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whenever you wish。 I know that I do。 To me the longest railroad
journey； instead of being stupid； is like continually turning over the leaves
of a wonderful book； or looking at wonderful pictures of old worlds which
were made and unmade thousands of years ago。 For I keep looking； not
only at the railway cuttings； where the bones of the old worlds are laid
bare； but at the surface of the ground； at the plains and downs； banks and
knolls； hills and mountains； and continually asking Mrs。 How what gave
them each its shape： and I will soon teach you to do the same。 When you
do； I tell you fairly her answer will be in almost every case； 〃Running
water。〃 Either water running when soft； as it usually is； or water running
when it is hardin plain words； moving ice。
About that moving ice； which is Mrs。 How's stronger spade； I will tell
you some other time； and show you； too； the marks of it in every gravel pit
about here。 But now； I see； you want to ask a question； and what is it？
Do I mean to say that water has made great valleys； such as you have
seen paintings and photographs of；valleys thousands of feet deep； among
mountains thousands of feet high？
Yes； I do。 But； as I said before； I do not like you to take my word
upon trust。 When you are older you shall go to the mountains； and you
shall judge for yourself。 Still； I must say that I never saw a valley；
however deep； or a cliff； however high； which had not been scooped out
by water； and that even the mountain…tops which stand up miles aloft in
jagged peaks and pinnacles against the sky were cut out at first； and are
being cut and sharpened still； by little else save water； soft and hard； that is；
by rain； frost； and ice。
Water； and nothing else； has sawn out such a chasm as that through
which the ships run up to Bristol； between Leigh Wood and St。 Vincent's
Rocks。 Water； and nothing else； has shaped those peaks of the
Matterhorn； or the Weisshorn； or the Pic du Midi of the Pyrenees； of which
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
you have seen sketches and photographs。 Just so water might saw out
Hartford Bridge Flat； if it had time enough； into a labyrinth of valleys； and
hills； and peaks standing alone； as it has done already by Ambarrow； and
Edgbarrow； and the Folly Hill on the other side of the vale。
I see you are astonished at the notion that water can make Alps。 But it
was just because I knew you would be astonished at Madam How's doing
so great a thing with so simple a tool； that I began by showing you how
she was doing the same thing in a small way here upon these flats。 For
the safest way to learn Madam How's methods is to watch her at work in
little corners at commonplace business； which will not astonish or frighten
us； nor put huge hasty guesses and dreams into our heads。 Sir Isaac
Newton； some will tell you； found out the great law of gravitation； which
holds true of all the suns and stars in heaven； by watching an apple fall：
and even if he did not find it out so； he found it out； we know； by careful
thinking over the plain and commonplace fact； that things have weight。
So do you be humble and patient； and watch Madam How at work on little
things。 For that is the way to see her at work upon all space and time。
What？ you have a question more to ask？
Oh！ I talked about Madam How lifting up Hartford Bridge Flat。 How
could she do that？ My dear child； that is a long story； and I must tell it
you some other time。 Meanwhile； did you ever see the lid of a kettle rise
up and shake when the water inside boiled？ Of course； and of course； too；
remember that Madam How must have done it。 Then think over between
this and our next talk； what that can possibly have to do with her lifting up
Hartford Bridge Flat。 But you have been longing； perhaps； all this time
to hear more about Lady Why； and why she set Madam How to make
Bracknell's Bottom。
My dear child； the only answer I dare give to that is： Whatever other
purposes she may have made it for； she made it at least for thisthat you
and I should come to it this day； and look at； and talk over it； and become
thereby wiser and more earnest； and we will hope more humble and better
people。 Whatever else Lady Why may wish or not wish； this she wishes
always； to make all men wise and all men good。 For what is written of
her whom； as in a parable； I have called Lady Why？
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
〃The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way； before His
works of old。
〃I was set up from everlasting； from the beginning； or ever the earth
was。
〃When there were no depths； I was brought forth； when there were no
fountains abounding with water。
〃Before the mountains were settled； before the hills was I brought
forth：
〃While as yet He had not made the earth； nor the fields； nor the highest
part of the dust of the world。
〃When He prepared the heavens； I was there： when He set a compass
upon the face of the depth：
〃When He established the clouds above： when He strengthened the
fountains of the deep：
〃When He gave to the sea His decree； that the waters should not pass
His commandment： when He appointed the foundations of the earth：
〃Then I was by Him； as one brought up with Him： and I was daily
His delight； rejoicing always before Him：
〃Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth； and my delights were
with the sons of men。
〃Now therefore hearken unto me； O ye children： for blessed are they
that keep my ways。〃
That we can say； for it has been said for us already。 But beyond that
we can say； and need say； very little。 We were not there； as we read in
the Book of Job； when God laid the foundations of the earth。 〃We see；〃
says St。 Paul； 〃as in a glass darkly； and only know in part。〃 〃For who；〃
he asks again； 〃has known the mind of the Lord； or who hath been His
counsellor？ 。 。 。 For of Him； and through Him； and to Him； are all things：
to whom be glory for ever and ever。 Amen。〃 Therefore we must not
rashly say； this or that is Why a thing has happened； nor invent what are