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these things； and I suspect without a great many more things which come
out of volcanosI do not see how this beautiful green world could get on
at all。
Of course； when the lava first cools on the surface of the ground it is
hard enough； and therefore barren enough。 But Madam How sets to
work upon it at once； with that delicate little water… spade of hers； which
we call rain； and with that alone； century after century； and age after age；
she digs the lava stream down； atom by atom； and silts it over the country
round in rich manure。 So that if Madam How has been a rough and hasty
workwoman in pumping her treasures up out of her mine with her great
steam… pumps； she shows herself delicate and tender and kindly enough in
giving them away afterwards。
Nay； even the fine dust which is sometimes blown out of volcanos is
useful to countries far away。 So light it is； that it rises into the sky and is
wafted by the wind across the seas。 So； in the year 1783； ashes from the
Skaptar Jokull； in Iceland； were carried over the north of Scotland； and
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even into Holland； hundreds of miles to the south。
So； again； when in the year 1812 the volcano of St。 Vincent； in the
West India Islands； poured out torrents of lava； after mighty earthquakes
which shook all that part of the world； a strange thing happened （about
which I have often heard from those who saw it） in the island of Barbados；
several hundred miles away。 For when the sun rose in the morning （it
was a Sunday morning）； the sky remained more dark than any night； and
all the poor negroes crowded terrified out of their houses into the streets；
fancying the end of the world was come。 But a learned man who was
there； finding that； though the sun was risen； it was still pitchy dark；
opened his window； and found that it was stuck fast by something on the
ledge outside； and； when he thrust it open； found the ledge covered deep in
soft red dust； and he instantly said； like a wise man as he was； 〃The
volcano of St。 Vincent must have broken out； and these are the ashes from
it。〃 Then he ran down stairs and quieted the poor negroes； telling them
not to be afraid； for the end of the world was not coming just yet。 But
still the dust went on falling till the whole island； I am told； was covered
an inch thick； and the same thing happened in the other islands round。
People thoughtand they had reason to think from what had often
happened elsewherethat though the dust might hurt the crops for that
year； it would make them richer in years to come； because it would act as
manure upon the soil； and so it did after a few years； but it did terrible
damage at the time； breaking off the boughs of trees and covering up the
crops； and in St。 Vincent itself whole estates were ruined。 It was a
frightful day； but I know well that behind that How there was a Why for its
happening； and happening too； about that very time； which all who know
the history of negro slavery in the West Indies can guess for themselves；
and confess； I hope； that in this case； as in all others； when Lady Why
seems most severe she is often most just and kind。
Ah！ my dear child； that I could go on talking to you of this for hours
and days！ But I have time now only to teach you the alphabet of these
mattersand； indeed； I know little more than the alphabet myself； but if
the very letters of Madam How's book； and the mere A； B； AB； of it；
which I am trying to teach you； are so wonderful and so beautiful； what
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must its sentences be and its chapters？ And what must the whole book be
like？ But that last none can read save He who wrote it before the worlds
were made。
But now I see you want to ask a question。 Let us have it out。 I
would sooner answer one question of yours than tell you ten things
without your asking。
Is there potash and magnesia and silicates in the soil here？ And if
there is； where did they come from？ For there are no volcanos in
England。
Yes。 There are such things in the soil； and little enough of them； as
the farmers here know too well。 For we here； in Windsor Forest； are on
the very poorest and almost the newest soil in England； and when Madam
How had used up all her good materials in making the rest of the island；
she carted away her dry rubbish and shot it down here for us to make the
best of； and I do not think that we and our forefathers have done so very ill
with it。 But where the rich part； or staple； of our soils came from first it
would be very difficult to say； so often has Madam How made； and
unmade； and re…made England； and sifted her materials afresh every time。
But if you go to the Lowlands of Scotland； you may soon see where the
staple of the soil came from there； and that I was right in saying that there
were atoms of lava in every Scotch boy's broth。 Not that there were ever
（as far as I know） volcanos in Scotland or in England。 Madam How has
more than one string to her bow； or two strings either； so when she pours
out her lavas； she does not always pour them out in the open air。
Sometimes she pours them out at the bottom of the sea； as she did in the
north of Ireland and the south…west of Scotland； when she made the
Giant's Causeway； and Fingal's Cave in Staffa too； at the bottom of the old
chalk ocean； ages and ages since。 Sometimes she squirts them out
between the layers of rock； or into cracks which the earthquakes have
made； in what are called trap dykes； of which there are plenty to be seen in
Scotland； and in Wales likewise。 And then she lifts the earth up from the
bottom of the sea； and sets the rain to wash away all the soft rocks； till the
hard lava stands out in great hills upon the surface of the ground。 Then
the rain begins eating away those lava…hills likewise； and manuring the
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