"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
(1 Corinthians 3:6)
Historic Home & Museum
The Man of the Place was worried about the weather.
He said the indications were for a dry season, and ever since I have been
remembering droughts. There were dry years in the Dakotas when we were
beginning our life together. How heartbreaking it was to watch the grain
we had sown with such high hopes wither and turn yellow in the hot winds!
And it was backbreaking as well as heartbreaking to carry water
from the well to my garden and see it dry up despite all my efforts.
I said at that time that thereafter I would sow the seed, but, the
Lord would give the increase if there was any, for I could not do
my work and that of Providence also by sending the rain on
the gardens of the just or the unjust.
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if
God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and
tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more
clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
(Matthew 6:28-30)
But I still suppose our brains were given us to use by the same Providence
that created the laws of nature, and what we accomplish by the use of them is,
in a certain sense, its work. Just as all good is for us if we but reach out our
hand to take it, so in the higher atmosphere around our earth there is a
great supply of moisture. It is there for our use if, with the brains which
God has given us, we can find a way to tap it.
This is what a California man claims to have done (in 1924.)
"The Rainmaker"
(1875-1958)
Image courtesy/Reddit
(Charles) Hatfield, the rainmaker, lives in Glendale, California near Los Angeles.
He claims to be able to make rain by projecting into the atmosphere, from
a high scaffolding, certain chemicals that attract and precipitate moisture.
There are always storms in movement, and storm formations pass
high over a country without ever condensing and causing rain. The way
he operates, he'll make that storm give up its water as it comes along.
In 1915, there was a very severe drought in southern California, especially in
San Diego County where the water situation became critical. As a last resort,
the San Diego Chamber of Commerce decided to try out this man Hatfield.
A contract was made by which he was to receive $10,000 if he brought
down water enough to fill the great irrigation reserve.
Shortly after he began operations, the rain began to fall in such quantities that
the reservoir not only filled but burst its dam and the Chamber of Commerce,
instead of paying him $10,000, brought suit against him
for damages in destroying the dam.
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
(Matthew 6:34)
(1867-1957)
"The Lord Gives The Increase"
An essay from the book,
"Saving Graces The Inspirational Writings
of Laura Ingalls Wilder"
Edited by Stephen Hines
(1997)
Broadman & Holman Publishers
Nashville, Tennessee
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