The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-16
TIE FALLING LEAVES.
Some Beautiful Word Painting by
Editor Il. B. Williams.

dull, mcnotouous brown. Some at the
warning touch OF the frost, telling
them that death, stealthjlY, but swift
and u e, is IN the coming wind, array
themselves in crimson and scarlet,
rich russst and flashing gold, gacb
mvre splendid than they wore while
June's sunshine and warmth and
gentle winds kissed and carreSsed them
with promise Of peace, life. Through
the sofG, dreamy haze Of the 1n9iar
summer they MAKE fyrsst and noun
tain side beautiful, far-reaching mass
Ses OF vivid color. Others shrivel and
shiver and surrender all the beauty Of
the summer time, cracking dry, COL
orlesS and dead as October blasts
sweep rudely upon them. Presently
both shall lie thick on the ground be-
low, rustling to the careful feet OF tie
forest creatures or the tread OF ma1
or the driving Of the gale. Later ali
together shall be beaten into sudden
masses by the winter rain AID N the
mystic, subtle processes Of nature
shall yield the elements to earth ano
air TO make the multitude OF gloEies
and growth and beauties Of the next
summer; but some have made their
fading and going and death the most
splendid and vital part Of their living,
and the Others have merely and sui
lenly faded, wi5hered, died and Gis
appeared.
Nature teens busily With lessons
for life and offers them to US with q
loving mothers eager solicitude from
every little leaf and flower, from heI
smaller to her largest marveis anc
lriunphs. She tells US and teaches Us
with careful maternal pains and reit
GRAFTON that there is somewhere an
antidote for every poison, cure for
each care, a blessing in eac;l seeming
disaster, light and beauty and hope to
be gathered ir % every sorrow. The
tear hanging suspended and Quivering
on the eyelash gathers in a moment
all the p:ismatic colors-nature's ten
der, timorous giving Of her best and
brightest beauties and glories anc
premises, Gods pledge and assurance
that man shall not be overwhelmed
and need not be destroyed by aay DEL
lugs. We read Of crowns and glories to
c3me hereafter, OF green pastures by
placid, tree shadoWed, sun lighted
waters, OF wide expanses OF pace and
perfect rest. May we not gain ard pos
sess these here? The souls within u,
are vast-llinitable. We may people
and occupy and make their Landscapes
and their atmospheres as we will
They are ours to use. Will and pur-
rose and power over ourselves are
given to US. The leaves tell US. With
the touch Of the chilling frost, With
the bleak breath Of the killing wind
against US, the test comes, for in the
soothing, balmy, fragrant breath OF
summer and long days and kindly suns
the leaves are all green and beautiful
alike.
Our lives are not completed and
gloriffed without SORROW and loss anc
disappointment. Our triunphs are not
com ple,ely sweet unless they have
been waited for and reached against
many obstacles. Our personal loves are
not perfect, can not fill our hearts t.
o7e: f 1wipg measure AMI sa5urate witt
clean delights our inmoSt souls, unit
they have known coubt anl
fear and pain mutually endured
No happiness Is so exultantly glorious
scendid as ttas Of reunion aftel
long parting, restoration after aliena
tion, and pure and patent waiting
when hearts find hons at last and resi-
there. The illustrations might bt
made through the whole long cata
logue Of human tmlul es, emotion:
and affections.
The leaves are senseleSS things
They must glorify the Indian Su nnel
and wave the gorgeous banners o.
purpose triumphantly fulfilled in the
face Of grim and killing winter, OF
crinkle ana die ignominiously sere anc
dull, as their rarent stems demand
Men and women bringing 6 or to brir
new children into the Wvrld are undeI
the RESP onsibility-to be determined
and allotted none OF US may know how
or where OF how much-of determin
ing how the impulses and inclinatlonE
Of those TO come shall be, Of maxi
the traits to be Transmitted. Bul
each man and woman OF US is an in'
dependent ard a S: lf-contrOlling being
Different from the leaves dar gang CT
the trees, helplesSly compelled 10 obey
as nature and inhf rilarce may order
we are allied to and part OF the Po Vel
above nature, are given prerogatives
responsibilities tributes and prom.
ises akin to those Of nature but mys.
tically apart from them. We OF all
created thing, alone have the r:ght Ct
appeal from or parentsge, Of resist
ing even to the potency OF iaheri-
tance. 1t is our privilege, cur work
and our right to overcome. Our
bodies, like those of the leaves stall
presently lie sodden, horrible and hid
den by the process Of nature ffon
corruption and decay contribute
through ear5h aad atmosphere to the
gifts and 6 ory Of tie living world.
IN that thought there is no humi]ia-
zion or repugnance So far we share
the fate and do tie work Of the
leaves. 1t is fvr each Of US to deter
mine, whether we shall be ike the
leaves which gather beTilderir 6 2lo
ries Ct beauty from the SHADOW a1d
breath Of death and mark the going OF
the kindly summer with coloriI 6 more
brilliant than summer can give, or
those which merely die and fall to rot.
Il is certain tba5 we, Can draw
through our tears prismatic lights to
illuminate our soulS and shine out on
the world around US, that we car, il
we will, consecrate every pang and
mike each humiliation the root OF
high purp.se acd sacred thought.