The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-12-03
ruORAh 81 RELIGIOUS.
THE FAILING LEAF

THE FALLING LEAF
Teachers us a solemn lesson. But short
,;re since. and we beleld the swelling bud and
the tender leaf-it was spring. The warm ing
RAYS Of the sun, and the sofIening breezes OF
the South changed the face Of nature and in
spired the whole vegetable world with life 1t
was the season Of youth The leaihered tribe
sweetIy warbled their notes of prnse, and the
playfnl Iamb knew naught hut innocence and
ioy. The earth put on her beautiful green
attire, and all nature seemed to promise but one
continual scene of pleasure and delight.
But, all! how changed nature then in her
youthful garb, now bears the marks OF age.
The sun shines but dimly--the winds whistle
from the cold No nth, and vegetation dies. The
feathered songsters have ceased their notes and
sought more genial cline, and the playful
lamb has been led dumb 10 the slaughter. The
leafhas been chilled by The icy ros,--it has
faded and fallen, and the dreary night of winter
is at hand.
Such is the brief history of man, for, I'VE all do
fade leaf In youth, animation sprght-
illness, and hope looks away TO long life of
summer and peasurc.--But, alas! how soon do
the frosis of autumn and the wintry chilIs of
death blast our hopes &close earthly period.
The season how soon it has passed-how much
it appears like dream. How short is lie; in
tho retrospect, how few our days. Wen
might the patriarch say, when asked how old
q. he was. The days of the year ofmy pilgrimage
ore one hundred and thirty years. few and full
ofev are the days of tho years of my piIgri-
mage There is old man. Ask him how
many annual periods OF time he has passed
through? score and ten. Ask him how
life looks in review 'As a tale that is told as
a dream when one awaketh.' CAS- n flood-swif-
ter than n weavers shuttle. Ask him where
are the companions Of his youth? How may
will he reckon up who have gone down TO the
grave and have seen corruption! and how few
remain TO be the associates of his hoary hairs
Behold thou hast mndos my days as a hands
breadth, and my age is nothing before thee:
verify every man at his best estate is altogether
vanity
We are reminded that every thing on earth is
uncertain and pnssch away. We cannot assure
ourselves of n single day for we know not what
it may bring forth. Oh, the uncertainty and
brevy of human life; and with us, who pernsc
these lnes this life will soon have past away
and we shall know the realities OF another world
,t And what are our prospects for eternity? Do
we possess the qualifications for hcaven-hove
we been born again, are we rendering cordial
obedience to he commands OF the saviour; and
bearing his image here, that we may reign with
him above? Tho world may press its cares and
lay out it's wor ks for tomorrow--bu but tomorrow
may not be ours-we may be in eternity. Th e
great question should not be what shall cat, or
what shall drink, or wherewilhal shnll / DE
clo,hed?'-but how shall ! prepare for death
and the solemn retrihuiions ofauother world?
'Waken o God, my careless heart,
Its great concerns to see;
That may act the christian part
And give the year to thee.
so teach us to number days that we may
apply our hearts unto WISDOM Baptist Regis
ter.