MIST, BAIN, AND HAIL. 125 



of the feeling excited by gentle rain arises from 

 associative and mental, rather than spectacular 

 if the expression may be used causes. The 

 knowledge that it is intended for a wise pur- 

 pose, that it exercises a cleansing and purifying 

 influence, that it promotes the great objects of 

 Mature in numberless ways, produces an effect 

 which, by insensible association of ideas, gives 

 pleasure. Of the sensuous effects of rainfall, 

 the freshness and coolness of the air and the 

 temporary gloss imparted to evergreen vege- 

 tation are amongst the most important. The 

 picturesque effects, however, are often important. 

 Like the improvement of a drawing by a few 

 strokes of the pencil, introducing incidents not 

 previously existing, rain not unfrequently appears 

 to emphasize the salient features of the landscape. 

 As incidents of the rain itself worth notice, are 

 the moderation, the acceleration, or the inter- 

 mittent stopping of the storm ; the parting, the 

 brightening, or the lowering and darkening of 

 the clouds. 



Hail is much less frequent, but even more 

 striking in its effects, though these effects are less 



