The Republican journal., 1902-11-06

enjoys things as they come to him, but
never is moved by a purpose in life
does not live. He merely exists. Like
the dry, parched leaf on the tree, he is
useless,-only a burden, and mars the
beauty of human life. Such life has
no object. 1t fills no place. There is
no reason for its continuance. The
world is better and more beautiful
without it.
AS with the leaf, it is ours to first
draw enough from the various SQUIRE eS
of life to nourish and build up ourselves,
and then become feeders of the life of
others. If ones life is to be worth liv-
ing he must cleanse the atmosphere
around him. He must help to make it
pure and wholesome for his fellowmen.
He must also furnish nurture and shade
to all those who are dependent on him.
H must be protecting shadow to all to
whom he can be of service. This is the
life that is truly worth living. Like
the bright-hued autumn leaf, the fading
of such life is crowned with a glory
OF honor and beauty.
We notice also, that as the leaf
fades it passes through various stages
becoming more and more beautiful
to the end If we do fade as the leaf
fades, we shall become more and more
beautiful and perfect. There is in this
a lesson of very deep significance, one
that we ought to try to learn.
The leaf that reaches the utmost per-
lection of autumnal beauty, is the one
that has best served She duties of a leaf.
If we would attain the highest perfec-
ton of old age, it must be through
serving the very highest purpose in
human life.
Indeed, there is nothing more beau
titul than good, sweet, lovely old lady
or an old man who has reached the au-
tumn of life, who has faded from the
freshness and vigor of the prime of
life to the beauty of mature old age, as
the beautiful autumn leaf, after long
life of happy, cheerful service of the
highest purpose and aspiration.
May it be ours to grow beautifully
old, so that when we come to the fading
and falling, it may be the sweetest,
most fitting, most joyous part-a tri-
umphal close to our career. May we
approach it-not in fear-but with JOY,
as the happy contamination Of Gods
purpose i'll US here.
When the leaf has done and become
all that is possible to it, it fades and
falls. This is a necessary condition to its
taking another higher form and render
ing further service. If it stays on the
bough it is useless, unsightly object.
The tree ought to be free from it; for it
is in the way of new and larger life. If
it falls it helps to create new soil. 1t
springs to life again in the flowers,
trees and fruit.
Just SO everything springs up, grows,
tlourishes, then gradually declines and
dies 1t is true of our bodies, our
brains, our minds. Eve all do fade as
the leaf We have done all we can
here. Shall we, then, still cling to the
old bough, or shall we fade and fall as
do the leaves, and thus meet the condi-
tons of the possibility of continued
existence ana service?
Death, then, is just as necessary as
birth. 1t is just as natural. 1t is not
an evil. 1t is a good. 1t is simply this
life maturing. 1t is simply the portal
through which we pass into the infinite
life and everlasting progress, our un-
ending career of joyous service Yet 10
be.
This is so natural it is no occasion
for sadness 1t is only sad when lives
are suddenly Wrenched away before
maturity. just as it is not a beautiful
sight to see the green leaf beaten from
Neither is it pleasing thing to see
Young vigorous manhood or woman
hood tom away il early life. But as it
is beautiful to see the leaf changing
color in the autumn because it has lived
its life; just so with mankind If we,
like the leaves can live our lives out,
al IL Il tI1l al