The Sorrows of a House Martin 39 



And when the rain had passed, and the blue sky 

 above was all the bluer for the dark cloud in the 

 distance, where the rainbow was gathering its 

 brightness, what delicious feasts we had ! how 

 we did career about, and chatter, and enjoy 

 ourselves ! " 



" I daresay you did," said Gwenny. " And I'm 

 very glad you are happy some time : but I'm 

 sure there's something dreadful coming yet ! " 



" Only too soon there came something dreadful," 

 the Martin continued, "dreadful to us at least. 

 The very next day the day we came here the 

 soft west wind dropped, and no more showers 

 came. Quite early in the morning I felt a 

 difference a dryness about the skin, and a 

 tickling at the roots of my feathers, which I knew 

 was not caused by those little creepers I told you 

 of. And when I rested on the telegraph wires to 

 scratch myself with my bill, I got so cold that 

 I had to leave off and take to flight again. And 

 then I knew that the wind was in the east, and 

 that I should get very little good by flying, 

 though fly I must, for the insects would not 

 rise. Those of yesterday were dead already, 



