Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-05-04
For he Vermont Phenir
Rmblems of the Seasons.


How analogous 10 the life Of man arc the sea.
sons Of the year Youth, with all its physical encr-
eics, It's huoyant hopes, and an,icipations, amid
health and prosperity, when nothing seems to
impede is progress or 70 ihwart its designs, is
like unto Spring, when Nature renews her pro-
gross and puts forth her vital energy. Every
herb and plant presents a new aspect. The
earth becorncs robed IN her vc-tnro 81 greece
the thousand sweet songsiers arc singing their
songs Of gratitude 10 Him who caused the return
Of Spring--sweet Spring. All nature moves
forward with accelerated velocity. Nothing
seems sufficient to blast our imaginary prospects
Of her final results--hsr vegetable maturity
Manhood, with all it, yigor Of body, its glory,
enterprise, and ambition Of mind--when the IN
teectual powers have become strong and po-
tent-susccptible Of entering Discriminatory into
the works oil the Deity, when he hath arrived at
the meridian Of life the height OF his glory
will compare with Summer, which carries out
the great works that Spring began, even TO their
perfection Of beauty and magnifeence. Old
age, with its responding look, IFS pains. and af-
aiction., is hoary head, and paisica limbs, wLsa
the lamp Of intelligence bath almost ceased to
burn; Is like unto Autumn, the ripening and
declining of all vegetation. And when the last
spark Of life hath become extinguisbed, and We
have closed our mortal career, will again com
pare with Winter, which ultimately obliterates
from our view the relics Of Autumn.
By this striking analogy, Nature hath furnish
ed rs with the most sublime instruction, which
ought 10 become 80 deeply imbued within our
minds, that il will never become eradieated, and
ought to aciua,e US at this season of the year to
most momentous reflections. In the Spring of
the year. we look abroad and discover Nature ut
work in every living thing, spreading the beau
~ OF her works over the face Of the earth which
hath been so long robcd in the white garment Of
winter. How forcibly arc we reminded of the
rapidity Of time. We reflect for a moment
But little time since, and the earth was robcd
in all the rich magnfcence Of Summer, when
the sun poured forth its rcspendent beams, and
from the great universal nature assembled songs
of gratitude and Joy. But how swiftly did de-
cay, darkness and gloom succeed magnihcence
and beauty. The fields for a season have no
more rejoced and blossoncd like the rose. The
sweet songsier hath been absent for a little time.
The sun hath shonc with enfeebled rays. And
the fading. falling leaves Of Autumn, the dreary
winds Of Winter, marked the desolation Of the
decaying year that is past and gone. Aud do
VIC not see any thing in this that is emblcmati-
cal OF our iatcp Yes, il whispers unto US that
the magnificent blossoms OF our youth or SPRING
time and the pride Of our summer glory, must
also fade. And the heart which now beats high
with hope aud gratitude must cease forever
Let then this solemn reflection wean us from un-
holy desires, and tend to bcstay our hearts upon
Him, whom the changes Of nature do not in
the least affect.
But the year that has passed, the Autumn
which we witnessed, ought not only TO have
awakened US to deep reflection concerning our
selves. but all Of the human family. Il told US
what /? That all men fade like the autumn leaf
Oh this reflection awakens the sympathies Of
our youthiul minds We who have been nro-