St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-12-20
Unconsidered Trifies.

There comes a season in the turning
of the year when the heart finds its
greatest sOlace in sadness. That mind
is not the strongest which has had ex-
perience only of joy; there is deeper
and surer hold for it in a grief which
overwhelms, in a SORROW which searches
and tries. There is joy which brings
a griet-that joy which is selfish, born
of ignOble purposes, or directed toward
an end which is debasing. There is a
grief. also, which brings a sweet con-
tent, and, strange though it may seem
to those who have never felt the striv-
ings of it, it arises from the dust cover
ing dead ambitions, hopes and loves.
1t is only in dead water and from roots
taking hold upon the blackest ooze that
the sweetest of flowers, the water-lily,
grows, and upon the lake of tears alone
the purest blossom of the heart, Sub
mission, is ever found. All joy pals,
all other contentment vanishes when
his bloom sheds its perfume on the life.
Sorrow is ever akin to joy, and it is
alone that joy which partakes of grief
wherein the soul is most truly strength
ened. There are few who have not ex-
perienced the grief that comes from
joy; it is left to the favored ones to
know the joy to which grief gives birth.
The lesson which the hurrying yeal
imparts would not be complete without
the teachings of Winter. Spring charms
us with its freshness and song; Sum-
mer with its passion and promise, and
Autumn with its wealth of harvest, its
brave attire and its fulfiIlment o
pledges. But before Winters comin.
the birds flee away and the tender flow.
ers die. The chill of its feet fetters the
rivers and ice and snow fly abroad OF
its breath. Even the sun shines with {
dim and warmthless light, and in his
slow flight over buried fields the crow
caws harsh good night to it's earl,
setting. AT such a time disappoint
ments and bereavements come will
overpOwering weight; the signs of the
sky show no promise, nature has ne
sympathy for man, and love and hope
which had crowned the Summer witt
united hands, still hand in hand hav,
sorrowfully left the world.
The last leaf shivers on the tree,
The singing birds are fed,
The night wind waileth mournfuIly
And all the earth is dead;
Dead as my heart all nature lies
My pulseless heart of lead
Where are the flowers that once did glow
In beauty on the lea -
The fair, faint blossoms June did strow
For humming- bird and bee p
All, all are dead, my hopes
Forever dead to mel
And soon the snow shall bury deep
Their withered stalks from light
And in dark silence shall they sleep
Through Winters gloomy night =
Would that thus could hide my woes
Forever out of sight!
But to the Blossoms there shall come
A new and fairer day,
With song of bird and wild bees hum
And all the wealth of Nay =
All me forever from my life
The Spring has passed awayl
When November makes it's exit ant
december its entrance in the spectacu
lar procession of the months, tn,
Thanksgiving spirit goes out with th,
one and the inspiration of Christmas
though led by the other, approache
llngeringly. and, as it. were, tuggin,
against its string, Of so brief life ar,,
our best feelings when subjected t,
| dlspirlting influences! Despite til,