The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-11-12

to destroy any SUCH sentiment TOT IL Is d
most wholesome one and teaches needed
lessons, l want to bring to your notice
another and very different sentiment
which may also be readily suggested by
the trees. The following pretty and in
structive quotation puts 1t very well :
ga great forest flames up in dying
beauty, that beauty falls away to ashes.
What heart but rises up at the passing
of that vision, and in its own language
says: "Ichabod, the glory has Departed
And yet, is that the real lesson? Is that
the text or the sermon which from their
high pulpits of the hills, the trees
prophesy to us with natures eloquence
Is it mournful declaration
of weakness and of death which we have
here, of which the best that can be said
is that every leaf desperately clinging to
the bough or pitiably falling to the earth
declares by it's dying colors: 81 cast my
vote and lend my voice to proclaim a
beauty even in the ways of DEATH" Is it
this, or is it rather, the challenge OF
strength? At the first sign of the foe, at
the first beginning of the struggle, grim
ly the ancient warriors of the forest
BEGIN TO STRIP FOR BATTLE.
They say, "Ha! mine enemy!" They
are those who have had their taste of
ease and luxury, and now comes not
death, but the real stress of life. They
cast down the gauge of warfare. Even
as strong man rolls up his sleeves, 80
they make bare their arms for the con-
fict. Which is the sterner, stronger
thing, the winds and the cold and all the
hard rigor of the winter, or the living
tree clean stripped for battle, and piano.
piled only In the glistening arms of frost
and ice and snow, which from the very
ornaments of the enemy 1t has captured
for itself? To him who loves strength
and courage, and the brave facing of
life's struggle, to him there is something
far other than weakness and death and
melancholy days" in the autumn grow
ing always more gaunt and grim"
In this quotation is the other lesson to
De taught by the trees, of strength and
victory. With this sentiment 1t is seen
that after all the glory has not departed ;
only the outward appearance has chang
ed. The external covering is cast Off
the outer garments removed. Bright
colors put on for day are laid aside for
season. The real life of the tree goes
on, unseen, no outward proof of it, but
yet very real, the period of activity
of life changed to that of patient waiting
and of hope for the promised spring.
The tree life continues, the first frosts OF
autumn cannot stop it, the cold and snow
and icy blasts Of winter cannot stop it,
the tree is living, and awaiting the mar.
velous unfolding of the coming spring
and the
ANNUAL MIRACLE OF RE-oUIcKENEI
LIFE.
So was 1t, too, with Israel in the time
u Ell. The death Of the high-priest, the
slaughter Of the army. the Staying Of the
high-priest's sons, the loss of the ark Of
God, all seemed to justify the cry .The
glory Ia departed" But it was only par
TALLY true. The ark was recovered
Samuel arose to succeed Ell as Judge, the
nation was again victorious, and the
prosperous days Of David and Solomon
followed, and the noble line of prophets
down to the great day of the promised
Christ.
So let as try to see 1t in regard to man.
His earthly life surely has It's autumn, as
1t has its winter Of storms, its spring OF
promise and Of hope, its summer Of actiY-
| lily and prosperity. The seasons of the
natural year have been from time Inn
memorial picture Of earthly life. We
look upon the familiar face Of some
loved one whom we have lost, we hear