Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-02-23
Natures Lessons.

with the memory Of the summer which
is gone, the lessons written on noun
tain, hill and vale, the sermons painted
on leaf and flower, come to my heart
again. Alas how many of these les
sons do we lose; if we realized their
influence on our frail hearts, we would
garner and guard them as life's most
precious jewels.
The cold gray sky bends low over the
brown, desolate fields the everlasting
hills, stripped Of their crowns OF YER
dure, hold their gray heads up to meet
the caress Of the low-bending autumn
sky. Above them, keeping eternal
vigilance over the lonely country at
their feet, tower the grand old noun
tains.
What wealth of beauty they held
during the summer which is dead
From early morning, when they stood
as barriers between the king of day and
his pupils, all through the long, happy
hours, when the cloud shadows chased
each other over their grim bastions,
till the lights from the golden gates
above the western hills bathed them in
radiance unspeakably beautiful.
Who can look upon these calm, still
heights, and not feel the need earth has
for them? Nature has set nothing be-
fore her children which does not bear
some deep meaning; which is not
fraught with beautiful solemnity !;
nothing which, brought into these
careworn lives of ours, will not help us.
What book is this spread out be-
fore usl A book whose priceless pages
are conned SO indiferently whose rare
pictures are unappreciated.
In the hour Of sorrow, narrow indeed
must be the soul Of him who can not
draw consolation from Natures many
charms. Have the shadows darkened
your pathway? Look yonder cloud
capped mountain has been shrouded for
long days in deepest gloom. Cold,
dark and chill, he has stood there
silently, uncomplainingly- and now be-
hold the glory that envelopes him No
longer cold and dark, but clad in
garment of living light. So it is the
light from on high will envelope and
beautify our lives.
Nature is ever true to herself she
makes no mistakes. From the g1isten-
ing, singing river to the cold, silent
stream hidden from our view in It's icy
sepulchre, she presents to us always the
same lessons. Brightly, busily, it goes
on to meet its destiny-the boundless
sea caught upon its way by the icy
clutch of winter-its song hushed-
we know from down beneath its crystal
surface its work is going on, though to
us it is silent and inert
He also serves, who only stands and waits. I"
Lessons of infinite beauty are written
upon all nature. From the silent stars
above us to the flowers at our feet
from the softly murmuring trees, at
twilight's holy hour, to the wild moan
ing Of the restless sea. The tender
light Of sunset. when only the rare,
pale tints remain, has more potent CON-
fort for sad heart than any words from
human lips, how wise so'er they be.
And SO it is through all Nature. Not
a star in the heavens not flower of
earth not the tiny dewdrops on an
emerald blade not leaf that whis-
pers in the breeze; not the faintest
ripple Of silver stream, but is for us.
Happy is he who appreciates and ap-
propriates the benefcence of a loving
Creator.
Nv heart is awed within me when 1 think,
Of the great miracle that still goes on,
In silence, round me-the perpetual work
Ofthy creation, finished, yet renewed
Forever. Written on thy work read
The lesson Of thy own eternity"