afloat, that your eye has chased as you lay fatigued with the delicious
languor of an April sun;--nor have you scarce noticed that a little bevy
of those floating clouds had grouped together in a sombre company. But
presently you see across the fields the dark gray streaks, stretching
like lines of mists from the green bosom of the valley to that spot of
sky where the company of clouds is loitering; and with an easy shifting
of the helm the fleet of swimmers come drifting over you, and drop their
burden into the dancing pools, and make the flowers glisten, and the
eaves drip with their crystal bounty.

The cattle linger still, cropping the new-come grass; and childhood
laughs joyously at the warm rain, or under the cottage-roof catches with
eager ear the patter of its fall.

----And with that patter on the roof,--so like to the patter of
childish feet,--my story of boyish dreams shall begin.




I.

_Rain in the Garret._


It is an old garret with big brown rafters; and the boards between are
stained darkly with the rain-storms of fifty years. And as the sportive
April shower quickens its flood, it seems as if its torrents would come
dashing through the shingles upon you, and upon your play. But it will
not; for you know that the old roof is strong, and that it has kept you,