JULY. 



The clouds poured out water ; the skies sent out a sound ; thine 

 arrows also went abroad. 



The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven; the lightnings light- 

 ened the world ; the earth trembled and shook. 



Psalms lxxvii. 17, 18. 



Look upon the rainbow and praise him that made it ; very beau- 

 tiful it is in the brightness thereof. 



It coinpasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the 

 hands of the Most High have bended it. 



Ecclesiasticus xliii. 11, 12. 



Summer ! glowing summer ! This is the 

 month of heat and sunshine ; of clear, fervid 

 skies, dusty roads, and shrinking streams ; 

 when doors and windows are thrown open : — 

 a cool gale is the most welcome of all visitors, 

 and every drop of rain is worth its weight in 

 gold ! Such is July commonly ; yet it is some- 

 times, on the contrary, a very showery month, 

 putting the haymaker to the extremity of his 

 patience, and the farmer upon anxious thoughts 

 for his ripening corn. Generally speaking, 

 however, it is the heart of our summer. The 

 landscape presents an air of warmth, dryness, 



