Thunder Storms.

At a season wherein nature presents to our eyes none but pleasing, cheerful scenes, there are some people, notwithstanding, who still complain and murmur. Summer they say, would indeed be delightful, if storms did not come to disturb and banish all joy from their souls The fear of thunder and storms is chiefly owing to the opinion of their being effects of the wrath of heaven, and ministers of its vengeance. For if, on the contrary, we considered how much these storms contribute to purify the air from numberless noxious vapours, and to fertilize the earth; if we would take proper precautions against the terrible effects of lightning, the storms would cease to be so dreadful to us, and would rather inspire gratitude than terror. Alas! we should soon change our language, if God, provoked at our ingratitude and complaints, was to deprive us of the blessings we derive from thunder storms. It is true, that we are not capable of pointing out all the advantages which accrue from them; but the little we know is sufficient to fill our hearts with gratitude towards our great Benefactor. Let us represent to ourselves an atmosphere loaded with noxious and pestilential vapours, which thicken more and more by the continual exhalations of earthly bodies, so many of which are corrupt and poisonous. We must breathe this air; the preservation or destruction of our existence depends upon it. The salubrity or unwholesomeness of the air gives us life or death.

We feel how we are oppressed in the stifling heat of summer; with what difficulty we breathe; what uneasiness we experience! Is it not a great blessing, that we ought to be grateful for to God, when a salutary storm comes to purify the air from all noxious vapours; and by lighting up the saline and sulphureous particles, prevents their dangerous effects, cools the air, which recovers its elasticity, and restores to us our usual facility of breathing? Were it not for storms, the dangerous exhalations would more and more increase, and be more and more corrupt. Men and animals would perish by millions. Which is then the most reasonable, to fear or to wish for storms? To murmur at the slight mischief they may sometimes occasion, or to bless God for the precious advantages they procure us? Let us add, that not only men and animals are benefitted by purifying the air, but that it is also very useful to the vegetables. Experience teaches us, that the rain which falls when it thunders is the most fruitful to the earth.

Observe also, that, during the greatest claps of thunder, most people prolong their fear without reason. Whoever has time to fear the natural consequences of lightning is already out of danger It is only the lightning which is fatal. When we have seen, and not been touched by it, and when the thunder does not come with it immediately, it is doubly foolish to turn pale or tremble at hearing a clap, or to stop the ears for fear of sound, which is no longer dangerous. The thunder tells us we have es

caped the danger, and, at the same time, informs us at what distance it is; for the greater space of time there is between the clap of thunder and the flash of lightning, the more distant is the storm.

Such reflections as these may moderate the excessive fear we have of thunder. Instead of filling our minds with frightful and terrible ideas, let us accustom ourselves to consider a storm as a sublime and great object. Instead of speaking of the misfortunes occasioned by thunder, let us reflect rather on the necessity and great use of storms.

AUGUST.

"Fair plenty now begins her golden reign,"
The yellow fields thick wave with ripen'd grain,
Joyous the swains begin their sultry toils,

And bear in triumph home the harvest's wealthy spoils."

WHAT remained to be perfected by the powerful influence of the sun, is daily advancing to maturity. The farmer now sees the principal object of his culture, and the chief source of his riches, waiting only for the hand of the gatherer.

Rye and oats are usually first ripe; but this varies, and depends on the time of sowing. Sometimes all kinds of grain are fit for cutting at the same time.

Every fair day is now of great importance; for, when the corn is once ripe, it is liable to continual damage while standing, either from the shedding of

the seeds, from the depredations of birds, or from

storms.

This pleasing harvest scene is beheld in its perfection only in the open field countries, where the sight can take in at once an uninterrupted extent of · land waving with corn, and a multitude of people engaged in the various parts of the labour. It is a prospect equally delightful to the eye and the heart, and which ought to inspire every sentiment of benevolence to our fellow-creatures, and gratitude to our Creator.

The rural festival of harvest home is an extremely natural one, and has been observed in almost all ages and all countries. The jovial harvest supper cheers the heart of the labourer, and prepares him to begin, without murmuring, the labours of another year; and now,

Inwardly smiling, the proud farmer views
The rising pyramids that grace his yard,
And counts his large increase."

This month is the season of another kind of harvest in some parts of England, which is the hoppicking. The hop is a climbing plant, sometimes growing wild in hedges, and is cultivated on account of its use in making malt liquors. It is planted in regular rows, and poles are set for it to run upon. When the poles are covered to the top, nothing can make a more elegant appearance than one of these hop-gardens. At the time of gathering, the poles are taken up with the plants clinging to them and

the scaly flowering heads, which are the part used, are carefully picked off Kent, Sussex, and Worcestershire, are the counties most famous for the growth of hops.

Wall fruits now come in season; and,

"The sunny wall

Presents the downy peach, the shining plum;
The ruddy, fragrant nectarine, and dark
Beneath his ample leaf the luscious fig.”

Vipers bring forth their young, of the size of earthworms. Many insects appear; the flies visit the windows, and the bulls begin their shrill bellowing.

Swallows appear in the southern regions; rooks roost in their nests by night; lapwings and linnets begin to congregate; and the red-breast, one of the finest, though commonest of songsters, concludes the month by the renewal of his music.

The Construction and Vegetation of Corn.

The wisdom which appears in the construction and vegetation of corn is very striking. The leaves, for example, which surround it before it has attained its full growth, even those leaves have their use; and it seems as if the wisdom of the Creator had placed them round the blade for the same reason that an architect raises a scaffolding about a building, which, when the building is finished, he takes away. For as soon as the blade has attained its full length and consistency, the leaves which protected it dry up and