Musings by camp-fire and wayside . ne, and itwas surprising how evenly they fell. First the stonewas dotted over, all parts alike. Then drops struckin between where the others had fallen, and so ontill every part of the stone had been touched. Thework was beautifully done, and so softly and gently!Every upturned cup of bloom, and every blade ofgrass on the lawn had received its share, and allwere refreshed. It is a study to know how this isaccomplished. The source of rain is air full ofmoisture. The atmosphere does not fill up andoverflow, like a cup set under a little waterfall,but when it ha
Musings by camp-fire and wayside . ne, and itwas surprising how evenly they fell. First the stonewas dotted over, all parts alike. Then drops struckin between where the others had fallen, and so ontill every part of the stone had been touched. Thework was beautifully done, and so softly and gently!Every upturned cup of bloom, and every blade ofgrass on the lawn had received its share, and allwere refreshed. It is a study to know how this isaccomplished. The source of rain is air full ofmoisture. The atmosphere does not fill up andoverflow, like a cup set under a little waterfall,but when it has absorbed all the water it will hold,it refuses to take any more, retains what it has, andfloats away with its burden. Like the honey-beewhich takes as much of honey in his pouch, and asmuch wax on his pack-saddle legs as he can carry,and no more, so the loaded atmosphere, when ithas enough, starts off, looking for an arid fieldwhich lies waiting—its parched lips open, longingfor the rain-cloud to give it a drink. The water-114. Refreshing Rain 115 drops are squeezed out of the humid air by a coldcurrent. The water-bearing air rises because it iswarm. The icy air from the high altitudes descendsto take its place; the two meet and interpenetrate,and there is a rain—a gentle, even rain, or a down-pour, depending on the coldness of the descending,and the humidity of the ascending currents. Whenthe humid air rises very high, its moisture is con-verted into snow, and if it be dense, the snow-flakes, as they fall, gather others, and when theyreach the lower stratum of rain-pouring mist, theybecome filled with it, congeal it, and come swiftlyto the earth as hail. But in the summer-time,especially, the cold and warm currents often meeton a level, and then there is a slender cataract alongthe line of contact, which moves forward againstthe current of cold air, or goes the other wayagainst the current of humid air—depending uponwhich blows the stronger. This is our passingsummer s
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