III. THE LEAF. 7 1 



of the world ; by so much, evermore, the strength of 

 the human race has gained ; more stubborn in the 

 root, higher towards heaven in the branch ; and, " as 

 a teil tree, and as an oak, — whose substance is in 

 them 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 Vallom- 

 brosa. Remember you how 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 Vallombrosa. 



