IN PRAISE OF RAIN 5 



there is yet another rain, distilling where rain rarely continues for many 



itself from cloud and mist on our days together, and watch the subtle 



western hills for many days together, influence it has on the life of plants 



hindering rather than helping the works and animals. All plants, as we all 



of man, if not of other living things, know, must have water, and many 



and reminding us that neither rain of them will droop after a day or two 



without sun nor sun without rain can of dry heat ; then, when the rain 



do for us and nature exactly what we conies, it is almost possible to see the 



wish. In a Cumberland dale I have grass growing. The processes that 



seen the whole population making go on at the roots and in the stems 



hay, while the sun was shining on a and leaves are hidden from us ; but 



Sunday morning, with the full sanction it is interesting to note the different 



of their good parson, who postponed ways in which different kinds of plants 



his service for their benefit, and finally deal with the rain as it falls on their 



preached a sermon of extraordinary leaves. Some adorn themselves with 



eloquence and power to a congregation it, retaining it in the form of gems 



of two strangers and his sexton. Those sparkling in the sunshine, and thus 



strangers soon found that they must make themselves more beautiful than 



accept the drizzle and make the best ever to the human eye ; others dis- 



of it, and that all attempts to counter- tribute it over their leaves as moisture 



act it by umbrellas and mackintoshes hardly discernible unless we look at 



are vain and even harmful for they them closely ; and some few seem 



do but keep reminding you that it is almost to reject it. As you walk 



raining. along a road during or just after a 



It is true then that the sweet and shower, looking into the hedgerows 



even distribution of rain over the (always a most soothing occupation 



greater part of this island has its for eye and mind), and chance to be 



exceptions ; there is no part of England thinking of this treatment of rain 



that has as a rule too little rain, but by the plants, you can hardly fail 



there are districts which get too much, to be struck by the surly and in- 



and where man loses the constant hospitable conduct of the whole nettle 



sense of wholesome change, and the tribe a tribe that flourishes in dry 



frequent cheering influence of the sun. places, and seems to be none the 



But let us return to the lower lands, worse for dust and drought. The 



