LITMIR.BIZ

AUTUMN

       Table of Contents

      With what a glory comes and goes the year!

      The buds of spring, those beautiful harbingers

      Of sunny skies and cloudless times, enjoy

      Life's newness, and earth's garniture spread out;

      And when the silver habit of the clouds

      Comes down upon the autumn sun, and with

      A sober gladness the old year takes up

      His bright inheritance of golden fruits,

      A pomp and pageant fill the splendid scene.

       There is a beautiful spirit breathing now

      Its mellow richness on the clustered trees,

      And, from a beaker full of richest dyes,

      Pouring new glory on the autumn woods,

      And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds.

      Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird,

      Lifts up her purple wing, and in the vales

      The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer,

      Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life

      Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimsoned,

      And silver beech, and maple yellow-leaved,

      Where Autumn, like a faint old man, sits down

      By the wayside a-weary. Through the trees

      The golden robin moves. The purple finch,

      That on wild cherry and red cedar feeds,

      A winter bird, comes with its plaintive whistle,

      And pecks by the witch-hazel, whilst aloud

      From cottage roofs the warbling blue-bird sings,

      And merrily, with oft-repeated stroke,

      Sounds from the threshing-floor the busy flail.

       O what a glory doth this world put on

      For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth

      Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks

      On duties well performed, and days well spent!

      For him the wind, ay, and the yellow leaves,

      Shall have a voice, and give him eloquent teachings.

      He shall so hear the solemn hymn that Death

      Has lifted up for all, that he shall go

      To his long resting-place without a tear.