234 



A TOUR ROUND MY GARDEN. 



clouds, the air is heavy, and respiration is difficult. The 

 birds have ceased to sing, the bees will not go beyond the 

 garden walls; the flowers, half-faded, seem, to languish on 

 their stalks ; swallows fly about, skimming the earth. A flash 

 of lightning gleams from a black cloud, and is followed by 

 a heavy, distant sound. The flashes soon become more frequent, 

 the peals of thunder nearer : then the clouds burst, and the 

 rain fiills in torrents ! 



And then the freshened air delioiously dilates the lungs; 

 the honeysuckles spread abroad their sweetish perfumes; the 

 earth itself throws up a delightful odour ; the rain has ceased, 

 and the sun is bestowing the fires of diamonds upon the 

 drops suspended from the leaves of the trees. Pardon me, 

 beautiful drops of rain, for comparing you to diamonds ! 



The birds sing, the flowers resume their splendour, and 

 lift up their heads. Everything is revived, fresh, smiling, 

 happy! 



