RAIN AND SNOW 
97 
from the thunder-storm. It begins with no 
such frowning front, but has infinitely more en- 
durance because it is not localized. The clouds 
are spread over a large area of sky and they 
gather themselves together slowly at first. 
When condensation sets in and rain begins 
to fall it is slight, almost like a Scotch mist. 
But it soon gains in power, the wind rises, and 
the small rain-drops begin to drive toward the 
earth with great swiftness and force. The 
heavy drops of the thunder-shower, falling 
along distance from high clouds, and falling 
straight, seem to have much less striking power 
than the smaller drops driven diagonally by the 
wind. Nor is the wave of a rain-fringe from a 
thunder-shower anything like so violent as the 
sheet of driving rain in the three days’ storm. 
The latter shakes banner-like in the wind as 
though it were a veritable sheet held down from 
above, or it rolls in swift-moving undulations 
across the sky like the wavy light-flashes of the 
aurora. 
But there is little in the long storm to be ad- 
mired or enjoyed unless we ourselves happen to 
be in a tempestuous mood. The domed sky 
is shut out, the clouds make a flat, lead-colored 
roof overhead, or else they form in gray billows 
Three days’ 
storms. 
Rainy 
days. 
