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your whole life without finding out allor more than a very littleabout
them。 I wish I knew how they move those tiny wings of theirsa
thousand times in a second； I dare say； some of them。 I wish I knew how
far they know that they are happyfor happy they must be； whether they
know it or not。 I wish I knew how they live at all。 I wish I even knew
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
how many sorts there are humming round us at this moment。
How many kinds？ Three or four？
More probably thirty or forty round this single tree。
But why should there be so many kinds of living things？ Would not
one or two have done just as well？
Why； indeed？ Why should there not have been only one sort of
butterfly； and he only of one colour； a plain brown； or a plain white？
And why should there be so many sorts of birds； all robbing the garden
at once？ Thrushes； and blackbirds； and sparrows； and chaffinches； and
greenfinches； and bullfinches； and tomtits。
And there are four kinds of tomtits round here； remember： but we
may go on with such talk for ever。 Wiser men than we have asked the
same question： but Lady Why will not answer them yet。 However； there
is another question； which Madam How seems inclined to answer just now；
which is almost as deep and mysterious。
What？
HOW all these different kinds of things became different。
Oh； do tell me！
Not I。 You must begin at the beginning； before you can end at the
end； or even make one step towards the end。
What do you mean？
You must learn the differences between things； before you can find out
how those differences came about。 You must learn Madam How's
alphabet before you can read her book。 And Madam How's alphabet of
animals and plants is； Species； Kinds of things。 You must see which are
like； and which unlike； what they are like in； and what they are unlike in。
You are beginning to do that with your collection of butterflies。 You like
to arrange them； and those that are most like nearest to each other； and to
compare them。 You must do that with thousands of different kinds of
things before you can read one page of Madam How's Natural History
Book rightly。
But it will take so much time and so much trouble。
God grant that you may not spend more time on worse matters； and
take more trouble over things which will profit you far less。 But so it
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
must be； willy…nilly。 You must learn the alphabet if you mean to read。
And you must learn the value of the figures before you can do a sum。
Why； what would you think of any one who sat down to play at cardsfor
money too （which I hope and trust you never will do）before he knew the
names of the cards； and which counted highest； and took the other？
Of course he would be very foolish。
Just as foolish are those who make up 〃theories〃 （as they call them）
about this world； and how it was made； before they have found out what
the world is made of。 You might as well try to find out how this hay…field
was made； without finding out first what the hay is made of。
How the hay…field was made？ Was it not always a hay…field？
Ah； yes； the old story； my child： Was not the earth always just what it
is now？ Let us see for ourselves whether this was always a hay…field。
How？
Just pick out all the different kinds of plants and flowers you can find
round us here。 How many do you think there are？
Ohthere seem to be four or five。
Just as there were three or four kinds of flies in the air。 Pick them；
child； and count。 Let us have facts。
How many？ What！ a dozen already？
Yesand here is another； and another。 Why； I have got I don't know
how many。
Why not？ Bring them here； and let us see。 Nine kinds of grasses；
and a rush。 Six kinds of clovers and vetches； and besides； dandelion； and
rattle； and oxeye； and sorrel； and plantain； and buttercup； and a little
stitchwort； and pignut； and mouse…ear hawkweed； too； which nobody
wants。
Why？
Because they are a sign that I am not a good farmer enough； and have
not quite turned my Wild into Field。
What do you mean？
Look outside the boundary fence； at the moors and woods； they are
forest； Wild〃Wald；〃 as the Germans would call it。 Inside the fence is
Field〃Feld；〃 as the Germans would call it。 Guess why？
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Is it because the trees inside have been felled？
Well； some say so； who know more than I。 But now go over the
fence； and see how many of these plants you can find on the moor。
Oh； I think I know。 I am so often on the moor。
I think you would find more kinds outside than you fancy。 But what
do you know？
That beside some short fine grass about the cattle…paths； there are
hardly any grasses on the moor save deer's hair and glade… grass； and all
the rest is heath； and moss； and furze； and fern。
Softlynot all； you have forgotten the bog plants； and there are （as I
said） many more plants beside on the moor than you fancy。 But we will
look into that another time。 At all events； the plants outside are on the
whole quite different from the hay… field。
Of course： that is what makes the field look green and the moor
brown。
Not a doubt。 They are so different； that they look like bits of two
different continents。 Scrambling over the fence is like scrambling out of
Europe into Australia。 Now； how was that difference made？ Think。
Don't guess； but think。 Why does the rich grass come up to the bank； and
yet not spread beyond it？
I suppose because it cannot get over。
Not get over？ Would not the wind blow the seeds； and the birds carry
them？ They do get over； in millions； I don't doubt； every summer。
Then why do they not grow？
Think。
Is there any difference in the soil inside and out？
A very good guess。 But guesses are no use without facts。 Look。