That is correct. You now see why the Australian summer is at the time
of the English winter.
Yes, father; because they are on opposite sides of the equator. But you
know that the sun does not really move about like this. I want to know
what does move.
The earth, to be sure.
I understand that; but neither the rotundity nor motion seems
to explain this mystery of the Zodiac. But let me see. When the
world swings round the master light, is it obliged to keep bolt
upright--north pole up and south pole down?
How would your equator then be, James?
Right opposite the sun. But that will not do, for it is not always
opposite to the sun. Perhaps the world goes waddling along like a duck,
first on one side a little bit, and then on the other. This would bring
the sun opposite to either place.
It would be a very regular waddle. We will try your scheme. Pick up
that round wooden ball there. Carry it round the capstan, and see
whether by twisting it from one side to the other you can keep the
south pole shone upon for six months, and the north pole shone upon for
the other six months.”
James now makes a trial. But after all sorts of turns he failed in
producing the English winter and summer in the proper time and for the
proper length of time.
“I must give it up, father.
Just slant your ball a little out of the perpendicular, and carry it
round your sun without moving it from its position.
Capital! It explains the whole. When it was in front of the capstan,
the south pole was toward it; that was the Australian summer. When I
went to the right side, neither end was inclined toward it; this was
the sun over the equator. When I came to the back of it, the north pole
was toward it; this was the English summer. When I reached the left
side, my equator was opposite to it; this was the sun’s second crossing
of the Line. When I got to the front again, there was my south pole
pointing to the capstan again.
Then you really understand the seasons. Of course the spring in England
is the autumn of Australia. But I have something else to recall to your
recollection. Have you forgotten the old church on the hill at home?
No, father, and never shall. How pretty it looked when the sun rose
over it upon a fine spring morning, with the birds all alive with their
song, and the bees down upon the flowers!
Did the sun rise over the church at hay harvest?
No; I remember then it came up from behind the squire’s house to the
left of it.
Where was the sun first seen upon a cold winter’s morning?
Aye, I fancy I see his red face looking lazily over the parsonage to
the right of the church, and that when we had done breakfast, too.
How came the sun to jump about in that manner?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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