doyouseefaraway,under,themountains,littleislands,longandlow?
  Oh,yes。
  Someoftheseareoldslate,likethemountains;othersarelimestone;bitsoftheoldcoral—reeftothewestofIrelandwhichbecamedryland。
  Iknow。Youtoldmeaboutit。
  Thenthatland,whichisalleatenupbythewavesnow,oncejoinedIrelandtoCornwall,andtoSpain,andtotheAzores,andI
  suspecttotheCapeofGoodHope,andwhatisstranger,toLabrador,onthecoastofNorthAmerica。
  Oh!Howcanyouknowthat?
  Listen,andIwillgiveyouyourfirstlessoninwhatIcallBio—
  geology。
  Whatalongword!
  IfyoucanfindashorteroneIshallbeverymuchobligedtoyou,forIhatelongwords。Butwhatitmeansis,——Tellinghowthelandhaschangedinshape,bytheplantsandanimalsuponit。Andifyoueverread(asyouwill)Mr。Wallace’snewbookontheIndianArchipelago,youwillseewhatwonderfuldiscoveriesmenmaymakeaboutsuchquestionsiftheywillbutusetheircommonsense。Youknowthecommonpinkheather——ling,aswecallit?
  Ofcourse。
  Thenthatlinggrows,notonlyhereandinthenorthandwestofEurope,butintheAzorestoo;and,whatismorestrange,inLabrador。Now,aslingcanneitherswimnorfly,doesnotcommonsensetellyouthatallthosecountrieswereprobablyjoinedtogetherinoldtimes?
  Well:butitseemssostrange。
  Soitis,mychild;andsoiseverything。But,asthefoolsaysinShakespeare—
  "Alongtimeagotheworldbegan,Withheighho,thewindandtherain。"
  Andthewindandtherainhavemadestrangeworkwiththepooroldworldeversince。Andthatisaboutallthatwe,whoarenotverymuchwiserthanShakespeare’sfool,cansayaboutthematter。Butagain——theLondonPridegrowshere,andsodoesanothersaxifrageverylikeit,whichwecallSaxifragaGeum。Now,whenIsawthosetwoplantsgrowingintheWesternPyrenees,betweenFranceandSpain,andwiththemthebeautifulbluebutterwort,whichgrowsintheseKerrybogs——wewillgoandfindsome——whatcouldIsaybutthatSpainandIrelandmusthavebeenjoinedonce?
  Isupposeitmustbeso。
  Again。Thereisalittlepinkbutterworthereinthebogs,whichgrows,too,indearoldDevonshireandCornwall;andalsointhesouth—westofScotland。Now,whenIfoundthattoo,inthebogsnearBiarritz,closetothePyrenees,andknewthatitstretchedawayalongtheSpanishcoast,andintoPortugal,whatcouldmycommonsenseleadmetosaybutthatScotland,andIreland,andCornwall,andSpainwerealljoinedonce?Thoseareonlyafewexamples。Icouldgiveyouadozenmore。Forinstance,onanislandawaytheretothewest,andonlyinonespot,theregrowsalittlesortoflily,whichisfoundIbelieveinBrittany,andontheSpanishandPortugueseheaths,andeveninNorth—westAfrica。
  AndthatAfricaandSpainwerejoinednotsoverylongagoattheStraitsofGibraltarthereisnodoubtatall。
  ButwheredidtheMediterraneanSearunoutthen?
  Perhapsitdidnotrunoutatall;butwasasalt—waterlake,liketheCaspian,ortheDeadSea。PerhapsitranoutoverwhatisnowtheSahara,thegreatdesertofsand,for,thatwasasea—bottomnotlongago。
  Butthen,howwasthislandofAtlantisjoinedtotheCapeofGoodHope?
  Icannotsayhow,orwheneither。Butthisisplain:theplaceintheworldwherethemostbeautifulheathsgrowistheCapeofGoodHope?YouknowIshowedyouCapeheathsonceatthenurserygardener’sathome。
  Ohyes,pink,andyellow,andwhite;somuchlargerthanours。
  Thenitseems(Ionlysayitseems)asiftheremusthavebeensomelandoncetothewestward,fromwhichthedifferentsortsofheathspreadsouth—eastwardtotheCape,andnorth—eastwardintoEurope。Andthattheycamenorth—eastwardintoEuropeseemscertain;fortherearenoheathsinAmericaorAsia。
  Buthownorth—eastward?
  Think。Standwithyourfacetothesouthandthink。Ifathingcomesfromthesouth—west——fromthere,itmustgotothenorth—
  east—towardsthere。Mustitnot?
