The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-10-28
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
We All Do Fade as A Leaf

We All Do Fade as Leaf
The parting year sings its own re-
QUEEN and as the poet beautifully ex-
presses it,
Dies ike the dolphin, whom each pang
imbues.
With new color, as it gasps away,
The iast still lovelest, till It's gone,
and all is gray"
How natural for US at this season to
ait and muse and call up IN review the
scenes of the past. Our hearts are
filed with emotion and we struggle to
find words to express the thoughts that
arise in US.
In our rooms we recline in our easy
chairs by our cheerful fires, whose
glowing embers send such glow of
brightness around US that darkness
flies away.
The chill blast of wind whistles among
the ieahess branches of the trees out
side, or lowly murmurs among the bare
limbs; or drives the severed leaves
rustling over the road. We startle at
the sound and arouse as from reverie.
The past with all its joys and sorrows,
its pleasures and pains, its bitter dis
appointments, its blasted hopes and
withered expectations passes before the
memory in panoramic view We live
over our childhood days; we grasp the
hands of loved companions Of wore; we
see their smiling faces and think we
hear their happy voices; we speak to
them in the same old way, but alas, we
are only dreaming and instead Of those
CHEEKY voices we hear only the sepul-
chral echoes, gone, gone-but hope
says not forever.
We remember then of having laid
some of them in the grave years ago,
and now these little things revive in US
all those sad scenes of the past and
cause the unbidden tear to start from
our eyes.
We see rollicking childhood busy with
the toys on the floor and wholly en-
crossed in them. A form in white and
with shaft in hand seems to hover
over them. 1t comes nearer as if to
scan the groups more closely and select
ing his shining mark, hurls his shaft
and one lies low. It's voice is hushed,
its bright eye is closed and a solemn
stiffness pervades the house, for the
shining reaper has come, the blossom is
faded, the light has gone out and the
fair little bud has been transplanted to
blossom in more congenial clime-in
the fertile soil of the heavenly garden.
A tair and delicate hand-'tis that of a
slster-touches the keys of the instru-
ment and the sweetest strains of music
come forth, vet they are tinged with
the melancholy of the low moaning of
the wind and the rustic of dead leaves
outside reach the ear.
All, that music! it steals over us. fills
all the soul with strange mysterious
feeling; it appeals to the heart and
sends trucking down the cheek hot
tears for the departed. as we remember
the songs they used to sing. Now the
dew OF youth is upon him, the vigor of
manhood nerves his brawny arm, pros
poets brighten, friends in honest bride
praise his manly qualities and admire
his accomplishments and virtues.
he pulse beats strong and regular
the step is elastic and quick, the eye is
fixed on the distant goal; winds and
gale seem to be favorable, the race is
begun and anxious ones await the re-
suit for every thing is suspicious for
long and prosperous life. cut they are
doomed to disappointment.
Wasting fever smites its victim and
quickly saps the life current. The hec-
q, flush, the pale cheek, the emaciated
iran Re, the deep hollow cough, tells the
story, 90 well, for iifes CURRENTS slow
ly ebbinA away.
Heis ", thering now and in few
short days " must lay him to rest with
o hers. in tho cold valley. Some how
ever are boarv o It'll the frosts of three
score and ten Yeaa. s. and are almost
'lpe for the reaper's sickle I5,. Ihey re-
nam like the last leaf u lng 'ree' Dut
me OF these nights the 'e Il come
heavier frost,and the NOR. ing llght