Middletown transcript., 1870-09-17
Original SActtEles,
From " Homepun."
AUTUMN DAYS.
A SEAS0NABLE SKETCH.

On him who goes forth into the woods
and fields during these ripe autumnal
days, in spirit suil'uscd with gentlcness,
and peace, and all the harmonies of the
time, there dcscends an influence that
makes the face of Nature into new pic
turc, and draws from it an expression
which the heart loves to brood upon in
the sweet silence Of contemplation.
The spell is strange one that works
with such potency through the placid pas
sage of these golden days, cluding analy-
sis or explanation. So gauzy is the airi-
ness with which the halo wells woods and
water, meadow and hillside, that it at
length comes to cnvelop the sympathetic
spirits self in its welcome folds, and dis
covers to the penetrating vision dreams
which are of rest, and bliss, and heaven.
How many are the cnticcmcnts which
present themselves outdoors, at this time
There is too much heat, and feeling of
lassituAe, in the daily development of
Spring; but nor, all is 50 cool and tram
quill, the pastures lie so still in the lap
of the haze, the suns heat is so gentle
and genial, The atmosphere bathcs the
spirit in so delieiously indolent a current,
that it is a delight just to be out doing lit
tie but breathing, letting the eyes wander
idly this way and that, and silently an
swering with the spirit to the calls that
may be heard by the sensitive car all over
Gods perfect creation.
An Autumn Day has neither heat nor
haste in it. 1t is perfect thing. Like
the Ethiop's pearl, it seems to lie dissolv-
ing its little riches in the vast beaker
whose rim is the horizon. Placidity ut
tcrs itself through all its quiet expression.
plation--that slow and sure ripen-
ing process of the human soul-steeps it.
self in its delicious atmosphere. We in
stinctivcly suffer our feet to lead us off a.
mong the trees, and develop a new love
for being alone. Soltudes are delightful
now, because they supply their own COM
panionship. Natures self is enough, and
more than enough We would ask for
nothing, for life now is deep and full.
Instead of the ruddy applo-blossoms of
May down in the orchard, we have the
trees heavy with the thick globes of pol
ishcd fruit. All the bars between the
pastures are down, and the cattle may
stray where they will The brown stub
BILE harbors armies of sable crickets, that
skip away in rows before approaching feet
The hill-sides begin to look faded and a
little serc, the wild-grape vines on the
lodges turning brown and yellow, and the
brakes parting with their juicy greenness
That beautiful American heath plant-tho
whortleberry bush-now shows ruddy, OF
russct red and the sunshine nestles in
its masses with look of melancholy that
is like speechless lamentation for the
lost delights Of the summer. The poke
berries, in their long and clustering spikes,
display red, or black, as they bend down
their supporting stems; and flocks of taw-
ny-breasted robins gather everywhere a.
bout the sunny lodges where they grow
discussing their journey southwark into
genial winter quarters.
You will see, on nearing the skirts o.
the woodland, busy squirrels racing in and
out on the riders of the rail fences, theii
cheeks stuffed out with stolen corn. A
clumsy woodchuck, fat from his autumna
foraging on the farmers pumpkins, trun.
dies off across the patch of ploughed lane
over the wall afraid lest the dogs have
spied and will bring him to stern account
before he can quite whisk his gray tail in
to his domicil Who would seriousl,
care to revel in the sweet abundance will
which he gorges himself, if every sound
is charged with fear, and his heart beats
with sudden suggestions of appoplexy?
At home, in and around the house, thest
days are like no other. All about the
yard and garden, it is almost religiously
still. A voice makes a circle in the air
like stone dropped in lake. The over
grown chickens wallow, in lazy luxury
under the currant-bushes, having discard
ed scratching altogether. The wasp!
! busily swarm around the chamber