  Ohyes,Isee。
  Nowthen——Thefartheryougosouth—west,towardsSpain,themorekindsofheaththereare,andthehandsomer;asiftheiroriginalhome,fromwhichtheystarted,wassomewheredownthere。
  Moresorts!Whatsorts?
  Howmanysortsofheathhaveweathome?
  Three,ofcourse:ling,andpurpleheath,andbottleheath。
  AndtherearenomoreinallEngland,orWales,orScotland,except——Now,listen。IntheveryfarthestendofCornwalltherearetwomoresorts,theCornishheathandtheOrange—bell;andtheysay(thoughIneversawit)thattheOrange—bellgrowsnearBournemouth。
  Well。Thatissouthandwesttoo。
  Soitis:butthatmakesfiveheaths。NowinthesouthandwestofIrelandallthesefiveheathsgrow,andtwomore:thegreatIrishheath,withpurplebells,andtheMediterraneanheath,whichflowersinspring。
  Oh,Iknowthem。TheygrowintheRhododendronbedsathome。
  Ofcourse。Nowagain。IfyouwentdowntoSpain,youwouldfindallthosesevenheaths,andothersortswiththem,andthosewhicharerareinEnglandandIrelandarecommonthere。AboutBiarritz,ontheSpanishfrontier,allthemoorsarecoveredwithCornishheath,andthebogswithOrange—bell,andlovelytheyaretosee;
  andgrowingamongthemisatallheathsixfeethigh,whichtheycalltherebruyere,orBroomheath,becausetheymakebroomsofit:
  andoutofitsrootsthe"briar—root"pipesaremade。Thereareotherheathsaboutthatcountry,too,whosenamesIdonotknow;
  sothatwhenyouarethere,youfancyyourselfintheveryhomeoftheheaths:butyouarenot。TheymusthavecomefromsomelandnearwheretheAzoresarenow;orhowcouldheathshavegotpastAfrica,andthetropics,totheCapeofGoodHope?
  Itseemsverywonderful,tobeabletofindoutthattherewasagreatlandonceintheoceanallbyafewlittleheaths。
  Notbythemonly,child。Therearemanyotherplants,andanimalstoo,whichmakeonethinkthatsoitmusthavebeen。AndnowI
  willtellyousomethingstrangerstill。Theremayhavebeenatime——somepeoplesaythattheremust——whenAfricaandSouthAmericawerejoinedbyland。
  AfricaandSouthAmerica!Wasthatbeforetheheathscamehere,orafter?
  Icannottell:butIthink,probablyafter。Butthisiscertain,thattheremusthavebeenatimewhenfigs,andbamboos,andpalms,andsarsaparillas,andmanyothersortsofplantscouldgetfromAfricatoAmerica,ortheotherway,andindeedalmostroundtheworld。AboutthesouthofFranceandItalyyouwillseeonebeautifulsarsaparilla,withhookedprickles,zigzaggingandtwiningaboutoverrocksandruins,trunksandstems:andwhenyoudo,ifyouhaveunderstanding,itwillseemasstrangetoyouasitdidtometorememberthatthehomeofthesarsaparillasisnotinEurope,butintheforestsofBrazil,andtheRiverPlate。
  Oh,Ihaveheardabouttheirgrowingthere,andstainingtheriversbrown,andmakingthemgoodmedicinetodrink:butIneverthoughttherewereanyinEurope。
  Thereareonlyoneortwo,andhowtheygotthereisamarvelindeed。Butnow——IftherewasnotdrylandbetweenAfricaandSouthAmerica,howdidthecatsgetintoAmerica?Fortheycannotswim。
  Cats?Peoplemighthavebroughtthemover。
  JaguarsandPumas,whichyoureadofinCaptainMayneReid’sbooks,arecats,andsoaretheOcelotsortigercats。
  Oh,IsawthemattheZoologicalGardens。
  Butnoonewouldbringthemover,Ishouldthink,excepttoputthemintheZoo。
  Notunlesstheywereveryfoolish。
  AndmuchstrongerandclevererthanthesavagesofSouthAmerica。
  No,thosejaguarsandpumushavebeeninAmericaforages:andtherearethosewhowilltellyou——andIthinktheyhavesomereasonontheirside——thatthejaguar,withhisroundpatchesofspots,wasonceverymuchthesameastheAfricanandIndianleopard,whocanclimbtreeswell。SowhenhegotintothetropicforestsofAmerica,hetooktothetrees,andlivedamongthebranches,feedingonslothsandmonkeys,andnevercomingtothegroundforweeks,tillhegrewfatterandstrongerandfarmoreterriblethanhisforefathers。Andtheywilltellyou,too,thatthepumawas,perhaps——Ionlysayperhaps——somethinglikethelion,who(youknow)hasnospots。Butwhenhegotintotheforests,hefoundverylittlefoodunderthetrees,onlyaveryfewdeer;andsohewasstarved,anddwindleddowntothepoorlittlesheep—stealingrogueheisnow,ofwhomnobodyisafraid。
  Oh,yes!IremembernowA。saidheandhismenkilledsixinoneday。Butdoyouthinkitisalltrueaboutthepumasandjaguars?
