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rashly say； this or that is Why a thing has happened； nor invent what are
called 〃final causes；〃 which are not Lady Why herself； but only our little
notions of what Lady Why has done； or rather what we should have done
if we had been in her place。 It is not； indeed； by thinking that we shall
find out anything about Lady Why。 She speaks not to our eyes or to our
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
brains； like Madam How； but to that inner part of us which we call our
hearts and spirits； and which will endure when eyes and brain are turned
again to dust。 If your heart be pure and sober； gentle and truthful； then
Lady Why speaks to you without words； and tells you things which
Madam How and all her pupils； the men of science； can never tell。 When
you lie； it may be； on a painful sick…bed； but with your mother's hand in
yours； when you sit by her； looking up into her loving eyes； when you
gaze out towards the setting sun； and fancy golden capes and islands in the
clouds； and seas and lakes in the blue sky； and the infinite rest and peace
of the far west sends rest and peace into your young heart； till you sit silent
and happy； you know not why； when sweet music fills your heart with
noble and tender instincts which need no thoughts or words； ay； even
when you watch the raging thunderstorm； and feel it to be； in spite of its
great awfulness； so beautiful that you cannot turn your eyes away： at
such times as these Lady Why is speaking to your soul of souls； and
saying； 〃My child； this world is a new place； and strange； and often
terrible： but be not afraid。 All will come right at last。 Rest will
conquer Restlessness； Faith will conquer Fear； Order will conquer
Disorder； Health will conquer Sickness； Joy will conquer Sorrow；
Pleasure will conquer Pain； Life will conquer Death； Right will conquer
Wrong。 All will be well at last。 Keep your soul and body pure； humble；
busy； piousin one word； be good： and ere you die； or after you die； you
may have some glimpse of Me； the Everlasting Why： and hear with the
ears； not of your body but of your spirit； men and all rational beings；
plants and animals； ay； the very stones beneath your feet； the clouds above
your head； the planets and the suns away in farthest space； singing
eternally；
〃'Thou art worthy； O Lord； to receive glory and honour and power； for
Thou hast created all things； and for Thy pleasure they are and were
created。〃'
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
CHAPTER II
EARTHQUAKES
So？ You have been looking at that beautiful drawing of the ruin of
Arica in the Illustrated London News： and it has puzzled you and made
you sad。 You want to know why God killed all those peoplemothers
among them； too； and little children？
Alas； my dear child！ who am I that I should answer you that？
Have you done wrong in asking me？ No； my dear child； no。 You
have asked me because you are a human being and a child of God； and not
merely a cleverer sort of animal； an ape who can read and write and cast
accounts。 Therefore it is that you cannot be content； and ought not to be
content； with asking how things happen； but must go on to ask why。 You
cannot be content with knowing the causes of things； and if you knew all
the natural science that ever was or ever will be known to men； that would
not satisfy you； for it would only tell you the CAUSES of things； while
your souls want to know the REASONS of things besides； and though I
may not be able to tell you the reasons of things； or show you aught but a
tiny glimpse here and there of that which I called the other day the glory
of Lady Why； yet I believe that somehow； somewhen； somewhere； you
will learn something of the reason of things。 For that thirst to know
WHY was put into the hearts of little children by God Himself； and I
believe that God would never have given them that thirst if He had not
meant to satisfy it。
Thereyou do not understand me。 I trust that you will understand me
some day。 Meanwhile； I thinkI only say I THINKyou know I told you
how humble we must be whenever we speak of Lady Whythat we may
guess at something like a good reason for the terrible earthquakes in South
America。 I do not wish to be hard upon poor people in great affliction：
but I cannot help thinking that they have been doing for hundreds of years
past something very like what the Bible calls 〃tempting God〃staking
their property and their lives upon the chances of no earthquakes coming；
while they ought to have known that an earthquake might come any day。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
They have fulfilled （and little thought I that it would be fulfilled so soon）
the parable that I told you once； of the nation of the Do… as…you…likes； who
lived careless and happy at the foot of the burning mountain； and would
not be warned by the smoke that came out of the top； or by the slag and
cinders which lay all about them； till the mountain blew up； and destroyed
them miserably。
Then I think that they ought to have expected an earthquake。
Wellit is not for us to judge any one； especially if they live in a part
of the world in which we have not been ourselves。 But I think that we
know； and that they ought to have known； enough about earthquakes to
have been more prudent than they have been for many a year。 At least
we will hope that； though they would not learn their lesson till this year；
they will learn it now； and will listen to the message which I think Madam
How has brought them； spoken in a voice of thunder； and written in letters
of flame。
And what is that？
My dear child； if the landlord of our house was in the habit of pulling
the roof down upon our heads； and putting gunpowder under the
foundations to blow us up； do you not think we should know wha