a fast-thickening haze, and while the family was at dinner the wind

old Mr. Clifford remarked, "for all th

e air was almost sultry. By four o'clock the rain began to dash with almost the violence of a summer shower against the windowpanes of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford's sitting-room,

midwinter?" said Mr. Clifford, with a smile. "This

orm at this season v

arpest lightning I have ever

he storm centre was still distant. "I would advise you to go up to Maggie's room," resumed Mr. Clifford, "for fro

e is danger," she re

a smile, "and I have passed through many storms. Come, I'll go with

th Johnnie and Ned playing about the room.

he protection of lightning-rods. Yes, you may come in," she said to Webb, who stood a

or, whatever reason might tell me, I should still feel safer in a wild storm with the present company around me. Don't you think it odd, Amy, that what we may term nat

es

ay, and murmured, "What children an

hings I never wish to

at wish. The outlook is

mountains, half wrapped in vapor, loomed vast and indefinite in the obscurity. Every moment the storm grew nearer, and its centre was marked by an ominous blackness which the momentary flashes left all the more intense. The young girl grew deeply absorbed in the scene, and to Webb the strong, pure profile of h

left their solid bases and to be approaching in the gloom. Then came a magnificent peal that swept across the whole southern arch of the sky. The reverberations among the hills were deep, long, and grand, and

on as he could be heard. "It has begun early this seaso

ste," replied the young girl, shrin

" said the old man, enci

id, the report followed more tardily, indicating that the storm centre is already well to the south and east of us? The next explosion will t

while Nature is in such an awful mood!-the snow, the slush, everything dripping, the rain rushing down like a cataract, and thunder-bolts playing over one's head. In contrast, look around this home-like room. Dear old father's serene face"-for Mr. Clifford had already taught her to call him father-"makes the Divine Fatherhood seem more

cate organizations, she was excited by the electrical condition of the air. Th

elf, and others must be careful of you, for you have not much vis inertiae. Some ou

that substantial quality which can only find adequate

know, and we men, I fear, often smack of the soil too strongly; therefore we are best pleased with contrasts. Moreover, our country life

ppen now," she said,

ebb read aloud. At last Mr. Clifford rose, drew aside the curtains, and looked ou

he stars shining, and the mountains stood out g

the time seemed as dark and threatening as the storm that awed you in the early evening, but they passed also, and a quiet like that which