"NEVER DID SO MUCH RAIN FALL."
A rock, however, made head against the force of the hurricane. In spite of all, it remained unmoved. On its granite sides the waves broke in frothy showers, the waterspouts sank at its feet, and the thunder made it laugh every time it burst against its unyielding flanks.
"I am at the end of my powers!" said the cloud; "this rock defies me, masters me, and fills me with envy."
"Take its place!" said the angel, "and let us see whether, at last, you are satisfied."
The transformed cloud did not yet feel at his ease. Immovable, inaccessible, insensible to the burning caresses of the sun and to the booming of the thunder, he believed himself to be the master of the world. But at his feet a sharp hammering sound attracted his attention. He stooped and beheld a wretched being covered with rags, thin and bald, as he had been in the time of his deepest poverty, who, with a heavy hammer in his hand, was engaged in chipping off pieces of the granite for the purpose of mending the neighbouring road.
"AT HIS FEET A SHARP HAMMERING SOUND ATTRACTED HIS ATTENTION."
"What is the meaning of this?" cried the haughty rock; "a poor wretch—wretched amongst the most wretched—mutilating me, and I cannot defend myself! I am profoundly humiliated—reduced to envy the lot even of this wretched being!"
"Take his place!" said the angel, smiling.