Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-11-06
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1 AMY n EMbLE.
The approach Of this pensive, SOL
emn and beautiful season is now her
aided by the rainbow-tinted woodlands,
and mournful wailings of the wind,
which seems to chaunt sad and cheer.
less anthem as requiem to its depart
ing glories. Already hath Autumn
robed the trees in its livery of various
hues. and from the bright glossy green,
of the leaves that wantoned upon the
summer spray. change has come over
them, and they are now clad in the gor-
geous attire of scarlet and gold, purple,
dun, and vermillion.
Out, then, in the woodsl and breathe
the last fragrant sighs of the summers
nurselings, as they go 20 their richly
strewed bier---and there thou wilt find
food for reflection in every perishing
leaf and flower. Each hath a homily
in ITSELF even the smallest and simplest,
when examined, will lead thy thoughts
to the Great Creatorl And there, too,
would send the UNBELIEyER, who SCOTS
at the truths of the Divine Gospel, and
bid him answer, if chance hath formed
the varieties of leaves and flowers that
lie blushing at his feet! Did chance
impart to the lilly its snowy bosom, or
the rose its crimson heartl Who will
be so blind as to believe that it did?
Let me muse, then, on the woodlands,
fraught with these simple and beautiful
creations, that bestow the same salutary
lesson. A withered leafl 1t is typical
of human life. 1t is connecting link
in the chain Of memory. and recalls the
endearing association OF other days, for
since thou vert here la (, oh! Autumnl
we have lost cherished friends and rela-
tiYes---those in whom our hearts were
garnered up----and in thy mournful
wailings, the sorrowing bosom now finds
relief.
Who is there with feeli- gs however
yitiated by an intercourse with heart
less world, that does not feel his spirits
tinctured with the pensive solemnity OF
the season, as he wanders forth amid
the "sere and yellow leaves" which rus
tie beneath his iooistepsl How sooth-
ing, methinks, is their influence, and
the heart becomes filled with softer and
better emotions. How humbled and sub
dued does he ieeI who treads the forest
sanctuary whilst under the dominion Of
Autumni The proud visions Of ambi-
lion and distinction vanish away like
passing clouds He wonders at the
change, and can scarcely believe him
self the same individual who, bu; few
moments before, hadmingIed in the gay
vortex of fashion. Now, he desires not
again TO be in her presence. Sweet,
solemn thoughts of death steal upon his
mind---he thinks that he could live and
die in such a spot, when all fair things
are fading away. And Yet it is irresis-
tible TO roam through the Autumn woods,
and listen TO the thousand whispering
tongues which fill the air. There is a
feeling of sadness that pervades the
mind, and although partaking as it does
Of melancholy character, it is never
theless grateful to the heart, filling it
with emotions of sublime and thrilling
nature, awakened by no other season Of
the year!
It seems TO tincture the feeling with a
saddened inspiration, and awakens the
dormant energies of the mind to the glo-
rious spectacle of woodlands dying like
the dolphin, amidst the most gorgeous
colors 1.-The last still loveliest, until all
has faded into the sombre-russet earbl
The shores of our noble lakes are OBJ
jects, indeed, of intense interest, while
under the dominion Of Autumn and all
its regal splendor! The eye of an Eu-
ropean is startled with the lavish profu-
sion of our forests, with their century
crowned monarchs, arrayed in their
leaf robes, resplendent with the Tyrian
dyes of Autumn.
The American Autumnl There is
poetry in the very association. The /
OAK. in its deep crimson robes-.-kirg
of the wood! The Gum. Of still |
bloodier hue, like the inundated victim
of tyranny, bleeding from every pore,
stands, fit emblem, by the side of its re-
gal representative The BUCKEYE.
stripped of its foliage, and its broad leaf
disporting in the breeze, or carried
down by the streamlet. The MAPLE,
with its golden leaves, adorning the
woodlands with their rich and sunny
tintsl The ELM. in its classic, pictur-
esque beauty. The CHESTNUT. and its
deep, rich foliage. The ASA, hiding
the silver underneath each leaf. The
LocUsr, and its tiny beautiful verdure.
CYPRESS, with its slender leaf of ten
derest hue. The spiral PINE, and the
CEDAR, in their ETERNAL GREEN.
Fields of golden grein. and orchards
Iaden with luscious fruit, and vines with
clustering grapes
"Reeling TO earth, purple and gushing;''
and clear, sparkling streams, and sal
mon fishing, and field sports---alI these
are thine, oh, Autumn! and own thy pa.
geant sovereignty
The European Autumn can in no
wise be compared with that of America.
The lovers of the picturesque are there q
presented with no rich foliage of inter-
forests dying a variegated I
1eath---but, in the language of the ac- a
;omplished lady whose lines are pre-
ixed TO this essay