Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-12-02
The Fading Of the Leaf.

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Tho harvest In past, the summer 10 ended"
To the law of nature there is mclan
choly pleasure in wandering forth into tn
fields and woods, when the leaves whir
round with the wind, and strew the grave
Of the dead, to note the varied and brillian
tints Of the foliage, (which arc only seen t.
perfection in the Northern State, and t,
listen to the songs, Of the few remaining
-"The music Of the autumnal winds
Among the faded woods"
The indolent inhabitant of the tropics
with perpetual summer, knows naught o
the pleasure derived by the observer Of M
turc in the North, from her various change!
of climate and foliage throughout the year
There is something unspcakably sad in thu
decline and fall of the leaf during the "sea
son of mists and mellow fruitfulncss," sug
costing as it does, thoughts Of the death o.
flowers and fragrant herbs, of the absence
of many, many months Of the feathered
tribes, thoughts of the end Of the season
of the year Of "thc last sad hour, the
fading away Of life, the cold and narrow
house appointed for oil the living. Thus
the pleasures of youth fade away as the
flowers, and the vcrdurc of the forest dra.
perry, and in the advancing years, as with
the mature foliage, we fall into "thc scar,
tLo ,.o1,,,r la,r ~
Thanks be to God for the woods, at all
times beautiful! In win:er, when the lofty
trunks and the delicate tracery Of their
branches are visible in spring, when first
they blossom and put forth their young
lcaves; in midsummer, when they are
shalowy ard aromatic; but most beautiful
aud gorgeous in autumn, when every spc'
cles oI' Tree develops its own hue Of brown,
u.aiI.c, red, or yellow, combining with tho
uncnalsins pine AMI other evergreens, to
y.csrn, u picture ot ;urpass~s beauty:
"but see the lna.,y co.o.aI woods,
Shade deep ming over shade, the cjGntrg
round,
In brown; crowded. umhragc, dark ami dua.
Uf every hue, from wan declining green
10 sooty dark. ..t .... r-. 3D..
Coali Thompson. who painted the Seas
oas, have walked among our boundless for
ests during the month Of October, OF sailed
upon the Hudson or the Upper Mississippi
he would have drawn warmer picture. -
Bryant regrets in the following exquisite
lines, the brief career of the tinted leaves
ooh, autumn why so soon
Depart the hues that make thy forest
glad; .......
The gentle wind and thy fair sunny noon,
And leave them wild and sadi
All! 'twere lot too blest,
For in thy colorcd shades to stray,
Amid the kisses Of the soft southwest
70 warm and dream for aye.
SUDDEN CONVERSION. One Of the zeal
ous chaplains Of the army Of the Potomac
called on Colonel noted for his profanity, in
order to talk about the religious interests Of
his men. He was politely received, and
motioncd to seat on the chest, when the
following dialogue ensued:
Chaplain-"Coloncl, you have one OF the
finest regiments in the army.
Colonel-"l believe SO.
Chaplain you think you pay suffi-
cent attention to the religious instruction of
your men p
Colonel l-(doubtfully) "Well, l dor't
know"
Chaplain lively interest has been
awakened in the - Massachusetts,, Ia re-
viyal regiment) The Lord has blessed the
labors of his servants, and ten have been
already baptized
Colonel -(excitedly) "Is that so? ITO
the attendant Sergeant Major, have fif-
teen men detailed Immediately for baptism.
I'll be id if Ill be outdonc by any Mas
sachusctts rcgiment!" .n.