90 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



den, sullen fury of the typhoon, it is but child's play 

 compared with the gigantic and yet silent, lawful move- 

 ment, in which they ascend to the very heavens on high, 

 where " He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds," 

 and then again sink uncomplaining to the lowest depths 

 of the earth. 



As the bright sun rests warm and glowing on the 

 bosom of the cool flood, millions of briny drops abandon 

 the mighty ocean and rise, unseen by human eye, borne 

 on the wings of the wind, up into the blue ether. But 

 soon they are recalled to their allegiance. They gather 

 into silvery clouds, race around the globe, and sink down 

 again, now impetuously in a furious storm, bringing de- 

 struction and ruin, now as gentle rain, fertilizing and 

 refreshing, or more quietly yet, as brilliant dew pearls, 

 glittering in the bosom of the unfolding rose, and filling 

 each tiny cup held up by leaf and blossom. Eagerly the 

 thirsty earth drinks in the heavenly gift ; in a thousand 

 veins she sends it down to her lowest depths, and fills 

 her vast invisible reservoirs. Soon she can hold the rich 

 abundance of health-bringing waters no longer, and through 

 cleft and cliff they gush joyfully forth as merry, chatter- 

 ing springs. They join rill to rill, and rush heedlessly 

 down the mountains in brook and creek, until they grow 

 to mighty rivers. Thundering over gigantic rocks, they 

 leap fearlessly down lofty precipices, or gently rolling their 

 mighty masses along the inclined planes of lowlands, be- 

 come man's obedient slaves, and carry richly laden vessels 

 on their broad shoulders, until they return once more to 

 the bosom of their common mother, the great ocean. 



