Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29
Matchlnn clouds for RaIn.


do (Which they are not Obliged 70 do) is TO
watch the clouds Tor rain, especially in dry
spell. and the dry spells are reasonably sure
70 come. They create much anxiety and are
attended by much watching.
The other day good Floyd county farmer re-
marked 70 me on the rain; We are about
used up with dry weather. We have not had
a good rain since the first Of April stun can't
get up out OF the ground. and the peaches are
all falling on The clouds look like rain every
once in awhile but rain comes"
with more satisfaction than should have
been proud OF, replied; we had me ram
the FIRST OF the week and we are feeling bet
ter" What selfish folks We do become. when
we are so eager TO get along in our own under
takinRsf I am satisfied this good farmer did
not relish being told that the rain was coming
in partial showers. but seemed 70 be Obliged
10 tell him we had been more favored than he.
I did not remember that I should have been
slow in boasting. because a Bible sentence
came into my mind directly: Boast not thy
self OF tomorrow" etc.
the years that have past and gone until would
sometimes feel almost desperate and want 10
move away. Every sign OF rain would i'm
press my mind as a hope TO be cherished, and
have looked and fingered. watching clouds In
time OF drouth, until was certainly not happy,
II / was not very miserable about II. An
aged man-one Of good sense also-once told me
that he had an infailible sign for rain. said
he: IF the sun goes down in bank (of
clouds Sunday afternoon. the rain viii
come by next Wednesday night; and II II goes
down the same way on Wednesday night you
will get Il by Sunday"
when 1 see the sun setting IN a bank OF
clouds. I ind myself recurring 10 the days OF
the week. Nothing but SUNDAY and Wednesday
filled the bill for him. yet IAN signs sometimes
fail in dry weather" and his sign occasionally
fails.
win say. Rain is coming when the tree frogs
boiler"
They are spreading themselves out in the
sun-a mighty good sign Of rain"
But I am a cloud watcher myself When the
sky is OF deep blue color. and the white clouds
armament. I sec a good sign OF failing
,-eafher . II tho sJyv kseps hard blue color
and the white clouds are duller and DINNER
, then the outlook IS gloomy for rain. as see II.
Tho color % the clouds-or rather the par
ticular shades Of blue and white-are the most
reliable Indication Of rain Cor Of continued
drouthl. 70 my mind and having lived on a
farm the best part Of my life, have watched
every rain sign that has ever been suggested
to me because I have been deeply interested.
have noticed also that dew falls pientifully
IN a dry tire-a compensation for the with
holding OF the heavier rainfall. In usual
weather. II you find no dew on the plants. you
may set Il down that the moisture Is suspend
ed in the air and Will come down later in the
dav in rain. Gan signs fail when II Is dry)
when strong wind gets among the rain
clouds. then they disappear. How disappoint-
ing are these rain clouds filled with windi
In the hook OF Jude we hear about wicked
people. Clouds they are without water, car
ried about by the winds" Jude was a cloud
we had close, hot day that has exhausted
ny strength very nearly. I hear such reinless
winds blowing around us in the stiffness OF this
evening But grateful are the cool winds TO
soothe a fcvcred brow and carry away the
stagnant heat from yard and dwelling, but
they take the rain clouds away with them
FOR they are clouds without water and we
want good rains very much.
But I am thankful 10 the good Lord that am
not watching clouds In the island OF Martinique
at this tirae, for they have clouds gorged with
thunder. lightning and rain, as well as lava
now and sulphurous smoke TO contend with.
Lying under the t0rrid equatorial sun. the is
land appears 10 be doomed 70 destruction by
IRE inevitably. The condition Of the inhabitants
Is nitiable IN the extreme.
such P-0vidences are inscrutable. The
watching ~ clouds has become matter OF
life and death 20 them.
one gets ashamed Of their own trivial COM
plants IN the, presence OF such great discs
tiers. We are In peace, N not In PLENTY while
theFe cloud watchers in the little Antilles are
dreacing sudden death by cremation as the
clouds roll over the crest OF angry Mont Pelee.
Tho multitudes which waited the Savior
OF Mankind inquired about the guilt OF those
upon whom the tower OF Sloan fell. The an
swer made Il plain that the victims were not
wicked above al the rest OF humankind when
these great disasters fell upon them. Cyclones,
tidal waves earthquakes and volcanic erup-
lions are manifestations Of Omnipotent power.
and. Ike the summer rains OF which we have
been writing. they fail on both the Just and
the unjust. the innocent and the guilty.
They are incx1licable disasters. We all re-
member the drouth that fell on the western
years ago. when seed wheat failed 20 sprout.
and the baked soil Law barren under the
ralnless sky for year and a half. How those
cloud watchers must have waited, wondered
ard PRAYED Tor rain,
IL was pronhesied last winter that rain would
hold up when IL would be prayed for. because
the floods were unDrecedented and disastrous.
but the water Is stored away I'm seas, where
again poured down 10 revive and fructify the
farmers fields.