The condensed aqueous vapors raised in the atmosphere by the sun and wind, converted into clouds, which fall in rain, snow, hail, or mist:  their falling is occasioned by their own weight in a collision produced by contrary currents of wind, from the clouds passing into a colder part of the air, or by electricity.  If the vapors are more copious, and rise a little higher, they form a mist or fog, which is visible to the eye; higher still they produce rain.  Hence we may account for the changes of the weather:  why a cold summer is always a wet one—­a warm, a dry one.

     Aqueous, watery; consisting of water.

     Collision, a striking together, a clash, a meeting.

     Electricity, a natural agent existing in all bodies (see
     page 18).

What seasons are more liable to rain than others?

The Spring and Autumn are generally the most rainy seasons, the vapors rise more plentifully in Spring; and in the Autumn, as the sun recedes from us and the cold increases, the vapors, which lingered above us during the summer heats, fall more easily.

     Recede, to fall back, to retreat.

What is Snow?

Rain congealed by cold in the atmosphere, which causes it to fall to the earth in white flakes.  Snow fertilizes the ground by defending the roots of plants from the intenser cold of the air and the piercing winds.

     Congealed, turned by the force of cold from a fluid to a
     solid state; hardened.

     Fertilize, to render fruitful.

     Intenser, raised to a higher degree, more powerful.

What is Hail?

Drops of rain frozen in their passage through cold air.  Hail assumes various figures according to the degrees of heat or cold through which it passes, being sometimes round, flat, &c.

What is the Atmosphere?

The mass of aeriform fluid which encompasses the earth on all sides:  it extends about fifty miles above its surface.  Air is the elastic fluid of which it is composed.

Elastic, having the power of springing back, or recovering its former figure after the removal of any external pressure which has altered that figure.  When the force which compresses the air is removed, it expands and resumes its former state.

What are the uses of air?

It is necessary to the well-being of man, since without it neither he nor any animal or vegetable could exist.  If it were not for atmospheric air, we should be unable to converse with each other; we should know nothing of sound or smell; or of the pleasures which arise from the variegated prospects which surround us:  it is to the presence of air and carbonic acid that water owes its agreeable taste.  Boiling deprives it of the greater part of these, and renders it insipid.

     Variegated, diversified, changed; adorned with different
     colors.