The
two pieces of wood would grow warm by a very little rubbing; but in
order to make them take fire, they must be rubbed together a great
while.
_Daughter._ But, mother, if it takes so long a time to get fire by
rubbing two pieces of wood together, why can Alice set the match on fire
so easily by rubbing it once on the sand-paper?
_Mother._ That is what I am about to explain to you, my dear. Here, take
this piece of paper and hold it up to the lamp.
_Daughter._ It has taken fire, mother.
[Illustration: L]
_Mother._ Now take this piece of pine wood, and hold that up to the lamp
in the same manner, and see whether that will take fire too.
_Daughter._ Yes, mother, it has taken fire; but I had to hold it up to
the lamp much longer than I did the paper.
_Mother._ Now take this piece of hard wood, and do the same with that.
_Daughter._ The hard wood takes longer still to catch fire, mother.
_Mother._ Yes, my child. And now I am going to make the hard wood take
fire more quickly than the paper did.
_Daughter._ Dear mother, how can you do it?
_Mother.
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