Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-10-24
Golden Hours.-Thcre is beauty and |

queen Of all the months, sits upon the hills
with heart filled with sedate joy, as she
looks around her and sees the plentiful re.
suits of the years accomplished maternity
and she smiles with a smile of grateful
recognition of the Providence which in
these results assures food and clothing, con-
tentment and plenty, through another sea-
son, for the worlds toiling millions
1t is pleasure that nothing else affords,
pleasure all the more fascinating, because
it bathes the soul in Christening melan-
choly to look into her soft blue eyes, moist
with gathering tears, and to watch her sweet
sad smile as she is weaving, with noiseless
earnestness, the garlands of death to twine
about the brow of the lusty life around her.
The ripened glory of the year has pillowed
upon her bosom, whilst unseen hands are
scattering dust and ashes upon it, Her
beautiful garb of liquid green is now EN-.
broidered here and there with crimson,
golden yellow, ruddy brown and royal pur-
ple-the gorgeous colors with which deca y
hides its slow, insidous approach
In half sadness we have seen Summer,
with her tropical and voluptuous ripeness,
depart her ruddy arms laden with sheaves
of bearded wheat, and her sandals white
with dust The sunlight hath grown dim
mer since the winds pipe fitfully, the swal-
lows and the singing birds follow their pa
triarchs to SUMMER cimes, the frost whitens
the late blooming flowers-in the sedgy
heath the partridge whistles-the acorns afe
slipping from their cups, and the chestnuts
have burst their spiny bolls
"Octobers touch paints all the maple leaves
With brilliant crimson, and his golden kiss
Lies on the clustered hazels; scarlet glows
The sturdy oak, and copper hued the beech.
A russet glory fingers on the elm
The pensile birch is yellowing q pace,
And many-tinted show the wood lands all,
With Autumn's dying splendors-
1t Is a season of luxury, whose praises
have been sung by bards the most famous
and immortal. True the season is the
harbinger or forerunner of coming Winter,
when the "sere and yellow leaf" blown from
the branches by every fitful breeze, causes
the mind to dwell on the death of the year.
Yet with all Difference TO the memory of
that delightful poet and moralist, William
Cullen Bryant, this period cannot be aptly
termed "the melancholy days" "the saddest
Of the year," though he has maintained that
theory in one of the most beautiful poems
of our language. To the contrary, although
the scene--as has been remarked by the
| lamented Herbert-presents "a hectic" love
| ;ol q
the consumptive beauty is the precursor of
decay and death still so exquisite is that
beauty so delicious the temperature, the
atmosphere, the aspect of the skes-so neb
ulous the hues of the forest-mantled noun.
tain and woodland that to US at least, the
promise of spring and the fullness of Sum-
mer are both inferior to the serene and calm
decline of the woodland year
II is at this season that the year reaches
its maturity. Everything in nature pro.
| claims that the harvest time is near its
close-the year Fastening onward to its
end-to the cold, drear days of frost and
snow. Autumn is here. 1t is whispered
almost audibly in the soft breezes which fan
in unmistakable language. 1t is seen in the
purple mist wreaths along the streams
and hillsides curtaining the morning sun
heard in the carols OF autumnal songstera
and felt in the keen, bracng atmosphere of
morn and dewy eve.
Yet, it is not, however, until "hearty,
brown October" has arrived that we have
the full glory of Autumn Then it is that
the varied tints of the forests are most con
spicuous, most dearly priced; when the hazy
atmosphere of royal Indian Summer par
TALLY wells the landscape, closing in dim
and misty about the valleys and around the
mountain and hilsdes-a shimmering,
gauze.like veil to the beauties of sylvan
scenery Nature, ever lavish with her charms,
"beautiful in all and every guise, is now
seen in the most varied and delightful garb.
The deep, snowy mantle and bare branches
of Winter, the emerald verdure of budding
| Spring time or the full flush of ripe Mid
Summer beauty, cannot compare with the
delicate tints and bright splendor Of mature
Autumn. 1t outshines and outves its sister
seasons, even as vigorous manhood outvies
childhood, youth and old age.
But all is beautiful and inspiring now
There is life and health and happiness in the
air we breathe. Industry is busy all around
US in gathering, storing, and giving to the
earth the seed which is to ripen when Sum-
mer comes again. There is an air of hustle
and business in every direction Rich tints
have touched the trees along our streets, the
hues of the sunset rest upon spire and dome
with new radiance, and night brings peace
and contentment. The current of motion
moves swiftly through every artery Of trade
and commerce. bewildering array of fab
RIGS crowds our stores-indeed it seems the
time when the beautiful and the useful con-
verge-when men and women appear 10 be
inspired with fresh vigor for planning and
working.
These stray leaves are but part of the rev.
enue Of our days wanderings-all the day
long we have found
pleasure in the painless woods,
society where none intrudes."
Everywhere Autumn had kindled It's fires
everywhere the great carnival Of color had
begun. In our rambles light, golden, pleas
ant, careless thoughts attended US, flowers
on the brink of precipice, dreams 10 be
dispelled by the cold touch of hideous re-
ality. AS we close, the shadows of evening
are falling around US like the murmurs of
the last farewell Of a day that has been
clothed in peace and beauty. The occident
is upholstered with ieecy clouds fringed
with saffron, purple and crimson commin-
gled. We look forward into the coming
lonely night. The soul withdraws into t.
SELF Then stars arise and the night is holy.
The New NatiOnal.-This fashionable
place of amusement is enjoying a perfect