So they had to live very hard , on nuts and roots which they scratched out of the ground with sticks . Some of them talked of sowing corn , as their ancestors used to do , before they came into the land of Readymade ; but they had forgotten how to make ploughs -LRB- they had forgotten even how to make Jews ' harps by this time -RRB- , and had eaten all the seed-corn which they brought out of the land of Hardwork years since ; and of course it was too much trouble to go away and find more . So they lived miserably on roots and nuts , and all the weakly little children had great stomachs , and then died . `` Why , '' said Tom , `` they are growing no better than savages . '' `` And look how ugly they are all getting , '' said Ellie . `` Yes ; when people live on poor vegetables instead of roast beef and plum-pudding , their jaws grow large , and their lips grow coarse , like the poor Paddies who eat potatoes . '' And she turned over the next five hundred years . And there they were all living up in trees , and making nests to keep off the rain . And underneath the trees lions were prowling about . `` Why , '' said Ellie , `` the lions seem to have eaten a good many of them , for there are very few left now . '' `` Yes , '' said the fairy ; `` you see it was only the strongest and most active ones who could climb the trees , and so escape . '' `` But what great , hulking , broad-shouldered chaps they are , '' said Tom ; `` they are a rough lot as ever I saw . '' `` Yes , they are getting very strong now ; for the ladies will not marry any but the very strongest and fiercest gentlemen , who can help them up the trees out of the lions ' way . '' And she turned over the next five hundred years . And in that they were fewer still , and stronger , and fiercer ; but their feet had changed shape very oddly , for they laid hold of the branches with their great toes , as if they had been thumbs , just as a Hindoo tailor uses his toes to thread his needle . The children were very much surprised , and asked the fairy whether that was her doing . `` Yes , and no , '' she said , smiling . `` It was only those who could use their feet as well as their hands who could get a good living : or , indeed , get married ; so that they got the best of everything , and starved out all the rest ; and those who are left keep up a regular breed of toe-thumb-men , as a breed of short-horns , or are skye - terriers , or fancy pigeons is kept up . '' `` But there is a hairy one among them , '' said Ellie . `` Ah ! ''
said the fairy , `` that will be a great man in his time , and chief XXXXX all the tribe . ''
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