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strong and terrible savages； who ate human beings。 Of course； the
legends and tales about them became ridiculous and exaggerated as they
passed from mouth to mouth over the Christmas fire； in the days when no
one could read or write。 But that the tales began by being true any one
may well believe who knows how many cannibal savages there are in the
world even now。 I think that； if ever there was an ogre in the world； he
must have been very like a certain person who lived； or was buried； in a
cave in the Neanderthal； between Elberfeld and Dusseldorf； on the Lower
Rhine。 The skull and bones which were found there （and which are very
famous now among scientific men） belonged to a personage whom I
should have been very sorry to meet； and still more to let you meet； in the
wild forest； to a savage of enormous strength of limb （and I suppose of
jaw） likewise
〃like an ape； With forehead villainous low；〃
who could have eaten you if he would； and （I fear） also would have
eaten you if he could。 Such savages may have lingered （I believe； from
the old ballads and romances； that they did linger） for a long time in lonely
forests and mountain caves； till they were all killed out by warriors who
wore mail…armour and carried steel sword； and battle…axe； and lance。
But had these people any religion？
My dear child； we cannot know； and need not know。 But we know
thisthat God beholds all the heathen。 He fashions the hearts of them；
and understandeth all their works。 And we know also that He is just and
good。 These poor folks were； I doubt not； happy enough in their way；
and we are bound to believe （for we have no proof against it）； that most of
them were honest and harmless enough likewise。 Of course； ogres and
cannibals； and cruel and brutal persons （if there were any among them）；
deserved punishmentand punishment； I do not doubt； they got。 But； of
course； again； none of them knew things which you know； but for that
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very reason they were not bound to do many things which you are bound
to do。 For those to whom little is given； of them shall little be required。
What their religion was like； or whether they had any religion at all； we
cannot tell。 But this we can tell； that known unto God are all His works
from the creation of the world； and that His mercy is over all His works；
and He hateth nothing that He has made。 These men and women；
whatever they were； were God's work； and therefore we may comfort
ourselves with the certainty that； whether or not they knew God； God
knew them。
And so ends my fairy tale。
But is it not a wonderful tale？ More wonderful； if you will think over
it； than any story invented by man。 But so it always is。 〃Truth；〃 wise
men tell us； 〃is stranger than fiction。〃 Even a child like you will see that
it must be so； if you will but recollect who makes fiction； and who makes
facts。
Man makes fiction： he invents stories； pretty enough； fantastical
enough。 But out of what does he make them up？ Out of a few things in
this great world which he has seen； and heard； and felt； just as he makes up
his dreams。 But who makes truth？ Who makes facts？ Who； but God？
Then truth is as much larger than fiction； as God is greater than man；
as much larger as the whole universe is larger than the little corner of it
that any man； even the greatest poet or philosopher； can see； and as much
grander； and as much more beautiful； and as much more strange。 For one
is the whole； and the other is one； a few tiny scraps of the whole。 The
one is the work of God； the other is the work of man。 Be sure that no
man can ever fancy anything strange； unexpected； and curious； without
finding if he had eyes to see； a hundred things around his feet more
strange； more unexpected； more curious； actually ready…made already by
God。 You are fond of fairy tales； because they are fanciful； and like your
dreams。 My dear child； as your eyes open to the true fairy tale which
Madam How can tell you all day long； nursery stories will seem to you
poor and dull。 All those feelings in you which your nursery tales call
out；imagination； wonder； awe； pity； and I trust too； hope and lovewill
be called out； I believe； by the Tale of all Tales； the true 〃Marchen allen
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Marchen；〃 so much more fully and strongly and purely； that you will feel
that novels and story…books are scarcely worth your reading； as long as
you can read the great green book； of which every bud is a letter； and
every tree a page。
Wonder if you will。 You cannot wonder too much。 That you might
wonder all your life long； God put you into this wondrous world； and gave
you that faculty of wonder which he has not given to the brutes； which is
at once the mother of sound science； and a pledge of immortality in a
world more wondrous even than this。 But wonder at the right thing； not
at the wrong； at the real miracles and prodigies； not at the sham。 Wonder
not at the world of man。 Waste not your admiration； interest； hope on it； its
pretty toys； gay fashions； fine clothes； tawdry luxuries； silly amusements。
Wonder at the works of God。 You will not； perhaps； take my advice yet。
The world of man looks so pretty； that you will needs have your peep at it；
and stare into its shop windows； and if you can； go to a few of its stage
plays； and dance at a few of its balls。 AhwellAfter a wild dream comes
an uneasy wakening； and after too many sweet things； comes a sick
headache。 And one morning you will awake； I trust and pray； from the
world of man to the world of God； and wonder where wonder is due； and
worship where worship is due。 You will awake like a child who has been
at a pantomime over night； staring at the 〃fairy halls；〃 which are all paint
and canvas； and the 〃dazzling splendours；〃 which are gas and oil； and the
〃magic transformations；〃 which are done with ropes and pulleys； and the
〃brilliant elves；〃 who are poor little children out of the next foul alley； and