The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1872-01-05

Walking I'm the woods Une coins n@fk
day last Fall, with d gloomy lic2rt, \ gath
cred together 4 pile pf fhe dend leaves
that covered ths ground, and sitting
down, gave myself up 70 sad thonghia.
an the world Looked ieadep-colorsa. Tine
i4e nky. and ail life M ipyleas nH ils4 dull.
brown leaves. The aQwers hung their
poor, hieiess heads nOl 3 bipa-sons fell
on my ear. All mature sstmsd mourn
ing, and I uaIkea She fHnt in the ed
conpany oi mGmrnaEh, ieeIfngit waa my
right place, for r. m5urntd more than
they. sssi'
Soon S faint. sweet pdor came % me
from the crushed leaves after listening
Long 70 tie wind na II sighed, through
the trees. ! found there wAs An the Hpund
an UNDERGONE Of bDps bslogpll the tad-
mess liltle insect. sfayed By the FROST.
spoke TO me With is tiny voice far
away heard the faint aomnd pf little
brook ms 1t babBled over tha stones.
Gradually and swectly slss Aner, hidden
tones Of nature spoke 70 me. ara from
tho leaaeas branches of he trsss eaaas q
breath which my heart intsrPrrtadi III
We forget NOT tbs grqen leaves that
seem kissed, bent and swung on theiF
tender stems shrpgghgall the long SUM
mer days happy birds few in and css
among them. little childfdn played un /,
der ihsn. and hred men rested IN their
cool shadow, Now they sliu, the poor
dead things. broken ana brown At our
feet. Shall We. thereEog4. be endlessly
Hsd Tor their loss :. Surely no, since We
know that JOY cometh ~ the spring.
We willreioine again IN lraFpRn nb bright
hnd strong and bAeptifui. 60. dmir hu-
mhn soni, God mny have tshan frala Jon
acme cherished hopes and plans, Leaving
ON the tree Of your life only leaheas
branches. through which che winter
winds nnsan dreArfIy Vet pqioies
Surely Joy win come for you in Ged's
springtilns--ii not on earth, in lheayep.
And es our fallen leaves are not useless.
but mako tho earth truitfnl. no that
flowers hare stronger lia by means of
their death, and gFers leaves nrn stronger
for those that have lived and died before
them So your dead hopes may rake
sweet Covers blossom more franhly i'm
your soul. may make your life stronger
and larger and more beautfful. I" ss
Partly cosnforted. raised my head
bot the memory Of > great grief bentit
down again, a. I thought n Tha trees
have only Little time 10 wait and the
sweet sunshine and gentle =Ainwill give
them back their. leaves but no aunnhine
nor any rain-even Of teAzs-can give
me back my friend, aud below al, pther
sorrow lives the deep, hopeless longing
for buried face Sdil the sweet mur-
mar vent on, changelessly. tender and
hopeful "The cold winter pat seems
not % have been long, Looking back,
in the blessed light Of Gods hweet
heavenly sammers with the dear fhun
near yonr own, IA win seem but aIitile
while. after all, that you have waited, 3
A vsice within me said: swais on the
Lord. Be Of good courage, and He shall
strengthen thine hanrt = s'A
What pleased bird that suddenly lie
sounded his sweet note calling 70 his
mate Where had the clouds gone, tkaf
the sky was blne How gently the
wind whispered i'm the pane treesi Fhr
away tba little brook leaped and danced
IN d smile Of the Sunlight played over ID
for moment. Az nss sect the grpnnd
from which / had gathered the lesyss
wns bright with soft, green NOS. Had
the earth chhrEed her snd tone for onc
OF happinsssG or. had NV heart grown
reconciled. learned. Il not 10 sing in
unison With her great song, at leass 10
understand It's harmany. NED.