90 IS IT GOING TO RAIN? 



on the plowed fields of the Athenians, and on the 

 plains." 



There is a fine sibilant chorus audible in the sod 

 and in the dust of the road and in the porous plowed 

 fields. Every grain of soil and every root and root- 

 let purrs in satisfaction. Because, something more 

 than water comes down when it rains ; you cannot 

 produce this effect by simple water ; the good-will of 

 the elements, the consent and approbation of all the 

 skyey influences, come down ; the harmony, the ad- 

 justment, the perfect understanding of the soil be- 

 neath and the air that swims above are implied in 

 the marvelous benefaction of the rain. The earth is 

 ready ; the moist winds have wooed it and prepared 

 it, the electrical conditions are as they should be, 

 and there are love and passion in the surrender of 

 the summer clouds. How the drops are absorbed 

 into the ground ! You cannot, I say, succeed like this 

 with your hose or sprinkling pot. There is no ardor 

 or electricity in the drops, no ammonia, or ozone, or 

 other nameless properties borrowed from the air. 



Then one has not the gentleness and patience of 

 Nature ; we puddle the ground in our hurry, we seal 

 it up and exclude the air and the plants are worse off 

 than before. "When the sky is overcast and it is get- 

 ling ready to rain, the moisture rises in the ground, 

 the earth opens her pores and seconds the desire of 

 the clouds. 



Indeed, I have found there is but little virtue in a 

 sprinkling pot after the drought has reached a certaiB 



