Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-06

NOVEMBER.

suhdusd
On corn fields and on orchards and softly pic
tured wood.
And Gil that quiet afternoon, slow sloping to the
wOvc Nth golden shuttle the haze with yellow
light;
slan,irg through the painted bseehss, 1t glori.
fed th, HILL
And beneath it pond and medow lay brighter,
greener, still."-wuirrIERs HusKrEs.
No sooner has the first frost fallon,
though it be on the first day of Au-
tumn, than the people begin to talk OF
the Indian Summer, as if that period
were as we'll settled and as easily dis
oerned as the regular seasons. Hav-
ing recently consulted the clerk Of the
wheather, we propose to post ourrea-
deIs upon this most charming period
Of the year. Whittier witha true po-
otic instict has given us q picture
of one Of these Indian summer days.
We see the seeming mist at all, for the
morning is as dry as July morning
in droth. A soft haze hangs over field
and forest, subdueing the radiance Of
the sun, even at midday. 1t is this
unusual diminished light that throws
such charm over the landscape. The
clear outline of objects, so noticeable
in brilliantsummer day, isno longer
visible, and the imagina tion is called
into play, to fill upthe defective vision.
The islands that lie slumbering on the
distant sea, or lake, are elevated and
so seem to have come nearer to us as
if they had changed their places in the
night. The trees look taller and the
hills grow higher. the rocks are mag
nifed, and the distant plain has a
widcr cxpanso, The deep luxuriant
green of summer, has gone, but the
landscape looks far more beautiful
than in its richest dress. We have
The "dim religious light" under the O.
pen sky, and, every object seems
glorifed. The feelings very naturally
take the hue Of surrounding objects,
and we look forth upon nature with q
sober quiet enjoyment, a perfect con
trast to the rapture with which wect
hail the bright skies and opening flow
crs of Spring.
Every one must be concious at this
season, Of the stirring of some more
powerful principle within him than
more animallife The spiritual nature
is quickened, and there is longing
after something higherand better than
earth can give. The stiffness that
reigns every where the sober huos off
the landscape, the falling leaves,
and the bare fields, are powerful aids
10 reflection, and the mind, released
from the pressing cares Of Summer,
now falls into genial musing. This
is one reason, probably, why these days
are So enjoyable. Facualties that with
multitudes are partially suspended un-
der the pressure Of business, are now
called into the highest activity.
These Indian summer days are too
beautiful to come all together, or to
last long. They begin earliest at the
Ear north, and follow the retiring Sum
NOR to the far South The best au-
thorities put them Immediately after
Squaw Winter, which is the first cold
snap that destroys tender vegetation.
This is often accompanied by furries
Of snow and the freezing of the ground
as if the real Winter had commenced. |
This rarely comes before October even
in New England. The true Indian
summer now begins, and according to
the calender we must have twelve of
these days before the real Winter COM
mences We have the most of them
in November rarely, however, coming
more than one day at time at this
late season.
There are foundn greatest perfect.
ion along the Atlantic coast, where
the influence Of the Gulf stream is felt.
A breeze from tho South orSouthwest
brings the atmosphere of the tropics,
and the most enjoyable weather Of the
year. When the Governor gue5ses
ight,and Thanksgiving week falls up
on Indian Summer, the cup Of blessing
runs over, and there is nothing more
to be desired. The old homestead is
certain then TO be crowded, and the
last grandchild to be brought to the
family gathering. The warm sunshine
Of the heart finds its fitting response
in the outer world, and the CHILDHOOD
Of age is quickened with Summer
glow again. Old age, surrounded
with children and children's children,
is much like the Indian Summer Ii
lies between the active duties of life
and the Winter, which we call Death,
but which is really no Winter but
Spring time, if life have been well
spent 1t is sober but genial, all the
activities are subdued, the passions
softened, making it the ripest, best
period Of Summer life,
This is the month in which we usual
ly pay our respects to "the old folks
at home" and as we have talked abun-
dainty of planting and hoeing, hay
ing and harvesting, for the edifca-