A HEAVY storm came on soon after they had retired to rest; the lightning was so vivid that its flashes penetrated through the chinks of the door and windows, and the thunder burst upon them with a noise which prevented them obtaining any sleep. The children cried and trembled as they lay in the arms of Mrs. Seagrave and Juno, who were almost as much alarmed themselves.

290

STRUCK WITH LIGHTNING.

"This is very awful,'

very awful," said Mr. Seagrave to Ready, for they had both risen from their beds.

"It is indeed, sir ; I never knew a more terrible storm than this. I often fancy that the lightning and thunder are as the eye and voice of the Eternal in his wrath."

66

Yes, indeed, Ready; it is through the elements that God speaks to man, and that we feel his power. Merciful Heaven!"

As Mr. Seagrave spoke, they were both thrown back half-stunned; a crash of thunder burst over the house, which shook everything in it; a sulphurous smell pervaded the building, and soon afterwards, when they recovered their feet, they perceived that the house was full of smoke, and they heard the wailing of the women and the shrieks of the children in the bed-places on the other side.

"God have mercy on us!" exclaimed Ready, who was the first to recover himself, and who now attempted to ascertain the injury which had been done; "the lightning has struck us, and I fear that the house is on fire somewhere."

66

My wife-my children!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave; " are they all safe?"

Yes, yes!" cried Mrs. Seagrave, "all safe; Tommy has come to me, but where is Juno ?Juno!"

Juno answered not; William darted to the other side of the house, and found Juno lying on her side, motionless.

"She is dead, father," cried William.

Help me to carry her out of the house, Mr. Seagrave," said Ready, who had lifted up the poor girl; "she may be only stunned."

They carried Juno out of the house, and laid her on the ground; the rain poured down in torrents.

Ready left them for a minute, to ascertain if the house was on fire; he found that it had been in flames at the further corner, but the rain had extinguished it. He then went back to Mr. Seagrave and William, who were with Juno.

"I will attend to the girl, sir," said Ready; "go you and Master William into the house; Mrs. Seagrave will be too much frightened if she is left alone at such an awful time. See, sir! Juno is not dead-her chest heaves-she will come to very soon; thank God for it-we could but ill spare the poor girl."

William and Mr. Seagrave returned to the house; they found Mrs. Seagrave fainting with anxiety and fear. The information they brought, that Juno was not killed by the lightning, did much to restore her. William soothed little Albert, and Tommy in a few minutes was fast asleep again in his father's arms. The storm now abated, and as the day began to break, Ready appeared with Juno, who was sufficiently recovered to be able to walk in with his support; she was put into her bed, and then Ready and Mr. Seagrave went to examine if further mischief had been done. The lightning had come in at the further end of the house, at the part where the fire-place was intended to have been made; they found that it had melted down part of the iron kettle, and, what was a greater loss, that Black Nanny, the goat, was killed—the kids were, however, unhurt.

“We have, indeed, been most mercifully preserved," said Mr. Seagrave.

"Yes, sir; thanks be to God for all his goodness," replied Ready. "I thought poor Juno

was gone.

I think we have a large roll of copper wire, Ready; have we not ?" said Mr. Seagrave,

THANKS FOR PRESERVATION.

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Yes, sir, I was just thinking of it myself; we will have a lightning conductor up the first thing."

No, Ready; we will return our thanks to God for our preservation first, and use our human precautions afterwards."

True, sir, we are bound to do so; and with grateful hearts."

It was now broad daylight. Mrs. Seagrave dressed herself and the children, and as soon as she was ready, Mr. Seagrave read such portions of the Psalms as were appropriate, and they earnestly joined in a prayer of thankfulness and humility. William went out out to prepare the breakfast, and Ready procured the coil of copper wire from those stores which were stowed under the bed-places. This he unrolled, and stretched it out straight, and then went for the ladder, which was at the outhouse which they had commenced building. breakfast was over, Ready and went out again to fix up the ductor, leaving William to do Juno, who still remained fast asleep in her bed.

As soon as

Mr. Seagrave lightning conthe work of

"I think, sir," said Ready, "that one of those