owls, somewhat like
cuckoos, somewhat like goatsuckers; but, on the whole, unlike anything in
the world but themselves; and instead of feeding on moths or mice, they
feed upon hard dry fruits, which they pick off the trees after the set of
sun. And wise men will tell you, that in making such a bird as that, and
giving it that peculiar way of life, and settling it in that cavern, and
a few more caverns in that part of the world, and therefore in making the
caverns ready for them to live in, Madam How must have taken ages and
ages, more than you can imagine or count.

But that is among the harder lessons which come in the latter part of
Madam How's book. Children need not learn them yet; and they can never
learn them, unless they master her alphabet, and her short and easy
lessons for beginners, some of which I am trying to teach you now.

But I have just recollected that we are a couple of very stupid fellows.
We have been talking all this time about chalk and limestone, and have
forgotten to settle what they are, and how they were made. We must think
of that next time. It will not do for us (at least if we mean to be
scientific men) to use terms without defining them; in plain English, to
talk about--we don't know what.

CHAPTER VIII--MADAM HOW'S TWO GRANDSONS

You want to know, then, what chalk is? I suppose you mean what chalk is
made of?

Yes. That is it.

That we can only help by calling in the help of a very great giant whose
name is Analysis.

A giant?

Yes. And before we call for him I will tell you a very curious story
about him and his younger brother, which is every word of it true.

Once upon a time, certainly as long ago as the first man, or perhaps the
first rational being of any kind, was created, Madam How had two
grandsons. The elder is called Analysis, and the younger Synthesis. As
for who their father and mother were, there have been so many disputes on
that question that I think children may leave it alone for the present.
For my part, I believe that they are both, like St. Patrick, "gentlemen,
and come of decent people;" and I have a great respect and affection for
them both, as long as each keeps in his own place and minds his own
business.

Now you must understand that, as soon as these two baby giants were born,
Lady Why, who sets everything to do that work for which it is exactly
fitted, set both of them their work. Analysis was to take to pieces
everything he foun