National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-01-05
WitIered Leaves.

VWiAuik III tuo wootb ohc Cpii, V"t
day last Fall, with gloomy heart, gath
cred together pile of the dead leaves
that covered the ground, and sitting
down, gave myself up to sad thoughts
All the world looked leaden- -colored, like
the sky, and all life "a joyless rs the dull
brown leaves. The flowers hung their
poor, lifeless heads +; not II bird-song fell
on my ear. All nature seemed mourn.
ing, and | walked the first in the sad
company of mourners, feeling it was my
right place, for ! mourned more than
they.
Soon faint, sweet odor came to me
from the crushed leaves after listening
long to the wind as it sighed through
the trees, I found there was in the sound
an undertone Of hope below all the sad
ness little insect, spared by the frost,
spoke to me with its tiny voice; far
away heard the faint sound of little
brook rs it babbled over the stones.
Gradually and sweetly the finer, hidden
tones of nature spoke to me, and from
the leatiess branches Of the trees came a
breath which my heart interpreted;
I'VE forget not the green leaves that
seem kissed, bent and swung on their
tender stems through all the long sum-
mer days happy birds flew in and out
among them. little children played un
der them, and tired men rested in their
cool shadow. Now they lie, the r oor
dead things, broken and brown at our
feet. Shall we, therefore, be endlessly
sad for their loss ? Surely no, since we
know that Joy cometh in the spring
We will rejoice again in leaves as bright
and strong and beautiful. So, dear hui
man soul, God may have taken from you
some cherished hopes and plans, leaving
on the tree of your life only leafess
branches, through which the winter
winds moan drearily. Yet rejoice
Surely Joy will come for you in Gods
springtime-if not on earth, in heaven.
And as our fallen leaves are not useless,
but make the earth fruitful, so that
flowers hs 'e stronger life by means of
their death, and green leaves are stronger
for those that have lived and died before
them. So your dead hopes may make
sweet flowers blossom more freshly in
your soul, may make your life stronger
and larger and more beautiful"
Partly comforted, raised my head,
but the memory Of great grief bent il |
down again. as | thought 1.-THE trees
have only little time to wait, and the
sweet sunshine and gentle rain will give
hem back their leaves but no sunshine
lor any rain-even of tears-can give
ne back my friend, and below all other
'orrow lives the deep, hopeless longing
or n buried face" Still the sweet mur-
nur went on, changelessly, tender and
hopeful "The cold winter past seems
lot to have been long. Looking back,
Ii the blessed light of Gods sweet,
heavenly summer, with the dear face
'ear your own, it will seem but little
'hile, after all, that you have waited"
voice within me said "Wait on the
ord Be of good courage, and He shall ,
thine heart" :
What pleased bird that suddenly he ,
ounded his sweet note calling to his 9
nate ? Where had the clouds gone, that !
he sky was blue? How gently the .
ind whispered in the pine trees Far !
way the little brook leaped and danced ,
$ smile of the sunlight played over it j.,
Or moment. AT my feet the ground !
rom which l had gathered the leaves !
'as bright with soft, green moss Had !
he earth changed her sad tone for one !
+ happiness Or had my heart grown /
econciled, learned, if not to sing in \
nison with her great song, at least to I
nderstand its harmony. NJ. F. D. t