The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-11-07

may not only get his lesson through the
ear, but also through the eye, so God
takes all the truths of His Bible, and
draws them out in diagram in the
natural world. Champollion, the IA
nous Frenchman, went down into
Egypt to study the hieroglyphics on
monuments and temples. After much
labor he deciphered them, and an
nounced to the learned world the re-
suit of his Investigations. The wis
dom, goodness and power of God are
written in hieroglyphics all over the
earth and all over the heavens. God
grant that we may have understand
ing enough to decipher them.
Those know but little of the mean
ing of the natural world who have
looked at it through the eyes of others,
and from book or canvas taken their
impression. There are some faces SO
mobile that photographers cannot take
them; and the face of nature has such
n flush, and sparkle, and life, that no
human description can gather them.
There is to-day more glory in one
branch of sumach than n painter could
put on a whole forest of NAPLES. God
hath struck into the autumnal leaf
glance that none see but those who
come face to face-the mountain look
ing upon the man aud the man look
ing upon the mountain.
For several autumns l have made
tours to the far west, and one autumn,
about this time, saw that which shall
never forget l have seen the au-
tumnal sketches of Cropsey and other
skillful pencils, but that week l saw a
~ II % ,,.ft tekx,
stand back when God stretches His
canvas! A grander spectacle was never
kindled before mortal eyes Along by
the rivers, and up and down the sides
of the great hills, and by the banks of
lakes, there was an indescribable
mingling of gold and orange, and
crimson, and saffron. now SOLDERING
into a drab and maroon, now flaming
into solferino and scarlet. Here and
there the trees looked as if just their
tips had blossomed into fire. In the
morning light the forests seemed as if
they had been transigured, and in the
evening hour they looked as if the sun
set had burst and dropped upon the
leaves. In more sequestered spots,
where the frosts had been hindered in
their work, we saw the first kindling
of the flames of color in a lowly sprig;
then they rushed up from branch to
branch, until the glory of the Lord
submerged the forest. Most persons
from this text find only in it
a vein of sadness. 1 find that have
two strings to this gospel harp-a
string of sadness, and a string of joy
infinite.
1--WE all do fade as a leaf"
First-Lixe the foliage, we fade
The leaves which, week
before last, felt the frost, have, day by
day, been changing in tint, and will
for many days yet cling to the bough,
waiting for the fist of the wind to
strike them. Suppose you that the
pictured leaf that you hold in your
hand took on it's color in an hour, or in
a day, or in a week? No. Deeper and
deeper the flush, till all the veins of its
life now seem opened and bleeding
away. After awhile, leaf after leaf,
they fall. Now those ON the outer
branches, then those most hidden,
until the last spark of the cleaning
forge shall have been quenched.
So gradually we pass away. From
day to day we hardly see the change.
But the frosts have touched us. The
work of decay is going on. Now a
slight cold. Now a season of over
fatigue. Now fever Now a stitch
in the side. Now a neuralgia thrust.
Now a neuralgia twinge. Now fall.
Little by little. Pain by pain. Less
steady of limb. Sight not so clear.
Ear not so alert. After awhile we
take a staff. Then, after much resist
ance, we come to spectacles. Instead
of bounding into the vehicle, we are
ready to be helped in. At last the oc-
togenarian falls. Forty years of de-
caying. No sudden change. No fierce
of the batteries of life;
but fading away-slowly-gra
As the leaf! AS the leafI
Again: Like the leaf we fade, to
make room for others. Next years
forests will be as Grandly foliaged as
this. There ara other generations of
oak leaves to take the place of those
which this autumn perish. Next May
the cradle of the wind will rock the
buds. The woods will be all
n a-hum with the cherus of leafy voices
If the tree in front of your house, like
Elijah, takes a chariot of fire, its
mantle will fall upon Elisha. If, in
the blast of these autumnal batteries,
so many ranks fall, there are reserve
forces to take their place to defend the
fortress of the hills. The beaters of
gold leaf will have more gold leaf to
beat The crown that drops to-day
from the head of the oak will be
picked up and handed down for other
kings to wear. Let the blasts come.
They only make room for other life.
So, when we go, Others take our
spheres We do not grudge the future
their places. We will have
/, Il our ..nnd Tina Let tham cclrne ON