Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-08-16
Dame Nature.

+, Have not you noticed for long time
that something strange has been going on !:
that there was some commotion in the
world outside? Haven't you heard that
| the birds We're learning new songs, prac-
tising almost constantly wonderful trills
and.cadences: that the trees were telling
strange stories among themselves, nod
ding their heads wisely, and bending their
heads now and then to whisper to each
other? That the slittle brooks danced
along as though they knew secret too
good to be kept? That out in the shady
wood the sweet little fern nodded con-
tentedly at you with a sunny face, and
the Ivy sprang into all sorth of fantistic
attitudes?
Queen Summer always holds a grand
reyel Just before she departs; and now the
| time has come once again. Her messen-
ger, zephyr, has been sent all over the
| land to invite the trees and wildwood
| beauties. to this farewell merry making.
| Many of the flowers were so tired that
| they bade the queen good-by long ago and
went to sleep.
| And now, what shall each wear? The
summer dresses are dusty and faded and
| would never do. New ones must be had.
Good, old Dame Nature smiles kindly as
one and all come to her with this momen-
| tous question, and promises to do her
| best to fulfill their requests,
Queen Summer, too wishes her to pro-
tertainment. 1t seems impossible for one
| TO do all this; but Dame has never failed
and they will trust her yet.
She sends for her friends, sunshine and
jack frost; to help her. First, there mus
| be some music; and request is made
| that all the bird-singers shall practice
| their choicest songs, glees and choruses
| for that day. Then jack frost must open
| the shells of the nuts that the children
| Tay come and gather them; for Queen
| Summer loves the children and always
| wants to bid them good-by before she de-
parts. Acorn-cups and acrons lie by the
| brook-a feast for the shy little squirrels,
| the Queens pets. The green carpet to
| her dwelling is washed clean by her SER
want, rain, and then all is ready for the
guests.
| Meanwhile, Dame Nature has been pre-
pairing their dresses. Jack frost and sun
shine color them and the Dame fits them,
The family of naples come first, because
| they are afraid they will not get their
dresses finished in time They are the
| Danes most fashionable customers, and
hardest to be suited. Gorgeous tints are
produced. and as they stand attired, how
| yellow, that looks as though it was col
Ored by dissolved gold of the sunbeams.
Anothersis dressed in bright crimson. that
| glows like the very heart of fire, as she
/ buTnS, duLulTluS ueISSll III tuc
Another has her summer green covered
over with a color that CLEANS like the
emerald. Altogether, they form q group
most gorgeously beautiful OF any of the
guests. Miss Virginia Creeper looks gay
in bright scarlet robe, caught up here
and there and adorned with a profusion
of scollops and points. The beautiful
| Misses Ivy are there, too, and there is a
rumor abroad that they are to be married
to the Oak brothers soon, and there will
| to xuod1ipo littlQ Fprnic
only ties knots of white and yellow ribbon
around her head and waist, looking pure
and innocent as she stands beside her tall
mother, Madam Fern, attired in a dark
f. yellow dress. Poor Willow has lost hel
4 dear friend, and only brightens up her
i mourning dress, all the dress she has in
the world; for she is too proud to accept
( one as a gift from the generous Dame.
;, The Evergreen brothers wear their old
suits brushed up as nicely as possible, fol
they are .poOr but proud and respectable
J Sir Oak is attired i'm a suit of phaggable
brown with crimson and golden tint, il
which he looks finely.
Il At last they are all ready and Queen
Summer begins her revel. If you would
! know the grand times they are having, &C
out in the woods and listen to the brook
prattling to the pebbles; hearken to the
I birds chQrnses and solos full of wonderful
trills and cadences, which you wish woule
never end, they are SO full OF grand sWee
melody; listen to the stories the trees tel
j each other about these merry times; stool
down and ask modest Fernie what make.
her face so sunny, and I'll assure you. you
will want to stay too.
: Pine perel Ia pow over, the Qneen say
last goOd-by to all and is gone.
They are all lonely after she has left
The birds are silent, the children ant
squirrels come no more, the brook flow
! silently and slowly arong, and the tree
rock back and forth, struggling to hole
!, their festive garments as the wind ant
storm strive TO snatch and soil them
!, Soon they will lay aside their tatteret
robes and don white one; and, standin.
, | pure and still, greet the coming of tn
monarch winter, treasnring in their heart
memories of the past happy time, an,
! waiting patiently their Qneen's return.
FRANKIE GILRREATH