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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
MADAM HOW AND
LADY WHY
By Charles Kingsley
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
CHAPTER I
—THE GLEN
You find it dull walking up here upon Hartford Bridge Flat this sad
November day？ Well； I do not deny that the moor looks somewhat
dreary； though dull it need never be。 Though the fog is clinging to the
fir…trees； and creeping among the heather； till you cannot see as far as
Minley Corner； hardly as far as Bramshill woodsand all the Berkshire
hills are as invisible as if it was a dark midnightyet there is plenty to be
seen here at our very feet。 Though there is nothing left for you to pick；
and all the flowers are dead and brown； except here and there a poor half…
withered scrap of bottle…heath； and nothing left for you to catch either； for
the butterflies and insects are all dead too； except one poor old Daddy…
long…legs； who sits upon that piece of turf； boring a hole with her tail to
lay her eggs in； before the frost catches her and ends her like the rest：
though all things； I say； seem dead； yet there is plenty of life around you；
at your feet； I may almost say in the very stones on which you tread。 And
though the place itself be dreary enough； a sheet of flat heather and a little
glen in it； with banks of dead fern； and a brown bog between them； and a
few fir…trees struggling upyet； if you only have eyes to see it； that little
bit of glen is beautiful and wonderful；so beautiful and so wonderful and
so cunningly devised； that it took thousands of years to make it； and it is
not； I believe； half finished yet。
How do I know all that？ Because a fairy told it me； a fairy who lives
up here upon the moor； and indeed in most places else； if people have but
eyes to see her。 What is her name？ I cannot tell。 The best name that I
can give her （and I think it must be something like her real name； because
she will always answer if you call her by it patiently and reverently） is
Madam How。 She will come in good time； if she is called； even by a
little child。 And she will let us see her at her work； and； what is more；
teach us to copy her。 But there is another fairy here likewise； whom we
can hardly hope to see。 Very thankful should we be if she lifted even the
smallest corner of her veil； and showed us but for a moment if it were but
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
her finger tipso beautiful is she； and yet so awful too。 But that sight； I
believe； would not make us proud； as if we had had some great privilege。
No； my dear child： it would make us feel smaller； and meaner； and more
stupid and more ignorant than we had ever felt in our lives before； at the
same time it would make us wiser than ever we were in our lives before… …
that one glimpse of the great glory of her whom we call Lady Why。
But I will say more of her presently。 We must talk first with Madam
How； and perhaps she may help us hereafter to see Lady Why。 For she is
the servant； and Lady Why is the mistress； though she has a Master over
her againwhose name I leave for you to guess。 You have heard it often
already； and you will hear it again； for ever and ever。
But of one thing I must warn you； that you must not confound Madam
How and Lady Why。 Many people do it； and fall into great mistakes
thereby；mistakes that even a little child； if it would think； need not
commit。 But really great philosophers sometimes make this mistake
about Why and How； and therefore it is no wonder if other people make it
too； when they write children's books about the wonders of nature； and
call them 〃Why and Because；〃 or 〃The Reason Why。〃 The books are
very good books； and you should read and study them： but they do not
tell you really 〃Why and Because；〃 but only 〃How and So。〃 They do not
tell you the 〃Reason Why〃 things happen； but only 〃The Way in which
they happen。〃 However； I must not blame these good folks； for I have
made the same mistake myself often； and may do it again： but all the
more shame to me。 For seeyou know perfectly the difference between
How and Why； when you are talking about yourself。 If I ask you； 〃Why
did we go out to…day？〃 You would not answer； 〃Because we opened the
door。〃 That is the answer to 〃How did we go out？〃 The answer to Why
did we go out is； 〃Because we chose to take a walk。〃 Now when we talk
about other things beside ourselves； we must remember this same
difference between How and Why。 If I ask you； 〃Why does fire burn
you？〃 you would answer； I suppose； being a little boy； 〃Because it is hot；〃
which is all you know about it。 But if you were a great chemist； instead of
a little boy； you would be apt to answer me； I am afraid； 〃Fire burns
because the vibratory motion of the molecules of the heated substance
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
communicates itself to the molecules of my skin； and so destroys their
tissue；〃 which is； I dare say； quite true： but it only tells us how fire burns；
the way or means by which it burns； it does not tell us the reason why it
burns。
But you will ask； 〃If that is not the reason why fire burns； what is？〃
My dear child； I do not know。 That is Lady Why's business； who is
mistress of Mrs。 How； and of you and of me； and； as I think； of all things
that you ever saw； or can see； or even dream。 And what her reason for
making fire burn may be I cannot tell。 But I believe on excellent grounds
that her reason is a very good one。 If I dare to guess； I should say that
one reason； at least； why fire burns； is that you may take care not to play
with it； and so not only scorch your finger； but set your whole bed on fire；
and perhaps the house into the bargain； as you might be tempted to do if
putting your finger in the fire