A WOODMAN'S SERMON. 191 



falling of the great leaves tell him how plan after 

 plan and scheme after scheme passes away, and how 

 one after another of worldly hopes and objects of 

 affection will fall from_around him, and how, when 

 the winter of age comes, he must fall as the great tree 

 falls. 



" The brook that comes down from the hills, 

 preaches to him. He looks upon its waters in their 

 ceaseless flow, onward and onward forever. How it 

 comes up from the secret spring in the mountain, and 

 moves forever away to the large stream, and away 

 still to the great river, and away again until it is lost 

 in the vast ocean. 



" The little fountain that sends forth the tiny 

 brook, tells him of his infancy. The stream that goes 

 cascading and leaping down the steep places, laughin' 

 and chatterin' in its haste, tells him of his boyhood. 

 The river still pressin' onward, speaks about his 

 strength and vigor in the strong time, of his life, and 

 the final ending in the great ocean, reminds him of 

 the grave at last. The waters as they move onward 

 tell him, that in his course of life there is no stopping- 

 place. That onward, and onward, is the word. 

 Hours, days, months, and years, steal away ; time 



