Autumn Leaves
Ardelia Maria Barton.
Ardelia M. Barton San Francisco 1908
Copyright, by Ardelia Maria Barton 1908
Press of Bruce Brough San Francisco
Autumn Leaves was in the hands of the Publisher (Bruce Brough) at the time of the Great Fire of April, 1906, and not a single page of the original manuscript was saved. I could only recall a few titles, and a line or two here and there, not knowing though where they belonged. I began to rewrite on the 12th of June, 1908, and on the 12th of September, 1908, it was ready for publication. It has given me new courage, and by searching, perhaps you may find one leaf among my Autumn Leaves that you will feel was painted expressly for you, and is worthy to be pressed upon the tablet of your heart.
Ardelia Maria Barton
TO MY MOTHER
Who ever watched with loving care My childhood’s tender years. She ever soothed my little woes, And kissed away my tears.
She guided me o’er Life’s rough road, And pointed out the snares, And pitfalls that are e’er in life; And all the many tares,
And brambles that beset Life’s paths, And if I fell by way, She helped me up with loving hands, And tender words alway.
The autumn leaves are like our lives, They serve their purpose for a day, They then return to mother Earth: They come but to decay. The trees are gaunt, gaunt sentinels, Deprived of their warm dress. They shiver in their nakedness, And moan in their distress. But, as with us, they live again, Again have garments fresh and new, And though they seem to die to earth, Again their lives renew. Again the joy of living comes, And brighter now is their new life; They had a season of sweet sleep, And rest from worldly strife.
Republished by special request.
Ardelia Maria Cotton Barton
Autumn Leaves
Preface
Dedication
Contents
AUTUMN LEAVES.
WRITE.
DREAMLAND.
WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE?
WE KNOW WHAT THE HARVEST WILL BE.
MERIDIAN.
THE INDIAN LOVER’S PLEA.
WINONA’S REPLY.
AT LAST.
THE AWAKENING OF THE LILIES.
CONQUERED.
THE WATER SPIRIT.
THE WORLD IS ASLEEP.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE RACE?
LOVE’S PATH.
A PRAYER.
LIFE’S ROAD.
WHERE IS HEAVEN?
DESTINY.
WHY?
LIBERTY.
MY SOUL AND I.
FORSAKEN.
FAREWELL.
THE PEBBLE’S SOLILOQUY.
AN ANGEL’S MESSAGE.
THE RACE OF LIFE WITH TIME.
O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?
THE MOTHER’S PLEA.
TO A FRIEND.
TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN.
TIDE WAITS FOR NO MAN.
FREEDOM.
REVERIE.
A MOHAMMEDAN’S PRAYER.
NATURE’S PLAN.
THE SUNBEAM’S WOOING.
THE PROGRESSION OF THE ROSE.
ALL LIFE HATH SOUL.
IT MATTERS NOT.
“WHAT IS MAN THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM?”
“AS A MAN THINKETH SO IS HE.”
MY GUESTS.
GOD IS EVERYWHERE.
DEAD HOPES.
BURIED HOPES.
LOVE’S MESSAGE.
A FABLE.
DEPLORE NOT THE SHADOWS OF LIFE.
LOVE’S GARLAND.
LET US BUILD ABOVE THE STARS.
GHOSTS OF THE ATTIC.
NOT YET.
DUTY.
LIFE’S PLAN.
BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
MAN DEFYING THE DYING SUN.
IF THERE IS NO HEREAFTER.
LOVE’S SONG.
FORGIVE.
FORGET.
YESTERDAYS.
TOMORROW.
CONSOLATION.
THE DEAD SUMMER.
THERE IS A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.
TO A COMET.
LOVE’S DART.
WEEDS.
THE BLIND BEGGAR’S APPEAL.
THE THREADS OF LIFE.
MEMORY’S BOOK.
DO NOT BORROW TROUBLE.
GIVE SMILES, NOT TEARS.
FAREWELL TO THE DYING YEAR.
THE BOOK OF GIFTS.
UNKIND WORDS.
SEEK FOR THE GOOD IN LIFE.
LOVE’S CROWN.
MY SOUL’S DESIRE AND DESTINY
INCARNATION.
REINCARNATION.
LIFE’S BURDEN.
TO MOUNT SIERRA.
OFT POISONED IS THE WINE OF LIFE.
THE GAME OF LIFE.
“THE OLD, OLD STORY.”
THE GHOST OF LOVE.
I SHALL SING IT SOMETIME.
WHEN I AM DEAD.
“’TIS FOLLY TO BE WISE.”
THE OLD OAK’S REVERIE.
INGRATITUDE.
“JUDGE NOT.”
OUR VIRTUES ARE CARVED UPON OUR TOMBSTONES.
HONOR, FAME, OR LOVE.
COURAGE.
PERSEVERE.
SPEAK BUT KIND WORDS.
VAGARY.
THE HOME BEAUTIFUL.
THE BEATITUDES.
BURY THE PAST.
TO A FRIEND ON HER BIRTH-DAY.
HAVE IDEALS.
SELFISHNESS.
LIFE IS NOTHING WITHOUT LOVE.
THE CENTURY FLOWER.
LIFE’S MUSIC.
LOVE’S GARDEN.
THE LAST PORT.
CANST TELL ME?
THE SOUL SEEKING FOR PERFECTION.
LIFE’S THOUGHTLESSNESS.
THE FLOWER’S PRAYER FOR IMMORTALITY.
LOVE’S OFFERING.
LOVE’S ACCEPTANCE.
AUTUMN LEAVES.
FINALE.
Transcriber Notes
