Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-12-12
The Scenery of Autumn.


and for all enthusiastic lovers of the country; and
the presidents of cities, who never visit the country
save in the heat of summer, when the helds are Oh
ten parched with drought, and the trees by the road
side covered with dust, have conception Of the
glory which nature assumes before yielding 10 the
sovereignty of winters snow ami ice. The sPresby
terrain has an apprecAve article on The subject, with
good moral:
In this autumnal season poets pour forth their Ia
ments on the decay OF earths glory as the verdure
Of spring and summer gives place to the "sere and
yellow leaf AS they look upon the woods with
its changed d,apery, the silently dropping leaves and
the partially stripped and bare no figure seems
as appropriate as these which recall the image of
death. We love the spring and fee a peculiar ex
hilaration at no other time felt, in aching the
young and vigorous vegetation it shoots forth in
lis fresh green array ; and we love too the SUMNER
with its malurer beauties and lis more ardent skies ;
but we would not drape the an umra al months in
mourning, and give them but melancholy greeting,
as if hey were the harbingers OF sorrow.
No. no; the autum has other than mournful as
sociations. The amateur, it not the artist, will dis
cover world of beauty in is varegated foliage,
and as the golden and crimson leaves ming their
hues, the picture will be perfect, and even when
they fall they will strike the eye birds of gay
plunege swooping towards the earth. All but do
they not fall to perish! 1t is not final deparre
of their glory ? They fail not until they ripe,
and it is in their rpene>s only that they fall, like
the golden pppin, which droops because it can eX
tract more rich juices FROM the parent stem, and
completed it's maturity. To mind the autumnal
phenomena conveys the idea of work accomplished,
of mission fulfilled, Take that noble oak as
preventative. 1t has outived century, and has
not only outbraved may storm, but witnessed the
changes of a hundred au1umns. What if It's huge
arms bt now almost baed Is it not full IF life o.
Is it not broader and stronger more deeply rooted
than when visited by the young spring! Has it not,
for another season we'll fulfilled it's task and laid
up new treasures Of might? 1t now needs reposed
it lays aside lis snowy garments it wishes to be
disturbed by rusiling leaves, and by the rushing
through thousand channels of its circulating sap
1t seeks, in this qnet and noseless way to recuper
ale lis strength and grid on lis power for further
feasts in coming year 1t is neither dead nor
beare the sembance of decay, but like one conscious
of successful achievements it takes bHet repose
that it may spread broader its glorious foliage,
tend wider it's grateful thade, and otfy itself by
still better equipment for the storm battles of many
coming years. 1t is the brave old oak, fitting itself
for future service and usefulness.
! Thus all round US not autumna death but
auimnal ripeness. 0, what exquisite pleasure have
these plants and flowers furnished US in the pas,
months! They withdraw now for season, but It is
beautiful creations would hail you in all seasons
and under all changes, and learn from you 10 fluff
tasks of cheerful duty and at each stage oft thai
our fruits matured; not onl y to grow and thrive
ourselves, but by every graceful art to convey plea
sure and happiness to others; and above all that
sweet and comforting lesson that when the autumnal
and wlntry months of life come US, we may feel
conscious that have fulfilled mission, borne
our appropriate fruits, and although to the outward
eye the prospect around may besomewhat DEAR yet
there Is, after short repose, to be revIvlfcation
renewal of strength an immortal verdure, an increas-
ing lruitfuness, in brighter and more genial chimes
where there shall be neither unproptous seasons mol
ruitless labor.