Wherever the trees fell the moisture dried, the creeks ceased to flow, the river ran low, and at times the bed was dry.

With unbroken sweep the winds of the west came, gathering force with every mile and howled and raved; threatening to tear the shingles from the roof, blowing the surface from the soil in clouds of fine dust and rapidly changing everything.

From coming in with two or three dozen rare moths in a day, in three years' time Elnora had grown to be delighted with finding two or three.

Big pursy caterpillars could not be picked from their favourite bushes, when there were no bushes.
Dragonflies would not hover over dry places, and butterflies became scarce in proportion to the flowers, while no land yields over three crops of Indian relics.
All the time the expense of books, clothing and incidentals had continued.

Elnora added to her bank account whenever she could, and drew out when she was compelled, but she omitted the important feature of calling for a balance.