madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第37部分
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alphabet before you can read her book。 And Madam How's alphabet of
animals and plants is； Species； Kinds of things。 You must see which are
like； and which unlike； what they are like in； and what they are unlike in。
You are beginning to do that with your collection of butterflies。 You like
to arrange them； and those that are most like nearest to each other； and to
compare them。 You must do that with thousands of different kinds of
things before you can read one page of Madam How's Natural History
Book rightly。
But it will take so much time and so much trouble。
God grant that you may not spend more time on worse matters； and
take more trouble over things which will profit you far less。 But so it
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must be； willy…nilly。 You must learn the alphabet if you mean to read。
And you must learn the value of the figures before you can do a sum。
Why； what would you think of any one who sat down to play at cardsfor
money too （which I hope and trust you never will do）before he knew the
names of the cards； and which counted highest； and took the other？
Of course he would be very foolish。
Just as foolish are those who make up 〃theories〃 （as they call them）
about this world； and how it was made； before they have found out what
the world is made of。 You might as well try to find out how this hay…field
was made； without finding out first what the hay is made of。
How the hay…field was made？ Was it not always a hay…field？
Ah； yes； the old story； my child： Was not the earth always just what it
is now？ Let us see for ourselves whether this was always a hay…field。
How？
Just pick out all the different kinds of plants and flowers you can find
round us here。 How many do you think there are？
Ohthere seem to be four or five。
Just as there were three or four kinds of flies in the air。 Pick them；
child； and count。 Let us have facts。
How many？ What！ a dozen already？
Yesand here is another； and another。 Why； I have got I don't know
how many。
Why not？ Bring them here； and let us see。 Nine kinds of grasses；
and a rush。 Six kinds of clovers and vetches； and besides； dandelion； and
rattle； and oxeye； and sorrel； and plantain； and buttercup； and a little
stitchwort； and pignut； and mouse…ear hawkweed； too； which nobody
wants。
Why？
Because they are a sign that I am not a good farmer enough； and have
not quite turned my Wild into Field。
What do you mean？
Look outside the boundary fence； at the moors and woods； they are
forest； Wild〃Wald；〃 as the Germans would call it。 Inside the fence is
Field〃Feld；〃 as the Germans would call it。 Guess why？
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Is it because the trees inside have been felled？
Well； some say so； who know more than I。 But now go over the
fence； and see how many of these plants you can find on the moor。
Oh； I think I know。 I am so often on the moor。
I think you would find more kinds outside than you fancy。 But what
do you know？
That beside some short fine grass about the cattle…paths； there are
hardly any grasses on the moor save deer's hair and glade… grass； and all
the rest is heath； and moss； and furze； and fern。
Softlynot all； you have forgotten the bog plants； and there are （as I
said） many more plants beside on the moor than you fancy。 But we will
look into that another time。 At all events； the plants outside are on the
whole quite different from the hay… field。
Of course： that is what makes the field look green and the moor
brown。
Not a doubt。 They are so different； that they look like bits of two
different continents。 Scrambling over the fence is like scrambling out of
Europe into Australia。 Now； how was that difference made？ Think。
Don't guess； but think。 Why does the rich grass come up to the bank； and
yet not spread beyond it？
I suppose because it cannot get over。
Not get over？ Would not the wind blow the seeds； and the birds carry
them？ They do get over； in millions； I don't doubt； every summer。
Then why do they not grow？
Think。
Is there any difference in the soil inside and out？
A very good guess。 But guesses are no use without facts。 Look。
Oh； I remember now。 I know now the soil of the field is brown； like
the garden； and the soil of the moor all black and peaty。
Yes。 But if you dig down two or three feet； you will find the soils of
the moor and the field just the same。 So perhaps the top soils were once
both alike。
I know。
Well； and what do you think about it now？ I want you to look and
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
think。 I want every one to look and think。 Half the misery in the world
comes first from not looking； and then from not thinking。 And I do not
want you to be miserable。
But shall I be miserable if I do not find out such little things as this。
You will be miserable if you do not learn to understand little things：
because then you will not be able to understand great things when you
meet them。 Children who are not trained to use their eyes and their
common sense grow up the more miserable the cleverer they are。
Why？
Because they grow up what men call dreamers； and bigots； and
fanatics； causing misery to themselves and to all who deal with them。 So
I say again； think。
Well； I suppose men must have altered the soil inside the bank。
Well done。 But why do you think so？
Because； of course； some one made the bank； and the brown soil only
goes up to it。
Well； that is something like common sense。 Now you will not say
any more； as the cows or the butterflies might； that the hay…field was
always there。
And how did men change the soil？
By tilling it with the plough； to sweeten it； and manuring it； to make it
rich。
And then did all these beautiful grasses grow up of themselves？
You ought to know that they most likely did not。 You know the new
enclosures？
Yes。
Well then； do rich grasses come up on them； now that they are broken
up？
Oh no； nothing but groundsel； and a few weeds。
Just what； I dare say； came up here at first。 But this land was tilled
for corn； for hundreds of years； I believe。 And just about one hundred
years ago it was laid down in grass； that is； sown with grass seeds。
And where did men get the grass seeds from？
Ah； that is a long story； and one that shows our forefathers （though
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they knew nothing about railroads or electricity） were not such simpletons
as some folks think。 The way it must have been done was this。 Men
watched the natural pastures where cattle get fat on the wild grass； as they
do in the Fens； and many other parts of England。 And then they saved
the seeds of those fattening wild grasses； and sowed them in fresh spots。
Often they made mistakes。 They were careless； and got weeds among the
seed like the buttercups； which do so much harm to this pasture。 Or
they sowed on soil which would not suit the seed； and it died。 But at last；
after many failures； they have grown so careful and so clever； that you
may send to certain shops； saying what sort of soil yours is； and they will
send you just the seeds which will grow there； and no other； and then you
have a good pasture for as long as you choose to keep it good。
And how is it kept good？
Look at all those loads of hay； which are being carried off the field。
Do you think you can take all that away without putting anything in its
place？
