THE PERIPATETIC PHILOSOPHER ON RAIN.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 494, 22 April 1869, Page 3

THE PERIPATETIC PHILOSOPHER ON RAIN.

Shakspeare's clown has remarked with more attention to rhyme than truth, that " The rain it raineth every day." It might have done so in his time —it certainly does not do so in ours. For weeks past people have been wishing for rain. I meet all sorts of men, who, with noses in air, wander up and down the streets, and gaze in a melancholy manner at the sky. "Do you think it is going to rain ?" say they. I give some reply, suited to the capacity of the speaker, who then says, as a rule, " Ah! want rain badly up the country just now," and goes his way. That there are many people whose fortune and well-being depend upon the state of the weather Ido not doubt; but as I haye no flocks or herds, and only view a shower in the light of a nuisance, I cannot sympathise with them. One must of course pretend to do so. One must affect a deep interest, and shake one's head sorrowfully, and look up to the sky with an oracular air, and purse up one's mouth into dismal affectation of impending ruin. The rain has been one of my special annoyances. I have had many lately. When it did rain, and I was soaked to the skin, shivering, cold, and miserable, I have been met by people who said, " Glorious rain this, eh ! Bring np the grass, eh!" May their desiccated souls he pumped upon for ever! It has come at last, and the city rejoiceth. Audit has come, moreover, just exactly two days before we set to work to pray for it. I have no intention of being irreverent, but allow me to remark that *' praying for rain " is simply humbug. Men might as well pray for an ebb-tide pfc flood, or for two moons. Drought arisen from natural causes, —why should ve expect the Creator to change the workings of the universe because the inhabitants of the Upper Murray want " rain." Think of this for a moment, and you will see that prayer in such a case is useless. Moreover, I have observed that people never " pray " for rain except at the last resource. " All is over," says the driver oi a runaway coach, "we must put our trust in Providence." " Good gracious!" cries the old lady passenger, " has it come to that?" This is the usual sentiment. Having delayed the' prayer until drought had existed so long that the chances—the absolute chances—were twenty to one in favor of rain within a week, impertinent humanity imagines that its miserable prayers have worked * special miracle in its behalf. Fools!