256 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



HIGHER and higher rose the barometer, 

 and denser and denser became the atmos 

 phere, until the valley nearly disappeared 

 and the heavens were covered by a leaden 

 veil. Yesterday we had seen some indica 

 tions of a mackerel sky beyond the smoke, 

 and at last, shortly before noon to-day, 

 first in tiny particles at long intervals, and 

 then more frequently, the moisture made 

 itself felt, until at length a real shower 

 was sweeping over the fields. Now we 

 were sure that the September rains had 

 begun in earnest, and those that were 

 upon the housetop came down, and those 

 who were in the fields sought shelter. But 

 alas ! the shower was but a fleeting show : 

 it had but little more than moistened the 

 surface, when it was gone. 



Slight as it was, however, the effect upon 

 the atmosphere was wonderful. The smoke 

 had disappeared ; the sky was cobalt blue 

 once more, for the first time in weeks, and 

 the sun poured down a hot torrent upon us- 



