•JO 
diverse appearances of decay on the one hand, and of 
vigour on the other, please or offend according to the 
mood of the beholder. If his spirits be lively, he is 
thankful to every object that “ sends a summer feeling 
into his heart;” if, on the contrary, they are in a 
mournful key, he is disposed to think such autumnal 
display as much misplaced as finery on threescore, and 
he turns to the withered and falling leaf with a feeling 
of secret and sympathising satisfaction. 
Though the deep stillness and splendid brightness of 
a true autumnal day are, to the writer of these pages, a 
source of exquisite enjoyment, there is something even 
yet more congenial with her feelings when this season 
assumes a garb more suited to the part it has to sustain 
in the economy of nature: the herald of universal decay 
should surely come, “ not trick’d and frounc’d as she is 
wont,” — 
“ But kerchiefd in a comely cloud, 
W bile rocking winds are piping loud.” 
Autumn ! this sober guise beseems thee well! 
’ Tis not for thee to trick thyself like Spring, 
Or round thee Summer’s sunny vest to fling; 
No ! thou must win by a sadder spell: 
