A dear little girl writes the Postmistress that she is very much frightened whenever there is a thunder-shower. The sharp flashes of lightning and the loud claps of thunder terrify her, and she always runs and hides in her mamma's lap.
Well, darling Effie, you could not find a better place to hide. But I want you to remember that the beautiful summer showers do a great deal of good. Have you ever noticed how pure and sweet the air is after the storm is over, and do you not love to watch the rainbow when its arch is in the sky?
Once, dear, a long while ago, when I was a little girl, a very heavy thunder-storm came up in the afternoon. It grew so dark that in the school-room, where we girls were gathered for our lessons, we could not see each other's faces. We put away our books, and our kind teacher told us a story to divert our minds. By-and-by, when the sun shone, and the sky looked blue, and the rain-drops glittered on the bushes and the long blades of grass, we sang a beautiful German choral, and I have never forgotten the opening words:
"It thunders, but I tremble not,
My trust is firm in God;
His arm of strength I ever sought
Through all the way I've trod."
Galveston, Texas.
Galveston is on the sea-coast, and has a splendid beach. There is a beautiful pavilion on it, and a great many bathing-houses. I have been bathing twice this summer, and it is perfectly delightful. Several nights in the week they have music, and sky-rockets are shot off. The beach is a great place for driving. Every evening carriages and vehicles of every description are passing up and down. The last time I was there a buggy ran over a little boy, and he was badly hurt.