Washington telegraph., 1851-07-16
THE ANGEL OF THE LEAVES.
BY MISS HANNAH F. GOULD.

torn from me- It's tdueu pleCeS WuiIi upOu
,be wind, they rustic beneath the SPUR
reIs foot as he: searches for his nut; they
aoat upon the passing stream, and on
,be ouivering lake. Wo is me! for my
asar M green verdure is gone. It was the
Gift Of Angel of the Leaves! have lost
2 and my glory is vanished, and my
beauty has Disappeared. my summer hon.
ors have passed away. My bright and
Oomely garment, alas. it is rem. into thou
sand parts. Who will weave me such
another? Piece by piece has been strip
ned from me. Scarcely did l sigh for the
ioss of one, ere another wandered off on
air. The sweet sound of music cheers
me no more. The birds that sang on my
boson, were dismayed at my desoIatiod
they have flown away with their songs.
IL stood in my pride. The sun bright
ened my robe witt. his smile; the zephyrs
breathed softly through its glossy folds;
the clouds strewed pearls among them.
NV shadow was wide upon the earth,
nv head was lifted high, and my fore
head was fair to the heavens. But now.
how changed! Sadness is upon me. my
head is shorn, my arms are stripped, and
cannot throw shadow on tae ground.
Beauty has depatted; gIadness has gone
ont of my bosom The blood has retired
from nv heart, and sunk into the earth. |
am thirsty. lam cold. MY naked limbs
:biver in the chilly air; the keen blast
comes piriless among them. The winter
;s coming. l am destitute. Sorrow is
nv portion; mourning must wear me
away. How shall account TO the Angel
who clothed me for the loss Of his beau
tlfuI gif;!'
The Angel had been listening. In
soothing accents be answered the lamen-
lation:
"My beloved Tree" said he. abe COM
forted! 1 am by thee still, though every
Ieaf has forsaken thee. The voice of
gladuess is hushed among thy boughs.
but let my whisper coons0le thee. The
sorrow is but for season. Trust in me.
Keep my promise in Thy heart. Be pa
lieut aud full OF hope. Let the words l
leave with thee abide and cheer thee
through the coming winter. Then will
return and clothe thee anew.
The storm will drive over thee, the
snow will sift among thy naked limbs
But these viii! be light and passing at
fictitious The ice viii! weigh heavily On
iby helpless arms, but it will soon dis.
solve to tears. 1t shall pass into the
ground, and be drunken by thy roofs
Then will it cfsgp up, i'll sacret. heNeath
thy bark, and spread into the branches it
has oppressed, and help to adorn them.
| shalt be here TO use it.
1.-The blood has now retired for safety.
The frost will chill and destroy it, II
has gone into thy m0ther's bosom for her
to keep it warm. Earth will not rob her
offspring. She is a careful parent; she
knows all the wants of her children, and
torsets not to provide for the least Of them.
The sap that has for a while gone down,
will make thy roots strike deeper, and
spread wider, and renewed and strength
eued. it shall return to nouri<h thy heart.
Then, if thou shalt have remembered and
trusted in my promise, I viii! fulfil it
Buds shall shoot forth on every bongh.-
! will unfold another robe for thee. I
will color and fit it in every part. 1t
shall be a comeIy ralment. Sadness shall
be swallowed up in Joy. Now my be.
loved Tree. fare thee well for season"
The Angel was gone. The gold NUT
teriug winter grew near. The wild blast
wEistled for the storm. The storm came
and whlsted around the Tree. But the
words of the Angel were hidden in her
heart. 1t soothed her amid the threaten
Jugs of the tempest. The ice-cakes rat
tied on her limbs, and loaded and weigh
ed them down.
"My slender branches" said she, "let
Lot this burden overcome you! Break
not beneath this heavy af1iction-break
not. but bend. till you can spring back
to your places. Let not twig of YOU
be lost Hope must prop you up for
while, and the Angel will reward your
patience. You will wave in soft air.
Grace shall be again in your motion and
renewed beauty hang around you"
The scow!ing face of winter began to
loose its features. The raging storm
grew faint, and breathed its last. The
clouds fretted themselves to fragments,
these scattered on the sky, and were
brushed away. The sun threw down
bundle OF golden arrows, that fell upon
the Tree. The ioe-cakes withered as
they came. Every one was shattered by
shaft and unlocked itself upon the limb.
They melted and were gone.
Spring had come to reign. His blessed
ministers were abroad in the earth. They
lowered in the air. They blendeth their
beautiful tints, aud cast new created
glory Oh the face of the blue heavens.
The Tree was rewarded for her trust.
The Angel was true to the object of his
love. He returned-he bestowed on her
another robe. 1t was bright. glossy. and
unsullled. The dust of summer had
never Ii, upon it; :ae scorching heat had