The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-10-27
Autumn.

The summer is ended. Decay and
death are around us. Theleaves are scar
and copper-tinged. The flowers offspring
have faded away. Those merry children
of the sun lie scattered around, and far
and near dying as they bloomed like
hopes evanescant rays of bliss
Sand shadows cast upon the heart
o When pleasant dreams are flown"
The verdure of the fields have deeper
and sieklier green; forests put on mot.
ley coat Of crimson, green and gold, soon
to be denuded by the frosts and chilling
blasts. The sun casts a heightened shad-
ow--the night encroaches on the day-the
burning noon tide disappears--a refresh.
ing 4eeolness perwades the mnrning air
I and pleasant are the tolls of the husband
man, for work does not weary as it did
And the summer is endedl Melancho-
ly days have come, and rehection's hal
lowed hours, most precious to the heart.
are here. While thousands mourn over
blasted hopes, the loss of friends, lovely
companions, and fellow pi grims. who
sleep their last sleep in our common home
so all must wither as the flowers and fade
as the fallen leaf, and 60 where no care,
nor sorrow, and affliction nor whistling
wind, nor. .howling tempest can disturb
their deep repose.
The desolating march ofthe pestilence
cut down thousands in its path and are
there not many still left, who bear not wit
mess to the merces of q gracious Parent,
who has watched over us for good-who
has matured an abundance ofthe fruits of
the earth, until newer harvests be cleaned
and who kindly vouchsafes to this people
the only free government on earth, with
civil and religious liberty! We still live
the pestilence is disappearins---the diseas.
es OF the season yield TO renovated health---
the sun ofpeace shines upon us---its set
ting is no longer in gloom---our commerce,
the elabor OF artisans, the property oftrades-
men, all evidence return ofcalm delight.
and gathering Of the harvest that toll
and skill beget. U seeaSlaq bis
As Autumn is the herald Of approach
ing Winter, which binds the earth and veg
citation with chains and bars of frost, SO
life has its autumn, its Affections and faded
hopes, its cheerless winds, its stffened
limbs and frosty locks, which are the har-
bingers ofdeath's dreary winter Let us
learn, then, from this season of the year,
that this world is not our only abiding
place, and that the ''winter of our discon-
tent can be made perennial spring Of
immortal joys. ie
Surrounded on every hand by ceaseless
mutations; we see that nature never fails
to operates --there is growth maturity, de-
cay and death offorms, but no annihila-
ton. In the course oflages. wood in the
bowels oftheyearthis is changed to coal, and
then to concrete light, sparkling in the
hue and splendor ofthe diamond! Leaves
fall, plants perish, forests decay, and the
foot Of time tramples down the towering
hills and '.cloud capped mountains" pro-
ducing teeming valleys and ioverladen
fields. The handiwork of God is thus
written in the noiseless operations of crea-
ton, from the breathing forth of the tiny
insects and foweret of Spring, to the un-
conscious sigh Of Autumn, the expiring
groans of the year-an6 where in all these
Ichanges, has nature not written of a glo-
rious resurrection--the great lesson ol
immortality 94 tla fFa9
| The Atheist may brutalize himself lfuntil
|he desires a burial with the swine that
perish ingthe mire, and wish for an eter-
lnal sleep; but not thus does natures les
Ison imprint itself on human soulsl Ths
forest that now sheds its brown mantle