The sky was dark and gloomy, the air was damp and raw, the streets were wet and sloppy. The smoke hung sluggishly above the chimney-tops as if it lacked the courage to rise, and the rain came slowly and doggedly down, as if it had not even the spirit to pour. – Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers

[T]here has been a violent storm and rain…. This morning shone as bright as if it meant to make up for all the dismalness of the past days. – Nathaniel Hawthorne, journal, 1841 October 7th