"The very earth, the steamy air,
Are all with fragrance rife;
And grace and beauty everywhere
Are bursting into life.
Down, down they come, those fruitful stores,
Those earth-rejoicing drops;
A momentary deluge pours,
Then thins, decreases, stops."

ANON.


"There seems likely to be a change in the weather," said grandpapa one
morning at breakfast. "The wind has got round to the west, and there are
clouds about."

"I am so glad," said Mary.

"So am I," added Annie. "It has been too hot for the last two or three
weeks."

"We shall all be glad to see a little rain," said grandpapa; "the garden
wants it badly enough, and so do the newly-mown fields."

Grandpapa was right, for sure enough during the day there were many
cooling showers, which made everything out of doors look bright and
fresh.

In the evening grandmamma sat at work in the drawing-room by the open