96 IS IT GOING TO RAIN? 



ever saw them pushing their opaque filaments over 

 the sky from the east or north? Yet, do we not 

 have " northeasters " both winter and summer ? True, 

 but the storm does not come from that direction. In 

 such a case, we get that segment of the cyclonic 

 whirl. A northeaster in one place may be an easter, 

 a norther, or a souther in some other locality. See 

 through those drifting, drenching clouds that come 

 hurrying out of the northeast, and there are the 

 boss-clouds, above them, the great captains them- 

 selves, moving serenely on in the opposite direction. 



Electricity is of course an important agent in 

 storms. It is the great organizer and ring-master. 

 How a clap of thunder will shake down the rain! 

 It gives the clouds a smart rap ; it jostles the vapor 

 so that the particles fall together more quickly ; it 

 makes the drops let go in double and treble ranks. 

 Nature likes to be helped in that way, likes to have 

 the water agitated when she is freezing it or heating 

 it, and the clouds smitten when she is compressing 

 them into rain. So does a shock of surprise quicken 

 the pulse in man, and in the crisis of action help 

 him to a decision. 



What a spur and impulse the summer shower is ! 

 How its coming quickens and hurries up the slow, 

 jogging country life ! The traveler along the dusty 

 road arouses from his reverie at the warning rumble 

 behind the hills ; the children hasten from the field 

 or from the school ; the farmer steps lively and thinks 

 fast. In the hay-field, at the first signal-gun of the 



