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〃brilliant elves；〃 who are poor little children out of the next foul alley； and
the harlequin and clown； who through all their fun are thinking wearily
over the old debts which they must pay； and the hungry mouths at home
which they must feed： and so； having thought it all wondrously glorious；
and quite a fairy land； slips tired and stupid into bed； and wakes next
morning to see the pure light shining in through the delicate frost…lace on
the window…pane； and looks out over fields of virgin snow； and watches
the rosy dawn and cloudless blue； and the great sun rising to the music of
cawing rooks and piping stares； and says； 〃This is the true wonder。 This
is the true glory。 The theatre last night was the fairy land of man； but this
is the fairy land of God。〃
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CHAPTER VII
…THE CHALK…CARTS
What do you want to know about next？ More about the caves in
which the old savages lived；how they were made； and how the curious
things inside them got there； and so forth。
Well； we will talk about that in good time： but nowWhat is that
coming down the hill？
Oh； only some chalk…carts。
Only some chalk…carts？ It seems to me that these chalk…carts are the
very things we want； that if we follow them far enoughI do not mean
with our feet along the public road； but with our thoughts along a road
which； I am sorry to say； the public do not yet know much aboutwe shall
come to a cave； and understand how a cave is made。 Meanwhile； do not
be in a hurry to say； 〃Only a chalk…cart；〃 or only a mouse； or only a dead
leaf。 Chalk…carts； like mice； and dead leaves； and most other matters in
the universe are very curious and odd things in the eyes of wise and
reasonable people。 Whenever I hear young men saying 〃only〃 this and
〃only〃 that； I begin to suspect them of belonging； not to the noble army of
sagesmuch less to the most noble army of martyrs；but to the ignoble
army of noodles； who think nothing interesting or important but dinners；
and balls； and races； and back…biting their neighbours； and I should be
sorry to see you enlisting in that regiment when you grow up。 But think…
…are not chalk…carts very odd and curious things？ I think they are。 To
my mind； it is a curious question how men ever thought of inventing
wheels； and； again； when they first thought of it。 It is a curious question；
too； how men ever found out that they could make horses work for them；
and so began to tame them； instead of eating them； and a curious question
（which I think we shall never get answered） when the first horse…tamer
lived； and in what country。 And a very curious； and； to me； a beautiful
sight it is； to see those two noble horses obeying that little boy； whom they
could kill with a single kick。
But； beside all this； there is a question； which ought to be a curious one
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to you （for I suspect you cannot answer it）Why does the farmer take the
trouble to send his cart and horses eight miles and more； to draw in chalk
from Odiham chalk…pit？
Oh； he is going to put it on the land； of course。 They are chalking the
bit at the top of the next field； where the copse was grubbed。
But what good will he do by putting chalk on it？ Chalk is not rich
and fertile； like manure； it is altogether poor； barren stuff： you know that；
or ought to know it。 Recollect the chalk cuttings and banks on the
railway between Basingstoke and Winchesterhow utterly barren they are。
Though they have been open these thirty years； not a blade of grass； hardly
a bit of moss； has grown on them； or will grow； perhaps； for centuries。
Come； let us find out something about the chalk before we talk about
the caves。 The chalk is here； and the caves are not； and 〃Learn from the
thing that lies nearest you〃 is as good a rule as 〃Do the duty which lies
nearest you。〃 Let us come into the grubbed bit； and ask the farmerthere
he is in his gig。
Well； old friend； and how are you？ Here is a little boy who wants to
know why you are putting chalk on your field。
Does he then？ If he ever tries to farm round here； he will have to
learn for his first ruleNo chalk； no wheat。
But why？
Why； is more than I can tell； young squire。 But if you want to see
how it comes about； look here at this freshly…grubbed land how sour it is。
You can see that by the colour of itsome black； some red； some green；
some yellow； all full of sour iron； which will let nothing grow。 After the
chalk has been on it a year or two； those colours will have all gone out of
it； and it will turn to a nice wholesome brown； like the rest of the field；
and then you will know that the land is sweet； and fit for any crop。 Now
do you mind what I tell you； and then I'll tell you something more。 We
put on the chalk because； beside sweetening the land； it will hold water。
You see； the land about here； though it is often very wet from springs； is
sandy and hungry； and when we drain the bottom water out of it； the top
water （that is； the rain） is apt to run through it too fast： and then it dries
and burns up； and we get no plant of wheat； nor of turnips either。 So we
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put on chalk to hold water； and keep the ground moist。
But how can these lumps of chalk hold water？ They are not made
like cups。
No： but they are made like sponges； which serves our turn better still。
Just take up that lump； young squire； and you'll see water enough in it； or
rather looking out of it； and staring you in the face。
Why！ one side of the lump is all over thick ice。 So it is。 All that
water was inside the chalk last night； till it froze。 And then it came
squeezing out of the holes in the chalk in strings； as you may see it if you
break the ice across。 Now you may judge for yourself how much water a
load of chalk will