120 FOREST TREES 



kinds of our commoner trees in winter (when the trees are 

 leafless) ? 



4. What trees, shrubs, or plants have a ' silver lining ' to 

 their leaves ? 



5. What are the autumnal (say, October) tints of the follow- 

 ing leaves beech, plane, wild-cherry, bramble, ash, birch, &c. 



A RAIN-STORM IN SUMMER 



SEE where it smokes along the sounding plain, 

 Blown all aslant, a driving dashing rain ! 

 Peal upon peal redoubling all around 

 Shakes it again, and faster, to the ground ; 

 Now flashing wide, now glancing as in play, 

 Swift beyond thought the lightnings dart away. 



Ere yet it came, the traveller urged his steed, 

 And hurried, but with unsuccessful speed ; 

 Now, drenched throughout, and hopeless of his case, 

 He drops the rein, and leaves him to his pace. 10 



Suppose, unlocked for in a scene so rude, 

 Long hid by interposing hill or wood, 

 Some mansion, neat and elegantly dressed, 

 By some kind hospitable heart possessed, 

 Offer him warmth, security and rest 

 Think with what pleasure, safe and at his ease, 

 He hears the tempest howling in the trees. 



WILLIAM COWPER : Truth, 238-54. 



[NOTE. Written at Olney, 1781. Cowperwas born in 1731 ; 

 died 1800.] 



EXERCISES 



1. Describe in prose the scene here presented, with any details 

 or embellishments your knowledge of Nature may suggest. 



