Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

northwest was furiously black, so black indeed that the under­sides of leaves on trees, revealed by the breeze, appeared as white against the sky. Crowning the black were a few ragged white clouds, which we used to call wind-clouds for at their appearance, the wind, hitherto quiet, now rushes up and dashes upon us. The black clouds rushed on rapidly; the light was dimmed; the murky air was cleared and electrified, making all objects stand out clearly, aside from the rush of the rapidly cooling wind, it is very quiet. Then the first few drops of rain fall from the vanguards of black clouds. The latter past there is a momentary lull, and the rain torrents come, driven by a dashing wind, accompanied by earth-shaking electrical explosions. Later on, the sun shone, and a delicate filmy rainbow appeared.

     Just as the storm was about to break Bill called up, asking Joe and me to come over and play cards. So I made one of my “light-