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madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第46章

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goes so much nearer to the ground than the scythe; that we gain by it two 

hundredweight of   hay  on   every  acre。 And   see;  too;  how  persevering   old 

Madam How will not stop her work; though the machine has cut off all the 

grass which she has been making for the last three months; for as fast as 

we shear it off; she makes it grow again。              There are fresh blades; here at 

our feet; a full inch long; which have sprung up in the last two days; for 

the cattle when they are turned in next week。 

     But   if   the   machine   cuts   all  the   grass;   the   poor   mowers   will   have 

nothing to do。 

     Not   so。    They   are   all   busy   enough   elsewhere。      There   is   plenty   of 

other work to be done; thank God; and wholesomer and easier work than 

mowing with a burning sun on their backs; drinking gallons of beer; and 

getting first hot and then cold across the loins; till they lay in a store of 

lumbago   and   sciatica;   to   cripple   them   in   their   old   age。 You   delight   in 

machinery because it is curious: you should delight in it besides because it 

does good; and nothing but good; where it is used; according to the laws of 

Lady Why; with care; moderation; and mercy; and fair…play between man 

and man。       For example:       just as the mowing…machine saves the mowers; 

the    threshing…machine       saves    the  threshers    from   rheumatism   and      chest 

complaints;which   they   used         to  catch   in  the  draught    and   dust   of  the 

unhealthiest place in the whole parish; which is; the old…fashioned barn's 

floor。    And so; we may hope; in future years all heavy drudgery and dirty 

work will be done more and more by machines; and people will have more 

and more chance of keeping themselves clean and healthy; and more and 

more   time   to   read;   and   learn;   and   think;   and   be   true   civilised   men   and 

women; instead of being mere live ploughs; or live manure…carts; such as I 



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                               MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY 



have seen ere now。 

     A live manure…cart? 

     Yes;   child。   If   you   had   seen;   as   I   have   seen;   in   foreign   lands;   poor 

women; haggard; dirty; grown old before their youth was over; toiling up 

hill with baskets of foul manure upon their backs; you would have said; as 

I have said; 〃Oh for Madam How to cure that ignorance!                     Oh for Lady 

Why to cure that barbarism!          Oh that Madam How would teach them that 

machinery  must   always   be   cheaper  in   the long   run   than   human   muscles 

and nerves!      Oh   that   Lady Why  would   teach them  that   a woman   is the 

most   precious   thing   on   earth;   and   that   if   she   be   turned   into   a   beast   of 

burden;   Lady   Whyand   Madam   How   likewisewill   surely   avenge   the 

wrongs   of   their   human   sister!〃    There;   you   do   not   quite   know   what   I 

mean; and I do not care that you should。            It is good for little folk that big 

folk   should   now   and   then   〃talk   over   their   heads;〃   as   the   saying   is;   and 

make them feel how ignorant they are; and how many solemn and earnest 

questions there are in the world on which they must make up their minds 

some day; though not yet。         But now we will talk about the hay:           or rather 

do you and the rest go and play in the hay and gather it up; build forts of it; 

storm   them;     pull  them   down;     build  them   up    again;  shout;   laugh;   and 

scream till you are hot and tired。          You will please Madam How thereby; 

and Lady Why likewise。 

     How? 

     Because Madam How naturally wants her work to succeed; and she is 

at work now making you。 

     Making me? 

     Of course。      Making a man of you; out of a boy。             And that can only 

be done by the life…blood which runs through and through you。                    And the 

more you laugh and shout; the more pure air will pass into your blood; and 

make   it   red   and   healthy;   and   the   more   you   romp   and   playunless   you 

overtire yourselfthe quicker will that blood flow through all your limbs; 

to make bone and muscle; and help you to grow into a man。 

     But why does Lady Why like to see us play? 

     She likes to see you happy; as she likes to see the trees and birds happy。 

For    she   knows    well   that  there   is  no  food;   nor   medicine     either;  like 



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                                MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY 



happiness。      If people are not happy enough; they are often tempted to do 

many wrong deeds; and to think many wrong thoughts:                     and if by God's 

grace     they   know     the  laws    of  Lady     Why;    and   keep    from    sin;  still 

unhappiness; if it goes on too long; wears them out; body and mind; and 

they grow ill and die; of broken hearts; and broken brains; my child; and 

so at last; poor souls; find 〃Rest beneath the Cross。〃 

     Children;     too;   who    are   unhappy;     children    who     are  bullied;   and 

frightened;   and   kept   dull   and   silent;   never   thrive。  Their   bodies   do   not 

thrive; for they grow up weak。           Their minds do not thrive; for they grow 

up dull。     Their souls do not thrive; for they learn mean; sly; slavish ways; 

which   God   forbid   you   should   ever   learn。  Well   said   the   wise   man;   〃The 

human plant; like the vegetables; can only flower in sunshine。〃 

     So do you go; and enjoy yourself in the sunshine; but remember this 

You know what happiness is。            Then if you wish to please Lady Why; and 

Lady   Why's   Lord   and   King   likewise;   you   will   never   pass   a   little   child 

without trying to make it happier; even by a passing smile。                 And now be 

off; and play in the hay; and come back to me when you are tired。 

     * * * * * 

     Let us lie down at the foot of this old oak; and see what we can see。 

     And hear what we can hear; too。            What is that humming all round us; 

now that the noisy mowing…machine has stopped? 

     And   as   much   softer   than   the   noise   of   mowing…machine   hum;   as   the 

machines   which   make   it   are   more   delicate   and   more   curious。       Madam 

How   is   a   very   skilful   workwoman;   and   has   eyes   which   see   deeper   and 

clearer than all microscopes; as you would find; if you tried to see what 

makes      that  〃Midsummer        hum〃    of  which    the   haymakers      are  so  fond; 

because it promises fair weather。 

     Why; it is only the gnats and flies。 

     Only the gnats and flies?          You might study those gnats and flies for 

your whole life without finding out allor more than a very littleabout 

them。 
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