IN JULY- 



We feel how we are oppressed in the stifling heat of 

 summer; with what difficulty we breathe; what 

 uneasiness we experience ! Is it not a great bles- 

 sing, that we ought to be grateful for to God, when 

 a salutary storm comes to purify the air from all 

 noxious vapours ; and by lighting up the saline and 

 sulphureous .particles, prevents their dangerous ef- 

 fects, cools the air, which recovers its elasticity, and 

 restores to us our usual facility of breathing? Were 

 it not for storms," the dangerous exhalations would 

 more and more increase, and be more and more cor- 

 rupt. Men and animals would perish by millions. 

 Which is then the most reasonable, to fear or to wish 

 for storms ? To murmur at the slight mischief they 

 may sometimes occasion, or to bless God for the 

 precious advantages they procure us ? Let us add, 

 that not only men and animals are benefited by 

 purifying the air, but that it is also very useful to 

 the vegetables. Experience teaches us, that the 

 rain which falls when it thunders is the most fruitful 

 to the earth. 



Observe also, that, during the greatest claps of 

 thunder, most people prolong their fear without rea- 

 son. Whoever has time to fear the natural conse- 

 quences of lightning is already, out of danger It is 

 only the lightning which is fatal. When we have 

 seen, and not been touched by it, and when the thun- 

 der does not come with it immediately, it is doubly 

 foolish to .turn pale or tremble at hearing a clap,, 

 or to stop the ears for fear of sound, which is no lon- 

 ger dangerous. The thunder tells us we have 6s 