  Mychild,Idon’tsaythatitistrue:butonlythatitislikelytobetrue。Insciencewemustbecautiousandmodest,andreadytoalterourmindswheneverwelearnfreshfacts;onlykeepingsureofonething,thatthetruth,whenwefinditout,willbefarmorewonderfulthananynotionsofours。See!Aswehavebeentalkingwehavegotnearlyhome:andluncheonmustbeready。
  ***
  Whyareyouopeningyoureyesatmelikethedogwhenhewantstogooutwalking?
  BecauseIwanttogoout。ButIdon’twanttogooutwalking。I
  wanttogointheyacht。
  Intheyacht?Itdoesnotbelongtome。
  Oh,thatisonlyfun。Iknoweverybodyisgoingoutinittoseesuchabeautifulislandfullofferns,andhaveapicnicontherocks;andIknowyouaregoing。
  ThenyouknowmorethanIdomyself。
  ButIheardthemsayyouweregoing。
  ThentheyknowmorethanIdomyself。
  Butwouldyounotliketogo?
  Imightliketogoverymuchindeed;butasIhavebeenknockedaboutatseaagooddeal,andperhapsmorethanIintendtobeagain,itisnonoveltytome,andtheremightbeotherthingswhichIlikedstillbetter:forinstance,spendingtheafternoonwithyou。
  ThenamInottogo?
  Ithinknot。Don’tpullsuchalongface:butbeaman,andmakeupyourmindtoit,asthegeesedotogoingbarefoot。
  ButwhymayInotgo?
  BecauseIamnotMadamHow,butyourDaddy。
  Whatcanthathavetodowithit?
  IfyouaskedMadamHow,doyouknowwhatshewouldanswerinamoment,ascivillyandkindlyascouldbe?Shewouldsay——Ohyes,gobyallmeans,andpleaseyourself,myprettylittleman。MyworldistheParadisewhichtheIrishmantalkedof,inwhich"amanmightdowhatwasrightinthesightofhisowneyes,andwhatwaswrongtoo,ashelikedit。"
  ThenMadamHowwouldletmegointheyacht?
  Ofcourseshewould,orjumpoverboardwhenyouwereinit;orputyourfingerinthefire,andyourheadafterwards;oreatIrishspurge,anddielikethesalmon;oranythingelseyouliked。
  NobodyissoindulgentasMadamHow:andshewouldbethedearestoldladyintheworld,butforoneuglytrickthatshehas。Shenevertellsanyonewhatiscoming,butleavesthemtofinditoutforthemselves。Sheletsthemputtheirfingersinthefire,andnevertellsthemthattheywillgetburnt。
  Butthatisverycruelandtreacherousofher。
  Myboy,ourbusinessisnottocallhardnames,buttotakethingsaswefindthem,astheHighlandmansaidwhenheatethebraxymutton。NowshallI,becauseIamyourDaddy,tellyouwhatMadamHowwouldnothavetoldyou?Whenyougetonboardtheyacht,youwillthinkitallverypleasantforanhour,aslongasyouareinthebay。Butpresentlyyouwillgetalittlebored,andrunaboutthedeck,anddisturbpeople,andwanttosithere,there,andeverywhere,whichIshouldnotlike。Andwhenyougetbeyondthatheadland,youwillfindthegreatrollerscominginfromtheAtlantic,andthecuttertossingandheavingasyouneverfeltbefore,underaburningsun。Andthenmymerrylittleyounggentlemanwillbegintofeelalittlesick;andthenverysick,andmoremiserablethanheeverfeltinhislife;andwishathousandtimesoverthathewassafeathome,evendoingsumsinlongdivision;andhewillgiveagreatdealoftroubletovariouskindladies——whichnoonehasarighttodo,ifhecanhelpit。
  OfcourseIdonotwishtobesick:onlyitlookssuchbeautifulweather。
  Andsoitis:butdon’tfancythatlastnight’srainandwindcanhavepassedwithoutsendinginsuchaswellaswillfrightenyou,whenyouseethecutterclimbinguponesideofawave,andrunningdowntheother;MadamHowtellsmethat,thoughshewillnottellyouyet。