James Viza, ape 9, of Rochester, New York, for his question:

Why isn't there a Father Nature?

We hear a lot about Mother Nature and then you learn that hurricanes have girl's names. But this should not make a young fella feel neglected. Remember Father Time and Uncle Sam. Of course, none of. them are real persons    neither real boys nor real girls. But somehow it's nice to pretend they are. It helps us to get a better picture of them. It also helps us to feel that non living things may be a bit like people    and in that way we understand them better.

The world of nature is very big, very busy and very much alive. Nature also is a good housekeeper, always,serving food to millions of plants and animals. Nature also tells them what to do to keep safe. And nature is beautiful    always changing colors, perfumes and gorgeous outfits. Surely these things remind us of a lovely lady, a sort of mother to all the living things in the world. True, fathers also do all those good things for their children. But people decided to picture nature as a mother  ¬no doubt because she is so beautiful.