Lesson xxii.] THUNDER Sc LIGHTNING. 141 



when a person is lower than the surface of the 

 earth^ the Lightning must s rike it and spend 

 itself, having a great probability of not reaching 

 him. 



A building may be secured, to a considerable 

 degree, from the dreadful effects which Lightning 

 sometimes produces; and this by fixing a pointed 

 iron rod higher than any parts of the building, 

 and joining to the lower end of it a wire which 

 must communicate with the earth, or, rather, the 

 nearest water. This rod the Lightning will seize 

 upon, sooner than any part of the building : it will 

 therefore descend along it, and the annexed wire, 

 till it reaches the earth or water, when it will be 

 dissipated without doing any harm. It would be 

 advisable to have that part of the wire which is 

 within five or six feet of the ground, surrounded 

 by an open frame, of such a kind as will prevent 

 men or animals from coming so near the wire, as 

 to be injured by the Lightning, which it is designed 

 to convey to the earth. 



Several of the British poets have given us sub- 

 lime descriptions of Thunder-storms, with admira- 

 ble reflections suggested by them : as a specimen, 

 my young readers are requested to peruse the 

 following. 



In gloomy pomp, whilst awful midnight reigns, 

 Aud wide o'er earth her mournful mantle spreads, 

 Whilst deep-voic'd Thunders threaten guilty heads, 



And rushing torrents drown the frighted plains, 

 And quirk-glanc'd Lightnings, to my dazzled sight, 

 Betray the double horrors of the night. 



A solerum 



