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martyred there ages agoand who； they fancy； has power in heaven to
save them from the lava stream。 And really what happened was enough
to make ignorant people； such as they were； think that St。 Agatha had
saved them。 The lava stream came straight down upon the town wall。
Another foot； and it would have touched it； and have begun shoving it
down with a force compared with which all the battering…rams that you
ever read of in ancient histories would be child's toys。 But lo and behold！
when the lava stream got within a few inches of the wall it stopped； and
began to rear itself upright and build itself into a wall beside the wall。 It
rose and rose； till I believe in one place it overtopped the wall and began
to curl over in a crest。 All expected that it would fall over into the town
at last： but no； there it stopped； and cooled； and hardened； and left the
town unhurt。 All the inhabitants said； of course； that St。 Agatha had done
it： but learned men found out that； as usual Madam How had done it； by
making it do itself。 The lava was so full of gas； which was continually
blowing out in little jets； that when it reached the wall； it actually blew
itself back from the wall； and； as the wall was luckily strong enough not to
be blown down； the lava kept blowing itself back till it had time to cool。
And so； my dear child； there was no miracle at all in the matter； and the
poor people of Catania had to thank not St。 Agatha； and any interference
of hers； but simply Him who can preserve； just as He can destroy； by those
laws of nature which are the breath of His mouth and the servants of His
will。
But in many a case the lava does not stop。 It rolls on and on over the
downs and through the valleys； till it reaches the sea… shore； as it did in
Hawaii in the Sandwich Islands this very year。 And then it cools； of course；
but often not before it has killed the fish by its sulphurous gases and heat；
perhaps for miles around。 And there is good reason to believe that the
fossil fish which we so often find in rocks； perfect in every bone； lying
sometimes in heaps； and twisted （as I have seen them） as if they had died
suddenly and violently； were killed in this very way； either by heat from
lava streams； or else by the bursting up of gases poisoning the water； in
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earthquakes and eruptions in the bottom of the sea。 I could tell you many
stories of fish being killed in thousands by earthquakes and volcanos
during the last few years。 But we have not time to tell about everything
And now you will ask me； with more astonishment than ever； what
possible use can there be in these destroying streams of fire？ And certainly；
if you had ever seen a lava stream even when cool； and looked down； as I
have done； at the great river of rough black blocks streaming away far and
wide over the land； you would think it the most hideous and the most
useless thing you ever saw。 And yet； my dear child； there is One who
told men to judge not according to the appearance； but to judge righteous
judgment。 He said that about matters spiritual and human： but it is
quite as true about matters natural； which also are His work； and all obey
His will。
Now if you had seen； as I have seen； close round the edges of these
lava streams； and sometimes actually upon them； or upon the great bed of
dust and ashes which have been hurled far and wide out of ancient
volcanos； happy homesteads； rich crops； hemp and flax； and wheat；
tobacco； lucerne； roots； and vineyards laden with white and purple grapes；
you would have begun to suspect that the lava streams were not； after all；
such very bad neighbours。 And when I tell you that volcanic soils （as
they are called）； that is； soil which has at first been lava or ashes； are
generally the richest soils in the worldthat； for instance （as some one told
me the other day）； there is soil in the beautiful island of Madeira so thin
that you cannot dig more than two or three inches down without coming to
the solid rock of lava； or what is harder even； obsidian （which is the black
glass which volcanos sometimes make； and which the old Mexicans used
to chip into swords and arrows； because they had no steel）and that this
soil； thin as it is； is yet so fertile； that in it used to be grown the grapes of
which the famous Madeira wine was madewhen you remember this； and
when you remember； too； the Lothians of Scotland （about which I shall
have to say a little to you just now）； then you will perhaps agree with me；
that Lady Why has not been so very wrong in setting Madam How to pour
out lava and ashes upon the surface of the earth。
For seedown below； under the roots of the mountains； Madam How
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works continually like a chemist in his laboratory； melting together all the
rocks； which are the bones and leavings of the old worlds。 If they stayed
down below there； they would be of no use； while they will be of use up
here in the open air。 For； year by yearby the washing of rain and rivers；
and also； I am sorry to say； by the ignorant and foolish waste of mankind
thousands and millions of tons of good stuff are running into the sea every
year； which would； if it could be kept on land； make food for men and
animals； plants and trees。 So； in order to supply the continual waste of
this upper world； Madam How is continually melting up the under world；
and pouring it out of the volcanos like manure； to renew the face of the
earth。 In these lava rocks and ashes which she sends up there are certain
substances； without which men cannot livewithout which a stalk of corn
or grass cannot grow。 Without potash； without magnesia； both of which
are in your veins and minewithout silicates （as they are called）； which
give flint to the stems of corn and of grass； and so make them stiff and
hard； and able to stand uprightand very probably without the carbonic
acid gas； which comes out of the volcanos； and is taken up by the leaves of
plants； and turned by Madam How's cookery into solid woodwithout all
these things； and I suspect without a great many m