of the drought were more severe in his vicinity than farther south. "Yes," said he, "the drought is excessive; but if I had not heard yesterday by a traveller, that the man with the black horse was seen in Kentucky a day or two since, I should be sure of a shower in a few minutes." I looked all around the horizon, and could not discern a cloud that could hold a pint of water. "Look, sir," said the toll-gatherer, "you perceive to the Eastward, just rising that hill a small black cloud not bigger than a black-berry, and while I am speaking it is doubling and trebling itself, and rolling up the turnpike steadily, as if its sole design was to deluge some object." "True," said I, "I do perceive it; but what connection is there between a thunder cloud and a man and a horse?" "More than you imagine, or I can tell you; but stop a moment, sir, I may need your assistance. I know that cloud, I have seen it several times before, and can testify to its identity. You will soon see a man and black horse under it." While he was yet speaking, true enough, we began to hear the distant thunder, and soon the chain lightning performed all the figures of a
