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down the mountain in a stream of fire。 And so you may see （as are to be
seen on Vesuvius now） two eruptions at onceone of burning stones above；
and one of melted lava below。
And what is lava？
That； I think； I must tell you another time。 For when I speak of it I
shall have to tell you more about Madam How； and her ways of making
the ground on which you stand； than I can say just now。 But if you want to
know （as I dare say you do） what the eruption of a volcano is like； you
may read what follows。 I did not see it happen； for I never had the good
fortune of seeing a mountain burning； though I have seen many and many
a one which has been burntextinct volcanos； as they are called。
The man who saw ita very good friend of mine； and a very good man
of science alsowent last year to see an eruption on Vesuvius； not from the
main crater； but from a small one which had risen up suddenly on the
outside of it； and he gave me leave （when I told him that I was writing for
children） to tell them what he saw。
This new cone； he said； was about 200 feet high； and perhaps 80 or
100 feet across at the top。 And as he stood below it （it was not safe to go
up it） smoke rolled up from its top； 〃rosy pink below；〃 from the glare of
the caldron； and above 〃faint greenish or blueish silver of indescribable
beauty； from the light of the moon。〃 But moreBy good chance； the
cone began to send out； not smoke only； but brilliant burning stones。
〃Each explosion；〃 he says； 〃was like a vast girandole of rockets； with a
noise （such as rockets would make） like the waves on a beach； or the wind
blowing through shrouds。 The mountain was trembling the whole time。
So it went on for two hours and more； sometimes eight or ten explosions
in a minute； and more than 1000 stones in each； some as large as two
bricks end to end。 The largest ones mostly fell back into the crater； but
the smaller ones being thrown higher； and more acted on by the wind； fell
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in immense numbers on the leeward slope of the cone〃 （of course； making
it bigger and bigger； as I have explained already to you）； and of course； as
they were intensely hot and bright； making the cone look as if it too was
red…hot。 But it was not so； he says； really。 The colour of the stones was
rather 〃golden； and they spotted the black cone over with their golden
showers； the smaller ones stopping still； the bigger ones rolling down； and
jumping along just like hares。〃 〃A wonderful pedestal；〃 he says； 〃for the
explosion which surmounted it。〃 How high the stones flew up he could
not tell。 〃There was generally one which went much higher than the rest；
and pierced upwards towards the moon； who looked calmly down；
mocking such vain attempts to reach her。〃 The large stones； of course；
did not rise so high； and some； he says； 〃only just appeared over the rim of
the cone； above which they came floating leisurely up； to show their
brilliant forms and intense white light for an instant； and then subside
again。〃
Try and picture that to yourselves； remembering that this was only a
little side eruption； of no more importance to the whole mountain than the
fall of a slate off the roof is of importance to the whole house。 And then
think how mean and weak man's fireworks； and even man's heaviest
artillery； are compared with the terrible beauty and terrible strength of
Madam How's artillery underneath our feet。
C / ｜ / ｜
A /…＋… E / ｜ /…
＋… E Ground / ｜ B Ground …/
｜ ｜ D ｜ ｜ D ｜ D ｜ ＋…＋＋
…＋…＋ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜
Now look at this figure。 It represents a section of a volcano； that is；
one cut in half to show you the inside。 A is the cone of cinders。 B； the
black line up through the middle； is the funnel； or crack； through which
steam； ashes； lava； and everything else rises。 C is the crater mouth。 D
D D； which looks broken； are the old rocks which the steam heaved up and
burst before it could get out。 And what are the black lines across； marked
E E E？ They are the streams of lava which have burrowed out； some
covered up again in cinders； some lying bare in the open air； some still
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
inside the cone； bracing it together； holding it up。 Something like this is
the inside of a volcano。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
CHAPTER IV
THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF A GRAIN OF SOIL
Why； you ask； are there such terrible things as volcanos？ Of what
use can they be？
They are of use enough； my child； and of many more uses； doubt not；
than we know as yet； or ever shall know。 But of one of their uses I can
tell you。
They make； or help to make； divers and sundry curious things； from
gunpowder to your body and mine。
What？ I can understand their helping to make gunpowder； because
the sulphur in it is often found round volcanos； and I know the story of the
brave Spaniard who； when his fellows wanted materials for gunpowder；
had himself lowered in a basket down the crater of a South American
volcano； and gathered sulphur for them off the burning cliffs： but how
can volcanos help to make me？ Am I made of lava？ Or is there lava in
me？
My child； I did not say that volcanos helped to make you。 I said that
they helped to make your body； which is a very different matter； as I beg
you to remember； now and always。 Your body is no more you yourself
than the hoop which you trundle； or the pony which you ride。 It is； like
them； your servant； your tool； your instrument； your organ； with which
you work： and a very useful； trusty； cunni