Part 16 (1/2)

Like autumn leaves sometimes they fall-- The words that burn and falter; And is it true they too must fade Upon Love's sacred alter?

From memory each one of us Can cull some sweetest treasure; Yet golden days, like golden leaves, Give pain as well as pleasure.

There was a sound of music low-- An undertone of laughter: The sun was gone--yet heaven knew The stars that followed after.

Autumn Flowers.

O crimson-tined flowers That live when others die, What thoughtless hand unloving Could ever pa.s.s you by?

You are the last bright blossoms, The summer's after-glow, When all her early children Have faded long ago.

Sweet golden-rod and xenia And crimson marigold, What dreams of autumn splendor Your velvet leaves unfold.

Long, long ago the violets Have closed their sweet blue eyes, And lain with pale, dead faces Beneath the summer skies.

And on their graves you blossom With leaves of gold and red, And yet--how soon forever Your beauty will be fled.

The frost will come to kill you The snows will wrap you round; And you will sleep forgotten Upon the frozen ground.

Your tints are like the beauty The sunlight leaves behind, And deep and full of sadness The thoughts you bring to mind.

Dear memories of the summer!

Sweet tokens of the past!

You are the fairest flowers Because you are the last.

Remembrance.

Why should we dream of days gone by?

Why should we wait and wonder?

Sweet summer days have come and gone, The leaves are falling yonder.

The wee sweet flowers we loved the best, The king of frost has chosen; And now the sun looks sadly down Upon his darlings frozen.

Ah! summer sun and autumn frost, You are at war forever; For all the ties that one would make The other fain would sever.