New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-31
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL. JOURNAL OF MEM ORLEANS
Written for the New Orleans Republican,
AUTUMN.


Autumn upon the rolling planet steps
The doors of earths great treasure house are HUNG
Wide epep, and upon the fruitful land
The riches lay scattered proflse and FREE
Which frat were sown by the fair hand of Spring
And shooting upward all instinct with life
We're nourished tsnderly by sun and dew;
And being at last through varied stages brought
By Summers care, perfec ton now 10 reached,
And al is ready for the harvesting.
IT'S Autumn's task TO gather of the wealth
30 lavish spread abroad over the EARTH
To thrust his sharp and shining sickle FORTH
And reap tho treasures of the yellow Helds
Which gaily nod and rustic meath the wings
OF passing breezes a. they fan the air;
To gather Of the luscious fruits which hang
In tempting beauty upon eutspread boughs.
He comes in q rich purble garment clad,
Embroidered heavily with red and gold,
And gilt tering with many glowing gem,
Around his swartby brow is bound wreath
OF dark red roses mingled here and there
With sheayes of wheat and purple clustered grapes
His eyes are black like unto midnight skies
Which ever seem revealir deeper depths
The more a steady gaze is on them fixed,
Until feeling Of strange awe steals DER
The soul, and the beholder silently
And wrapped in meditation, gazes oR,
rtcIluR 81 sptll-uOuuu AtO tuo exp
And 90 it ia with Autumn. When at first
He steps upsn the scene, ajoyous light,
Beams from his eyes, speaking of happiness,
Telling OF bounty plentiful and free
Over the bosom Of the fruitful earth.
On hillside and in field and meadow spread.
And on his ruddy lips there plays smile
The while the busy reapers are At work,
Who with glad swiftness his commands obey
And with sharp sickle lay the ripe grain low.
Which nimbie hands soon bind and bear away
And store within cspacious garner house,
Ample supply for future dearth and need;
While following the reapers here and there
DOtting the fragrant fields the cleaners come.
Orchards and vineyards Of their precious hoard
Are soon despoiled. The yellow sunshine falls
With mild radiance gilding oil the scene
and during all this blithesome merry time,
The while the birds are gleeful twitterirg,
And freely sharing Of fair Natures gifts,
And while the air is fragrant soft and mild,
There besma upon his face happy light.
But when at last the harvesting is DER
And Nature 10 Of all her treasure stripped,
When the soft, balmy brecses fit no more ~
Prom flower to flower, from lesfy spI az to spray.
But when the rude and clustering winds begin
Loudly to blow their shrily bugle blasts
Al gathering together for assault,
Then much Of mirthful light passes away,
And his dark eyes now sadder seem to grow,
And Ger his face there steals pensiveness
Which gradually seems to pass almost
To sternuess; and his voice which gentle was,
Now harsher and still deeper Seems to be,
Yet somewhat softened by mournful sound,
A cadence sorrowful, which seems like to
The signing of the winds through tree tops tall,
AZ unto listening Nature he breathes forth
His other name, now emblematical
OF the departing Of fair beauteous life,
Autumn or fsl Failing must now begin,
And so he sterner, harder seems to grow,
As ii to steel his heart ard nerve his arm
For the sad work which now before him lies.
But e'er the parting comes he casts abroad
Over the earth gay, brilliant Color ng,
Touching the leaves with rosy tints, which glow
Among the green in strange beauty rare,
And as the boughs are iostied by the wind
Within the CHANGING light the colors CLEAN,
Crimson AID brown and yellew, seeming like
Unto enchanted forests, wherein dwell,
All undiscovered, many o nymph and fay
Which fiirs on wings of light through balmy air.
But though SO strangely, wildly beautiful,
The life current now flows on but slugsishly,
And DER the glowing leaves there slowly steals,
In spite of brilliant color, pale hue,
Which tells that the destroyer 10 at work.
And now still louder whistle the shrill winds,
And mercilsssly seize within strong grasp
The tailest trees and sway them to and fro.
And now the leaves are parting from the stem,
And through the air they futter for space.
From eff The topmost branches all are gone
But some are cling ng still on lower limbs;
But even these at last must lose their hold
And in vii confusion through the air
Tney fiutter hopelt ssly in ssd dismay,
Until upon the bosom of the earth
They lie, and the last lingering hold upon
Existence 10 relaxed. And then 1t A
That earth speaks lovingly and tsnasrly
To the poer trees left oil % bleak aDd bare
Reminding them that though now all looks DARK
And cheerisss and though now they stand bereft
OF every trace Of beauty and Of life,
Yet smiling Spring. obsdisnt to the voice
OF Natures God, Will with glad speed return
After the storms Of Winter shsll he peat,
And with her bring fresh vigor and new life.
N, Z. T.