Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-28
The Birth and Death of the Leaf.
By MINNIE E. TESNET .

The young fairy S..Tinstme came Joyous aId Free
Her f51;step was light over meadow AID lea;
Her musical voice syEoetly tuned 10 q song
That Weakened the Earth. that had slumherei long.
She kissed the cod hand that hEd bound with chain
Ths pulses q Nature-they beat strong again-
She broathrd the forest; the bill and the plain,
They sing her welcome In msrriesi strain.
Sweet Nynph Of the vaei with the tiakle of tOlls,
The hum Of the Ices found the buttereup cells,
Tie chirp of the cr.uket. the CO OF the dove,
The robin. tho wren the sprsy, br, afhiI. love.
The ryultt's ripple Ger pebbles OF snow,
Tho cadence Of waves falling gently Al low,
Tae patisr OF raia.-pearly fountains in flow
We greet thee bright Queen Of the cloud and the bow
Spring smilol when the suubeams with her at pay
Butsshei, whenthe shade lurod their bright forms as
Ahd we know that she wept, in frst, childish gTieG
Ths tear gently fell, a fresh, bursting leaf
pearl seemed that dew drop horn Of ight-
Far as worn by the angels in corunals bright
A ,yDe Of the pure II Cleaned on the sight,
And tWi-kled IN dIwn till eKhaled by sunlight
Thea came m-rTy ehi.dgea with laughter and shout,
Frun homes Ia the yiue-sheltered cottages out;
And lightly they tTipped DER The violci's bed
Hasiin the spJt where their banquet Is spread
They frshiei the faWH II, N the shadJwy bowers,
Ard hun cd the hummins-birds nest mid the flowers
Or waite cd the bright leaf with magical powers
Its play with the shadows gave speed TO the hours
The chi dren At eve nestled down IN their homes,
The lawn bouadiHs back, with tho iimil doe Rams,
TAe flowers closed their eys-liis and quietly slept,
While frh ookol the stars and their night kept
Nsr looked they alone on tiat ra4turJus sisht,
The sluInhoriug world lathel IN silvU-y light;
The ieahet was true to It's mission 50 bri shi
Aud wltUs With the Ger the sloepers Of night
q z be-.H.
To charm other elimes with her cIr0liugs gay;
And left IN the fIrest tlaf beautiful leaf
OF myriad others, the sweetest, and chi-f-
But summer soon came with Ter bright, sunny crest
To wrap the green earth robes sle loves best;
Tne leaflet was glad aud by zephyrs caTessed
BTeaih1d low, Tusilias music, with j5y-gIying zest
OF tho clrH's skoa ear, The wheai's yellow gold.
oftho lowing Of herds, the rustic Of gruias,
Ofths bleating OF 1acss, the creaking of wains
OF the whet Of the scythe, the fragrance OF hay,
OF the whip iorygilPs s1ng, the closing day,
OF the frugal ropast, the knee!iag to pray,
And thanks to god God for his blessings alway
Thus Joyous. and grateful, for sunshine and shade
The leaf was treasure TO forest and gla5e-
But ssel has fairy hInl changed is green huol
And robcd II in beauty 50 varied and newt
Or has the young summer In inaocen. play.
Touched her lip to Its cheek. then fitted away
And left rosy bushes hi liant array
For the chief OF the foresi, the chief Of the eayf
An no It's the dslh-.iut that blends in its flce-
The Tuldy, the gollen, IN exquisite grace
Strange, passing St ango, that the suns pencil ray
should ase all It's boush mates with change aud decay
Even thus musf ", l,l- the la-f f.sia
refciaance IA tie beauty OF Sprlng--im3 arfayel,
Ia Summers gay vostment, IN Autuma's dun shade
Or meth the white mIut'e Of Winter, be laid
When s'Tins-tme, and Summer, AID Autumn have fed,
And the SnoE-kins oometh to bury the dead
4 vlice from the past sweetly speaketh again,
In doIth there Is life, and the yiag shall reign
Then. " eye-ids closed in long dre1mless sleep
sreea leaves have faded Ol. why do we wespf
he bright mlraing dlwneih the sleeper will wake.
no nns-tims viii come, the dsath-chain will break
Agsin will be heard the young Leafs merry song
It mlTuilg, Al no5niije. and all the day loag,
70 no;e out Of tune ali wi h haTmJny rife
Is sunshine and shadow alternate through life.
'h! would that cur song such glad one might be.
r1in dlsoords, and jlrriHgs aid sad dirges free =
Ill our life-anlhsm eaIed, silently. We
laat calm as the Leaf, on Etouuity's sea ,
.