Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-22
AutumnaI Scenery.

The Philadelphia Presbyterian has the follow
ing truthful and impressive suggestions on this
subject now appropriate:
In this autumnal season poets pour forth their
laments on the decay of earth's glory, as the
verdure of Spring and Summer gives place to
the "sere and yellow leaf" AS they look upon
the woods with its changing drapery; the silent
ly dropping leaves, and the trees partially strip
ped and bare, no figures seem so appropriate as
those which recall the image Of death. We
love the spring, and feel peculiar exhilaration
at no other time felt, in watching the young and
vigorous vegetation as it shoots forth in its
fresh green array and we love too the summer,
with its maturer beauties, and its more ardent
skies; but we would not drape the autumnal
months in mourning, and give them but mel
ancholy greeting, as if they were the intriguers
of sorrow. No, no, the autumn has other than
mournful associations. The amateur, if not the
artist, will discover q world of beauty in its
variegated foliage, and as the golden and crimson
leaves mingle their hues, the picture will be
perfect, and even when they fall they will strike
the eye as birds of gray plumage swooping to-
wards the earth. All! but do they not fall to
perish? Is it not final departure of their glory
They fall not until they are ripe and it is in their
ripeness only that they fall, like the golden pip
pin. which drops because it can extract no more
rich Juice from the parent stem, and has COM
pleted its maturity. To our mind the autumnal
phenomena conveys the idea of work accom-
plished, of a mission successfully fulfilled. Take
that noble oak as representative 1t has out
lived century, and has not only outbraved
many storm, but witnessed the changes of q
hundred autumns. What if its huge arms be
now almost bared2 Is it not full of life2 Is it
not broader and stronger, and more deeply root
ed than when visited by the young spring 2
Has it not, for another season, well fulfilled its
task, and laid up new treasures of might? 1t
now needs repose {; it lays aside its snowy gar
ments it wishes to be undisturbed by rustling
leaves, and by the rushing through thousand
channels of its circulating sap. 1t seeks, in this
quiet and noiseess way to recuperate its strength
and grid on its power for further feasts in a
coming year. 1t is neither dead, nor bears the
semblance of decay, but like one conscious OF
successful achievements, it takes brief re-
pose that it may spread broader its glorious foi-
age, extend wider its grateful shade, and fortify
itself by still better equipment for the storm
battle of many coming years. 1t is the brave
old oak, fitting itself for future service and USE
fulness.
Thus all around us we see not autumnal death,
but autumnal ripeness. o, what exquisite plea
sure have these plants and flowers furnished us
in the past months They withdraw now for O
season, but it is with the cheering promise Of 9
speedy return Ye beautiful creations we would
hail you in all seasons and under all changes
and learn from you to fulfil our tasks of cheer
full duty, and at each stage Of it, that our fruit:
are matured, not only to grow and thrive our
selves, but by every graceful art to convey plea
sure and happiness to others and above oil, thai
sweet and comforting lesson, that when the
autumnal and wintry months of life come ovel
u.s. we may feel conscious that we have fulfilled
our mission, borne our appropriate fruits, anc
although to the outward eye the prospect arounc
may be somewhat drear, yet there is, after {
short repose, to he a reviyification, renewal o
strength, an immortal verdure, an increasing
fruitfulness, in brighter and more genial cimes
where there shall be neither unpropitious season
or fruitless labor.
A WORD TO PARENTs. seems hard ant
cruel thing-and it is hard and cruel thing
to make the affections of child its means o
punishment for slight juvenile offences. A
friend relates the following occurrence as eyi
dence in point:
A little girl who, although an affectionate lit
tie creature as ever lived, was very volatile ant
light and could not always remember II
mind her mother. At the close of day, in thu
early part of the present winter, she had, il
some trifling command, disobeyed her mother
going into the street to play with one of her lit
tie companions: when she came in, and wa
prepared to go to bed, she came to her mothe
for her nightly kiss.
81 cannot kiss you tonight, Nary" said tn
mother; you have been very naughty littl
girl, and have disobeyed me. 81 cannot kiss yo1
tonight"
The little girl, her face streaming with tears
again begged her mother to kiss her, but she wa
s'strong- minded woman" and was memorable
It was q sad lesson that she learned; for Oh
that very night that child died of the Group
She had asked her mother, the last thing as sh
went up to her little bed, if she would kiss he
in the morning; but in the morning herinnocen
lips were cold.
LET Me PRAY FIRsr.-A very intelligent littl
girl was passing quietly through the streets of
certain town short time since, when she cam
to place where several idle boys were amusing
themselves by the dangerous practice of throw
ing stones. Not observing her, one of the boys
by accident, threw a stone towards her, ant
struck her cruel blow in the eye.
She was carried home in great agony. Tn
surgeon was sent for, and q very painful opera
tion was declared necessary. When the tim
came, and the surgeon had taken out his instru
ments, she lay in her fathers arms, and he aske'
her if she was ready.
"No, father; rot yet" she replied.
"What do you wish us to wait for, my child
II want to kneel in your lap, and pray to Je
sus first" she answered. And then kneeling
she prayed few minutes, and afterwards sub
mitted to the operation with the patience Of
woman.
How beautiful this little girl appears, unde
these trying circumstances Surely Jesus hear
the prayer made in that hour; and he will lov
| ax.a..r oL;ld that calls unon his mama Of auar