III. THE LEAF. 63 



when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed is in the 

 midst thereof." 



32. Only remember on what conditions. In the great 

 Psalm of life, we are told that everything that a man 

 doeth shall prosper, so only that he delight in the law of 

 his God, that he hath not walked in the counsel of the 

 wicked, nor sat in the seat of the scornful. Is it among 

 these leaves of the perpetual Spring, helpful leaves for 

 the healing of the nations, that we mean to have our 

 part and place, or rather among the " brown skeletons of 

 leaves that lag, the forest brook along " ? For other leaves 

 there are, and other streams that water them, not water 

 of life, but water of Acheron. Autumnal leaves there 

 are that strew the brooks, in Vallombrosa. Remember 

 you hoV the name of the place was changed : " Once called 

 ' Sweet water ' (Aqua bella), now, the Shadowy Vale." 

 Portion in one or other name we must choose, all of us, 

 with the living olive, by the living fountains of waters, or 

 with the wild fig trees, whose leafage of human soul is 

 strewed along the brooks of death, in the eternal Valloni* 

 brosa. 



