NURSLINGS OF THE SKY 



wind, just a smokiness such as spirits ma- 

 terialize from in witch stories. 



It rays out and draws to it some floating 

 films from secret caiions. Rain begins, 

 " slow dropping veil of thinnest lawn ; " a 

 wind comes up and drives the formless 

 thing across a meadow, or a dull lake pit- 

 ted by the glancing drops, dissolving as it 

 drives. Such rains relieve like tears. 



The same season brings the rains that 

 have work to do, ploughing storms that 

 alter the face of things. These come with 

 thunder and the play of live fire along the 

 rocks. They come with great winds that 

 try the pines for their work upon the seas 

 and strike out the unfit They shake 

 down avalanches of splinters from sky-line 

 pinnacles and raise up sudden floods like 

 battle fronts in the cafions against towns, 

 trees, and boulders. They would be kind 

 251 



