The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-11-13
NEW YORK coRREsP oHDKxcE.
NV YoaK, Nov. Sd, 1856

holy days when the leaves are faliin2, and
lie flowers are fading, Perhaps it 10 be.
'ause they afford so tine an illustration OF
lie, or perhaps the spirit OF the dying leaves
lows into the soul. filling il with images OF
beauty, with dreams OF something
\ thin struggling 10 tree itself from the dust
,pd trsmmels of the worlt-to 60 out in
communion with the Unseen and Eternal.
But whatever may be the soitening in-
huenees OF the season amid the sttll sad
teachings OF Nature, they are lost in the
shirl and excitement OF city life. The close
walls OF brick and stone look just as cold
aud stately as ever, perhaps little more
so, IS the wind signs and means around
them The poor trees, that stand in long
stiff rows, look yet more forlern, as the
leaves are pitilessly swept away, and only
the bare brown branches LETT behind
And the leaves tool wish they would lie,
them lie there and cover the cold stones
They looked so pleasant and cheerful al!
summer, and now they are swept together
and crushed without regret. But other
people beside street sweepers are doing
the same thing, only on larger scale
amusing themselves to-day with that which
they will cast aside tomorrow and forget.
Perhaps. after all, il is blessing 10 be able
10 do so.
But Broadway presents scene that rivals
in eorgeousness even the forests in their
royal robes. II every color in the rainbow
could be scattered Unfortunately over the
moving throng, it could not afford greater
variety Yet no voice from the gay multi
tude whispers of quiet and rest, no spirit Of
dreamlike beauty comes to the heart, soft
lening and expanding it. The brilliant
coloring does not speak of the change thai
makes US sad, Of faded youth, aud hopes
that have faded too. Oh no, those are the
very last thoughts j. is intended to suggest
Yet who shall lift the veil and penetrate
the dark, dark world behind all this glitter.
ing pageaatry. You may gaze for hours up
on the moving panorama, but il will never
make your heart purer and better, it vii
never inspire you with heller thoughts.
Perhaps it will make you wiser and give
you more available knowledge OF the world
bu, ii will never satisfy Yet il viii do you
good, for ii is well sometimes TO contrast
the light and dark shades Of life, but We for.
ger that God has placed US here for action,
not for selfish dreamings.
Come, dear reader, and walk with me
few moments on Broadway 1t is the hour
Tor prsmensding, and The streets are throng.
ed Idle ioungers, brsiniess fops. csre-worn
men OF business and OF thought, are together
rushing onward with the current. Ladies,
attired in costly elegance, sweep BY in gay
groups. chatting OF the last new fashion,
the last new opera, or the last new gossip.
The windows present tempting array Of
things, beautiful, costly and rare, but the
crowd hurry onward. A poor little bare
footed child stands shiyering on the cold
pavement That lady Ia silks and furs ha;
almost pushed her over in stepping towards
the cafrisge. See that seorn!ui curl OF the
LIP as she turns 10 her friend and wishes
"beggar children would keep out OF the
wsy.'' Where, my sister, out OF tie world
The child looks cory, sorry that she ID IL
the way, and sorry that she is in the world
perhsps she wonders il she will be in the
say ia Heaven. Poor little child, the world
has cold sympathy 10 give you. IT eah''
pend lime. besides there are great many
mere JUST like you. II ]. dfeafy place for
lille hearts, aching with desolation and
loneliness, but hope on, for when the ice
gathers cold around you, and the gashin.
life seems all frozen, yet few more day,
and God shall enfold you in his great low
that shall melt it all away But the hear
that idly sleeps in its palace OF gold shal
never grow warm, for love never melt
That.
Still His is only the sunny side, with al
occasional dark spot, but 60 into the street
end alleys, a fe. steps from Broadway.
have not time 10 take you there nov, nor I
tell you OF the midnight gloom that has set
| tied there, but il makes me shudler to thin
oin And lhust il De always 81! Is Their
| no light beyond all this darkness Alas 70
\ poor human nature. Philosophers rePos
| in luxurious ease, and send forth besutifu
| theories Of self-clerieal and beneyolence-
for Others to practice Learned theologian
! i.h, look solemn, and murmur somethin
abou, the mysterious ways OF Providence
apparently quite willing that they should re
main mysterious. 1t is very easy to tai
| philanthropy, but few are strong enough I
| act il. and the world will move on q iittl
| longer with its load Of sin and suffering. =
Luxury and elegance will still walk side b
side with misery and despair, or oper theI
as the case may be, and kind hearts will b
sorry, shed tear, perhaps, aud pass on.
: bur drop in the ocean, they say, forge
ting that many drops fIl the ocean. Strange
/ ~ intricate j, tl, problem Of life, and wh
shall solve il!
Ii seems q. il the spirit Of the summe
had come back again to-day, the air is S
! soft and warm. | went into the eountrl
this morning just far enough to catch
! glimpse Of the magnificent forests tringinl
The banks Of the Hudson. How gloriou
| they looked IN their royal attire and hos
iIll cfrehness and beauty. Strange lha, III
| past wall come back again ike shadow q
/ every step, as some lax IN the endless chaii
! u association is touched, no, not like cha
dOa cther, bat ike tie bright glad suuligL
! shining through d inlet Ut tears. | could sl
aost fancy that head sgain the ripe nut
falling, ana The merry laugh Of ehillfeI
| sounding through the wood de they gather
I'd Them IN joyous giee Then the happy
voices sseGed 10 murmur in the distance
and | wac sitting among The leaves, listen,
lng 10 Inc hoiIo" fdsthh& eoohu ae they
lsll, and watching The sky until II seemed q
4uiserins uGduislins macs OF pale ether
through which the snowy clouds we've smi.
Log Like white-winged sngels Long ago
ahsn very little child. usej to think
they were angels, those beautiful little
clouds, aud talk 10 them because they look
ID loving aud kind, al ieast thought go,
/ L L. - 1