madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第40章
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this spring； for the sake of a set of nestlings who can be of no gain or use
to him； but only take the food out of his mouth？ Simply out ofwhat
shall I call it； my child？Love； that same sense of love and duty； coming
surely from that one Fountain of all duty and all love； which makes your
father work for you。 That the mother should take care of her young； is
wonderful enough； but that （at least among many birds） the father should
help likewise； is （as you will find out as you grow older） more wonderful
far。 So there already the old starling has set us two fresh puzzles about
How and Why； neither of which we shall get answered； at least on this side
of the grave。
Come on； up the field； under the great generous sun； who quarrels with
no one； grudges no one； but shines alike upon the evil and the good。
What a gay picture he is painting now； with his light… pencils； for in them；
remember； and not in the things themselves the colour lies。 See how；
where the hay has been already carried； he floods all the slopes with
yellow light； making them stand out sharp against the black shadows of
the wood； while where the grass is standing still； he makes the sheets of
sorrel…flower blush rosy red； or dapples the field with white oxeyes。
But is not the sorrel itself red； and the oxeyes white？
What colour are they at night； when the sun is gone？
Dark。
That is； no colour。 The very grass is not green at night。
Oh； but it is if you look at it with a lantern。
No； no。 It is the light of the lantern； which happens to be strong
enough to make the leaves look green； though it is not strong enough to
make a geranium look red。
Not red？
No； the geranium flowers by a lantern look black； while the leaves
look green。 If you don't believe me； we will try。
But why is that？
Why； I cannot tell： and how； you had best ask Professor Tyndall； if
you ever have the honour of meeting him。
But nowhark to the mowing…machine； humming like a giant night…
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jar。 Come up and look at it； and see how swift and smooth it shears the
long grass down； so that in the middle of the swathe it seems to have
merely fallen flat； and you must move it before you find that it has been
cut off。
Ah； there is a proof to us of what men may do if they will only learn
the lessons which Madam How can teach them。 There is that boy； fresh
from the National School； cutting more grass in a day than six strong
mowers could have cut； and cutting it better； too； for the mowing…machine
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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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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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； wea
