486 THE SHOWER. 



and it was indeed a shower fraught with fragrance and 

 fruitfulness. 



The first sign of the breaking up of the storm was a 

 small spot of blue sky shown by the bursting of a cloud. 

 From this point the floating vapour which had just before 

 overspread the whole heavens gradually dispersed, opening 

 a view into the immensity beyond. It was most interest- 

 ing to watch the fantastic shapes the clouds assumed, as, 

 ever changing, they coursed along the sky in taking their 

 departure, sometimes black, at others thick and murky, 

 and anon of a fleecy lightness, their upper edges fringed 

 with gold. 



But the warring of the elements ceased, the sky was 

 again cloudless, the fragrant earth, refreshed by the 

 shower, presented to the sight trees, herbs, and flowers 

 bespangled with liquid diamonds. The sound of the 

 axe again rose upon the ear, and the feathered inhabitants 

 of the forest issuing from their leafy tenements sat motion- 

 less on the outer boughs warbling in subdued accents their 

 evening song. 



OLD HUMPHREY. 



[From " The Florist? September 1857, p. 261.] 



READER, have you ever enjoyed the privilege of 

 perusing the writings of " Old Humphrey ?" 

 Whether your answer be " yes " or " no," you may per- 

 haps feel inclined to ask in return, " What has Old 

 Humphrey to do with flowers?" Grant me a little 

 patience and I think I shall be able to show at least a 

 remote connection, and one probably bearing on your 

 interests and pleasures. Let me confess at the outset 

 that I cultivate flowers for profit, but not for profit only, 

 for like most lovers of flowers I have my pet plants, which 

 serve to amuse my leisure hours and conduce to other 

 than pecuniary gain. In my early youth I was, through 



