﻿FORRESTER'S EVENINGS AT HOME. 209 



M. F. You are doubtless correct. There seems to be some dis- 

 pute about the precise way in which hail-stones are formed. It is, 

 however, true that they are frozen drops of rain. There are strong 

 reasons for believing that electricity, that subtle fluid which pervades 

 all creation, the most wonderful, fearful, and unknown agent, has 

 some connection with the formation of hail. If so, probably no one 

 will ever be able to say exactly the cause and manner of their form- 

 ation. Another theory is that the hail-stones, at first, are no larg- 

 er than the smallest drops of rain, and that in falling through a 

 cloud other drops are attached to them, and become frozen; thus 

 causing them to grow larger and larger, until they reach the ground. 



Flora. How large hail-stones ever fall ? 



M. F. It would be impossible to say, as there are frequent hail- 

 storms in mountainous countries, which are uninhabited. I have 

 seen them of considerable size myself. I sat under the shelter of a 

 huge rock, high on the White Mountains, many years ago, with 

 a friend, during a very severe hail-storm. It was in June, and one of 

 the hottest days of the season. Our dog was a short way off, barking 

 at a gray squirrel, when the hail began to come down, but he very 

 soon came running towards us, yelping in a most piteous manner. 

 The storm lasted but a very few minutes, not more than five, yet in that 

 short period a great quantity of hail fell. I could have easily picked 

 up a bushel of hail-stones as large as butternuts. Most of them 

 were much smaller, and at the foot of the mountain the stones were 

 no larger than walnuts. A vast quantity of green leaves and tender 

 twigs from the trees were also cut off, and fell down, nearly cover- 

 ing the ground. Hail-storms are very common in the south of 

 France, and on the Pyrenees mountains. The hail-stones which 

 fall there are frequently as large as a hen's egg, and there is no rea- 

 son to doubt that they have fallen even twice that size. But I think 

 we are wandering from our subject somewhat. 



I have told you that water can be decomposed, and the two gases, 

 of which it is formed, weighed and measured. 



Helen Williams. What if the two gases be put together again ? 



M. F. I have been waiting to have some of my new acquaint- 

 ances " break the ice " for some time. I am glad to find you are 

 all interested. If the two gases are put together again and inflamed, 

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