Year: 1860

NN"III"NN


Leaves reach as well ns rail.


They lie upon the cold damp sod Of
Autumn, withercd things, ft emblems Of our
lives. Watched for their first appearing in
the carly spring with anxious heart, for 70
me through the long bleak Winter tho
branches seemed 10 sigh an unceasiDg requi-
EN-. In the wall heard whispered mur-
mur, which, interpreted, was that friends
should desert them at the first chill warning
Of the approach Of wintory season Of des-
olation and adversely, that those they had
loved and whose lives they had cherished
and given Joy and beauty, should shrink
quivering, paling from their support.


But listening, another voice from the
mountain side told Of unchanging friendship.
Looking beheld an evergreen. 1t spoke
of hope, and the speedy re-awakening of
nature. The willow was rebuked in lis re-
pinng, was less sad in its wall, and reach
ed forth its slender boughs TO the sunlight,
as il seeking resuscitation there. Not long
did it plead, for soon saw with JOY a sign
Of life. Then watched the delicate buds
as they increased until the tree was draper
led in gorgeous green. A bird came and
built there its summer home and from
among the branches, that not long ere this
were moaning SO sadly, arose glad matin
songs, and happy vesper hymns Of praise to
the Giver of good.


A plant reared its fragrant blossoms at its
foot from the decayed leaves Of the former
years and insects daily came to extract from
them sweets for future sustenance The
leaves, summers precious darlings, now
strew their rich mosaics Of olive, gold and
brown upon the cold earth. They are wept
over by the Autumn tempets, sighed for by
their playmates--the zephyrs,-will soon
be buried by the gently falling snow-fakes
and then forgotten forever.


Generations have arisen, and every man
after life spent in the pursuit of wealth,
fame, wisdom, or some other goal of the
hearts yearniug, has at last sought rest and
pillowed his head upon the sods Of earth.


They sleepl The tears shed for them
are dried, and the names once familiar to
many, sound strangely TO the multitude
The soul that was led by thirst for fame to
the brink of destruction, has sunk in the ef-
fort to soar upward and grasp renown -
Where are bis high aspirations? The man
who boards the glittering stores of earth
and saved the farthing that would have pur-
chased for the humble suppliant at his door
the "staff of life where is his spirit p
OF what avail are his dearly bought gains
and hidden treasures? Can they compen-
safe his want of charity


Where is the mans spirit who has walk
ed abroad aud seen Deity imprinted on
every work of Natures loneliness? who has
seen the trace of hand above Chance writ
ten in every line of her beautyl who has
observed the brilliant king of day richly
decked in his robes of unearthly splendor,
and unused on the milder queen of night
accompanied in space by the lesser gems,
fit as they seem to adorn the crown Of De-
ity-and renowned a God?


The voice came to him, as it ever comes,
in the balmy air of June that softly woos
our spirits from the sordid things of earth,
in the sweet music of the falling leafet as
it rustles among the boughs in its descent
to mingle with its native element,-from
the soft ripping of the purling brook, as it
gently rolls over its pebbly bed,- lin the fra
GRANGE of Flora's followers-in the wild tor
nado's work of death--the volcanoes heayiug
groans and earthquakes mighty tread
Thou hast a soul, there IS a GodI Thy
soul is immortal and God is justii


But after these short lives are DER who
can tell where the spirits shall goY In
what beaming star in the vaulted heaven,
or in what spicy isle in the vast ocean of
Eternity shall they dwell? 1t cannot be
that they shall cease to exist, but.in some
state are to live as long as God shall exist,
forever!


But stop these dreamy doubts; these wild
conjectures cease. There was time when
earth was dark, when degradation and
night enshrouded the unsaved world A
star arose in the East, and peace spread
like its glad rays and man rejoiced in the
lightl The same star that rose 10 Bethle-
hem points the way to the spirits home
The spirits home! 1t shall be free from
care and sorrow, pain aud death. No rough
deadly blast of winter shall poison the hlos-
SONS that bloom on those heavenly plains,
but they shall be famed gently as if by an
gel wings into never fading beauty.


There friends long separated shall meet
again. Parents and children, teachers and
pupils shall meet, and with the angelic
choir, of the chernbic host, shall all unite
in grand, harmonious anthem.


Blessing and honor, praise and glory be
unto Him who sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb forever.