214 WITHERED LEAVES. 



secondary colours, are derived the tertiary, citrine (orange and 

 green), olive (green and violet), and russet (violet and orange), 

 and by further combinations every shade and tint may be obtained. 



The several parts of the spectrum also possess different 

 physical properties. Thus the yellow are lighting rays ; the red, 

 heating ; and the violet, actinic or chemical ; the two latter 

 being continued for some distance beyond the visible red and 

 violet boundaries of the spectrum. 



Every object we see is rendered visible to us by the reflection 

 of certain portions of the spectrum, and gives us the impression 

 of colour or hue, from the rays of light so reflected. 



Let us apply these principles to the leaves we are now 

 examining. In the spring time we saw them of a bright and clear 

 green, reflecting almost pure yellow and blue, and absorbing the 

 heating red, and actinic violet rays ; and, like children at play, 

 they clapped their glad hands and made sweet music with the 

 rustle of their boughs in the passing breeze, as if in the very 

 exuberance of their youthful life. As summer advanced they 

 became darker in hue, reflecting more of the indigo and orange, 

 and still absorbing heat and actinism. During this time the 

 ascending sap was being acted upon by mysterious influences, 

 preparing and perfecting it for its future work in conserving and 

 perpetuating the life of the tree, — and it may be, that the absorbed 

 heat and actinism of the solar rays have an important part in these 

 chemical and physiological changes. But in the later autumn the 

 process is completed, the active work of the leaves is done, and 

 the heat rays, and the actinic rays, being no longer required, are now 

 also reflected, producing those varied tertiary colours which make 

 the withered leaves so strangely beautiful ; as if Nature, in 

 approbation of the good work done, would crown each tree with 

 diadems of gold, ere they cast them at the feet of the great 

 Ice King. 



But though thus withered, dead, and fallen to the ground, the 

 great mission of the leaves is not yet completed. In another 

 sphere and under other modifications, they have yet further work 

 to do. The withered leaves of countless ages back, hidden away 

 in darksome chambers, come forth again, and in a thousand ways 

 minister to our wants to-day. They are about us, and touch us on 



