346 CORN AND BEANS, ETC. 



and darken the future with the wrath of heaven. 

 At last the vanguard of black flying clouds, dis- 

 jointed, jagged, the rough skirmish line of the 

 advancing storm, is over our heads. Back of 

 these, in one dark, solid mass, comes the tem- 

 pest. For a moment there is a sort of hush of 

 expectation, like the lull before a battle. The 

 trees on the distant brow of a mountain are seen 

 to toss and writhe, but as yet no sound is heard. 

 Soon there is a faint, far-away rushing noise, 

 the low, deep prelude of Nature's grand musical 

 discord that is to follow. There is a vivid 

 flash, and a startling peal of thunder breaks forth 

 overhead, and rolls away with countless rever- 

 berations among the hills. In the meantime the 

 distant rushing sound has developed into an in- 

 creasing roar. Half way down the mountain 

 side the trees are swaying wildly. At the base 

 stands a grove, motionless, . expectant, like a 

 square of infantry awaiting an impetuous cavalry 



