Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-03
I he Worshipful Thought of Autumn

as not to see through II ana vote II
down.
The Worshipfnl Thought Of Autumn.
Springfield Republican,
The year lSgJ deserves TO be long re-
membered for the rare perfectness and
proportion of its seasons; the steady. even
cold. OF lis keen. bright winter. the Cr-
DERBY advance OF the iiberating spring.
the symptoms heat OF a summer which
was nearly as dry as that Of the previous
year but far more finely tempered and
punctuated with showers: and now the
finest OF dutumns, in which the forest
color is seen in full grandeur AT length,
after 80 great a prolOngng Of summer
yerdancy and charming modulatiJns of
the weather tone. The rains, The later
rains that are as welcome a. Palestine's.
though SO different. and now coming in
time 10 all the springs which have ron
sadly low in All this beautiful year. the
third OF an unusual dryness. We take 1t
that the equinoctlal storm OF our fathers,
scared OF by the scientists from its old
and proper anniversary. has undoubtedly
got here three weeks overdue. and
making up for lost time 1t Is most
agreeable to find the old myths asserting
themselves. even If they do miss their
appointments and appear in masks. II
any meteorological person from the Wea-
Their Bureau objects that an equinoctial-
storm cannot come after the equinox is
80 far gone by. and the sun is quite Ie-
covered from the effects Of crossing the
line. We have only TO say that such pre-
dictiOns as We get from the bureau OF
storms on fair-weather days and clear,
with north winds" on lowering north
casters, are enough To confuse any re-
tssll Il. oil ND vol g.
reckonings. Dead reckonings. az every
navigator knows. are comparatively I'M
certain.
The hills are now at their height OF
glory, and in the broad valleys the water
courses are marked by the richest reds
and yellows, maroons and olives, russell
brown, orange and bun and all thar SUI
perb gamut OF the spectrum. which sings
TO the eye az birds sings TO the ear IN
summer when the woods and fields are
full of chants and MARBLES and living
joyance. No frost has marred the splendid
changes OF the trees, and in this region
the autumn flowers are to be found IN
bloom over many a meadow, pasture, and
forest opening, whence they have com
monty disappeared at this time. The shell
tered hooks are not alone in sportive new
blooms OF aster ana golden-rOd, daisy and
clover, wild-fiax and caraway, bouncing
bets and immortelles, while the herb To-
bert's delicate pink flower nestles In its
eXquisitely-wrought leaves, among whose
green are changing colors as rich as on
the naples themselves. The leaves have
fallen from the grape-vines. and the rare
abundance of the clusters adorn the way
side thickets. now and then giving the
charm of their fruitage to some forest
tree which they have caught upon and
climbed and compensate for their too
close embrace by that unwonted beauty
Now, as the hues deepen on the noun
tains and in the valleys, the concentrated
warmth and sweetness that sunshine and
rain have stored in the leaves of the
trees and the fronds of the ferns, the
grapes. the nuts, and the autumn flowers.
/ crowds the air with delicious scents, and
adds TO the autumn the grace OF evane-
scent perfume which behts the closing
hours OF the pageant of nature. 1t is so
wholly different in character and effect
| from the seasons OF multitudinOus bloom
/ when the fragrance OF hOneyed flowers
! intoNicates the most luxurious of the
/ senses In the autumn forest aisles OF
/ among its lanes and generous fields, there
! L. Il sober tenderness of feeling which
| largely proceeds from these subtle dying
doors of the leaves which have fulfilled
| their Office. and now are sinking 10 earth
/
through transformation. All now is
solemn and restful in the woods and
/ fields; work Is over, repose has come
! and yet ia this there IL nothing that de-
| presses. nothing that bears the emphasis
| Of gloom or melancholy. 1t Is what
! should be- and so We recognize il. and
find in these days of glowing color and
| pervading fragrance great store of com.
| fort and consolation. The farewell that
r
| lingering leafage-the shy and mysterious
essence OF the witch hazel penetrat inl;
through IL all with "a charm that came;
be defined but is Ike a spiritual greet.
| ing-this is most sane and ennobling
| and leaves the lover OF nature a blessing
| for the imprisoning period Of the SHOWS.
How great "A blessing. indeed, is the
constant. calm process of nature in this
zone of the earth, where We escape its
extremes. and have her best work TO
enjoy, Ii * perhaps nowhere else 80
| perfectly easy 10 feel the even hand
! of the guiding Divi.'ty. Yet IL is really
the same everywhere. Nature has her
conditions TO which we must conform
for If man be lord OF creation. as the
! old way Of thinking and writing has it,
! he is "A lord with lords over him ~lords
many and gods many. and all these are
but nature. the embodiment of the divine
spirit-weaving at the roaring loom of
time" instantly and forever. ''the gar
ment thou seest Him by" 1t is none
other than God that warns In the sun
refreshes IN the breeze that Lives
through all time. extends through all ex-
tent. spreads undivided. operates un-
spent" All that We see aud breathe
and love and are IL not only His, but
! Him and there il no other. The mes
sage OF the autumn il thus the same that
the Hebrews from time mmemorial chant
in their service. I'm music that liz thought
to have come down from the very day
OF Moses.
The Lord bless thee and keep thee.
The Lord make his face shine upon
thee and be gracious unto thee.
The Lord lift up his countenance upor
thee and give thee peace.
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