THUNDER-STORM***


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THE RAINBOW, AFTER THE THUNDER-STORM.

by

A LADY.

[Illustration]







London:
Printed for Francis Westley,
Stationers'-Court, Ludgate-Hill.
1823.

T. C. Hansard, Printer,
Peterboro'-court, Fleet-street, London.




THE RAINBOW, AFTER THE THUNDER-STORM.


JULIA and her mamma resided chiefly in London. Owing to indisposition
the family were a little way from home for the benefit of the air. In
consequence of that, Julia and her mamma were frequently walking out.
One summer's evening they had extended their walk to an unusual length,
when suddenly the clouds gathered, and distant thunder indicated an
approaching storm. They were a great way from any house, but hurried to
the nearest one for shelter. It was a large brick-built house, with a
court-yard, inclosed by a high wall. At the iron gate was a servant,
with a pitcher in her hand, taking some milk of a man who stood by.
Julia's mamma went up to her, and said, "Will you be so obliging as to
let us have a shelter from the storm? It appears likely to be very
severe." The servant replied, "I am very sorry, ma'am, but it is not in
my power; my master and mistress are not at home, and they have given me
orders not to admit any stranger."

There was no time to hesitate; immediately they proceeded to an
unfinished house they recollected to have seen; it was a quarter of a
mile distant. Almost breathless with fatigue, they arrived; the
wash-house door was standing open, they entered, and thought themselves
happy in having so good a shelter. "Oh," said Julia, "how cruel it was
in that young woman to refuse to let us go into the house! I would not
have done so." "Then," replied her mamma, "you would have done wrong;
however painful it must have been to her, to refuse was no more than her
duty as a faithful servant."

Every minute the lightning became more vivid, and the thunder appeared
to be bursting over their heads. "Oh, mamma," said Julia, "how awful
this is!" "Yes, it is indeed, my dear," said her mamma; "God thundereth
marvellously with his voice; great wonders doeth he, which we cannot
comprehend." "This is a storm," remarked Julia, "such as I never
remember before. Hark! how it thunders. Oh, what a dreadful flash of
lightning! Oh, the thunder! It gets worse; how shall I bear it! Hide me,
hide me, my dear mamma; let me get into some dark place." "My dear
love," said her mamma, "you surprise me to see you so alarmed; it is
what I did not expect; don't give way to fear; _I_ cannot hide you from
this storm any more than I can hide you from the presence of God; and
that you are sure I cannot do. Be composed, my love, and let each of us
say--

    'Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
      Till the storm of life is past;
    Safe into the haven guide,
      O receive my soul at last!'

Our father sits at the helm; he will guide the storm, and I shall say to
you as our Lord said to his disciples when _they_ were in a storm, and
as he says to us now in his word, "Why are ye so fearful, have ye no
faith?" Let us put our trust in _him_, and look for our protection from
_him_. How much tenderness was there in our Lord's words! He did not
blame them much for their fears, but kindly reminded them that it was
their duty to trust in God. You are not like your little brother when
_he_