THE RIDDLE OF LIFE. 109 



this ceaseless drip, and the freshened look of every- 

 thing about me in the clearer atmosphere, I should 

 hardly have known there hai been a change. 



Scarce a half hour had elapsed — yet there the blue 

 sky showed itself again over the mountain where 

 the dark cloud had been — ^the sun came forth in re- 

 doubled splendor, and the tumult was over. Now 

 and then a disappointed peal was heard slowly 

 traveling over the sky, as if conscious it came too 

 late to share the conflict ; but all else was calm, 

 and tranquil, and beautiful, as nature ever is after a 

 thunder-storm. But while I lay watching that blue 

 arch, against which the tall mountain, now greener 

 than ever, seemed to lean ; suddenly a single circular 

 white cloud appeared over the top, and slowly rolled 

 into view, and floated along the radiant west. 

 Bathed in the rich sunset — glittering like a white 

 robe — ^how beautiful ! how resplendent ! A moving 

 glory, it looked as if some angel-hand had just rolled 

 it away from the golden gate of heaven. I watched 

 it till my spirit longed to fly away and sink in its 

 bright foldings. And then I thought were I in the 

 midst of it, it would be found a heavy bank of fog — 

 damp and chill like the morning mist, which obscures 



