Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-17


The Seasons.
The following gifted mOrceau IS from
the pen of the gifted George d. Prentice {:
"Once more, again Time in the cycle of
it's seasons has brought to rs the rich and
mellow tints of the fOrest--thc clear and
bright ccrulean s1y-thc cool and bracing
atmosphere of autumn. All nature seems
to be imbued with the calm and tranquil
spirit Of philosophic resignation TO the de-
cree of fate, and quiet submission to tho
destiny OF unavoidable and speedy dis
solution. Nature, hushed into dignified
and graceful repose. seems as II it were
preparing 10 chant the requiem Of its own
death, and, Hike victims that savage nations
immoate to prOpitiatc their gods, IS gaily
0pDarelcd for tae sacrifice. The earth, still
covered with its mantle of faded green, APP
pears rs f it cIung with jealous care to its
juvenile vestments, while the tree and the
vine have dOnned the livery Of Autumn,
and are dcched in the gorgeous, glitterinG,
luanv-hucd mosaic that precede6 and pro
claims natures approach to the ''sere and
yellow leaf that bodies decay and disSOlu
tion. Autumn is q gorgeous, glorious,
luxurious season. Go where you will
whether on land OF on water, on hill or Oh
dale, Oh the plain or in the forest-you
breathe the same ife-inspiring, bracing
air that only Autumn brings. Responsive
to the healtLful breeze, the life-bloOd
courses quickly through the swelling veins,
and the excited nerves tingle with the
keen sensations of intense delight. 70
shoot the bird-tO chase the Stag,-tO fish
IN some clear, swift flowing stream, are
the elite sports Of this most elite OF sea-
sons. Ic sickly, noney-enamorcd crew,
who sit from early morn to dewy eve,
p0ring over the pages Of your IedgefS, OF
H. I 0fol
to the boards yOU have, quit for Il time
your lnerccnary musings, and HE ye to the
fields or forest-breatne the pure air-bld
your soul 10 revcl at the glorious feast
that bOunteOus nature IN lavish prCfusiOn
has spread before you and recognizing
the majesty and power of God, IN the frui-
ton Of the blessings he has bestowed, at
tune your feelings in unison to the mild
splcndOr Of the surrounding scenes, and
eIevating your thoughts above and beyond
this world, rest them on Heaven and ats
high hopes.
THE genius Of man has contrived to
Indicate the progress Of Time by the ma
chiucry OF the clock and the movements
OF the watch, but God marks its progress
on a grandcr scale by the revolutions Of
the planets and the changes Of the seasons.
Days form months, months make seasons,
seasons compose the year. Mans life, like
the year, has its seasons. In the spring
time of life all IS freshness, yerdancy and
hope. In his summer, man rlpcns into
full grown and vigorous maturity
Pleased with existence, he feels conscious
of strength and, delighted with the pur-
suit Of pleasure, he seeks it with avidity
in every field where it is likely to be
found. Hope-the most hardy, the most
brilliant, the most delightful flower that
ever blO1med in the garden OF the soul
now springs into full-blOOm eXuberant
existence 1t difuses it's vivifying odor
over the whole system, reIumIng the faded
pictures of past scenes, and opening to the
view of the minds eye splendid visions IN
the future. Who in the midsummer OF
life. has not felt how sweet it was ut times
to seek the field or forest and be alone ; to
let the soul in dreamy rapture lean back
upon the past, and draw forth gladneSS
from the wreck of Times ruined hopes p
Hope rears her castles on the himsy basis
OF unsubstantial air, but she invests them
with the gorgeous grandeur Of the sunllt
cloud But Autumn comes, and with 1t
comes the harvest of the fruits whose seed
we have Sown. 'Tis well if they be not bit
ter to the taste and poisonous to the touch.
Man IS the Trainer of his own fortune. AS
he has sown SO shall he reap, and as he has
labOred sOshall he be rewarded. Yet when he
mas 1alledand his harYCStl Is Scant, even here
delusive Hope stands by to whisper III her
sweet, alluring tones, the assurance that
the coming winter will be mild and that
somehow or other there will be an abun-
dance. And finally, when the winter of
lie comes, cold as the glacier on the noun
tam peak, and bOlsterOus as the stOxm-
spirit when 1t lashes the ocean into fury,
ana the man perlshes and passes away, I'M
mortal Hope IS there to cheer the agony OF
the parting soul, and bid it lift its vision
to another and better world, where there is
neither Hope nor Fear
A family III Minnesota arc troubled with
unpleasant manifestations, spiritual or 9th
erwise, the house shaking and furniture
fatthng about in the rooms in very dis.