Middletown transcript., 1870-09-10
Original Shetcl,es,
From /" HomeSpun." /"
A MORNING AT THE BROOK.
A BEAUTIFUL SKETCH.

How much comes of association; and
that is the delicious fruit of observation,
of temperament and of time. A brook is,
of itself, an idle little thing; yet it pos
sessos very varied combinations of power,
after it has once found its way through
susceptible heart. A tree stands out STAT
uesquely in the landscape simply tree
but we fall into pleasant habit of sit
ting in its shadow, and of silently telling
over the stori,s Of our sorrows and Joys,
of our desires and disappointments to the
green thatch it builds above our heads, :
and from that day this tree becomes a
friend, contidant, and, in truth, part
of our very selves.
Out of the twelve months of the year,
June and October are our especial favor
ties. Perhaps October is fuller of what
are really deep delights, the atmosphere
then having an infusion-as the skyey
cope has u coloring-of that genuinely
spiritual quality which rains down for the
soul the true mama of nourishment. The
sights and sounds of delicious June are
possibly more sensuous than those of drea-
my October; the earth, the sky, the waters,
birds, trees, buds-all are expressive of
the emphasis of promise; and that presents
its appeal to the heart through the senses,
making it leap at last, in its very overplus
of joy. But Nature is especially given to
contrasts; thus she produces her finest
effects. june being SO wholly distinct
from October, its very name reading like
poem in the calendar, it might be expec-
ted that the experiences it brings freshly
every year might be distinct also.
June is the eastern, as October is the
western gate of the year She trips in
across carpet of brightest verdure, the
posts and pillars and arch at the entrance
clustered with vines and burdened with
roses. She goes out in majestic pomp
and state, canopicd with skies that reflect
dazzling hucs, the cool green transmitted
now to scarlet and purple, orange and
gold. Yet, june does but throw October
into brighter and more beautiful relief
Each makes fine foil for the other; and,
for ourselves, having been so long in the
habit of coupling these heavenly months,
it never falls to our fortune to enjoy the
one without thinking of the other also.
A June morning was newly born to us
not many months ago, of which we feel
very certain that we had dreams before
hand, for many year. 1t is true, we had
drunk the breath of many June morning
in its beauty, but of none before like this.
1t was ours, the moment it dawned, and
as such it was instinctively laid hold of
So, indeed, do all things in nature belong
to us, if we could but trace the divine
right of possession and use.
We awoke with the low trill of the ear
liest bird-the song of a awny-brcasted
robin, whose little heart was swelling with
love for its household treasures in tree
hard by. With that first gush of song
our soul came to life again. While the
mornings gray still enveloped everything
out of doors, we made haste to put on our
daily attire, and crept silently down the
stairs, while the household were yet wrapt
in slumber. Hastily disposing of cold
bite, and swallowing a draught of sweet
nights milk, we shouldered our birch
fishing-rod and sailed forth for little
thread of a brook whose every hayward
twist and turn had long been familiar.
1t cost tramp of mile Or more. The
dust in the country road lay little matted
under the dews, while, as we trudged on,
we caught the ever welcome sound of the
cattle lowing in the pastures, impatient
for the return of companions that were
yarded the night before There was not
the lightest breeze astr. Now and then, |
an early bird fitted across from one road
side covert to another, offering us the
welcome of true fellowship with quick !