I do n't mean sham ones ; no : but real live ones , which would fly , and eat , and lay eggs , and do everything that they ought ; and she was so proud of her skill that she went flying straight off to the North Pole , to boast to Mother Carey how she could make butterflies . But Mother Carey laughed . `` Know , silly child , '' she said , `` that any one can make things , if they will take time and trouble enough : but it is not every one who , like me , can make things make themselves . '' But people do not yet believe that Mother Carey is as clever as all that comes to ; and they will not till they , too , go the journey to the Other-end-of-Nowhere . `` And now , my pretty little man , '' said Mother Carey , `` you are sure you know the way to the Other-end-of-Nowhere ? '' Tom thought ; and behold , he had forgotten it utterly . `` That is because you took your eyes off me . '' Tom looked at her again , and recollected ; and then looked away , and forgot in an instant . `` But what am I to do , ma'am ? For I ca n't keep looking at you when I am somewhere else . '' `` You must do without me , as most people have to do , for nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of their lives ; and look at the dog instead ; for he knows the way well enough , and will not forget it . Besides , you may meet some very queer-tempered people there , who will not let you pass without this passport of mine , which you must hang round your neck and take care of ; and , of course , as the dog will always go behind you , you must go the whole way backward . '' `` Backward ! '' cried Tom . `` Then I shall not be able to see my way . '' `` On the contrary , if you look forward , you will not see a step before you , and be certain to go wrong ; but , if you look behind you , and watch carefully whatever you have passed , and especially keep your eye on the dog , who goes by instinct , and therefore ca n't go wrong , then you will know what is coming next , as plainly as if you saw it in a looking-glass . '' Tom was very much astonished : but he obeyed her , for he had learnt always to believe what the fairies told him . `` So it is , my dear child , '' said Mother Carey ; `` and I will tell you a story , which will show you that I am perfectly right , as it is my custom to be . `` Once on a time , there were two brothers . One was called Prometheus , because he always looked before him , and boasted that he was wise beforehand .
The other was called Epimetheus , because he always looked behind him , and did not boast XXXXX all ; but said humbly , like the Irishman , that he had sooner prophesy after the event .
So at because behind by for off on to without