AUTUMN LEAVES

ELBERT A. SMITH, Editor

Published Monthly for the Youth of the Reorganized

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by

the Herald Publishing House, Lamoni, Iowa.

Entered as second-class matter at Lamoni post-office.

T

AUTUMN LEAVES

Volume 24

MAY, 1911

Down by the River.

By Martha Bailey Proctor.

Down by the river the early spring showers

Swept away the white blanket that covered the flowers,
And soft coaxing voices of sun and of dew

Number 5

Whispered,-"Johnny-jump-up, friends are waiting for you,—
Down by the river!"

Though whispered so softly the children too, heard,
While blackbird and robin confirmed every word,
And in the fence corners where always they grew
They searched for the violets purple and blue,-
Down by the river.

Down by the river, dear wild roses grew,

Blushing red in the sunshine and sparkling with dew,
Where strawberry blossoms so dainty and sweet
Spread a fair floral carpet for busy bare feet,—
Down by the river.

Down by the river the willows bowed low

To kiss their fair images mirrored below;

But the children looked up toward a V in the sky

When they heard the hoarse honk of wild geese passing by,—
Down by the river.

Down by the river and near the old spring

The sweet throated blackbirds in concert did sing,

And the children's gay voices were hushed as in prayer,
While the birds in the tree "held song service" there,-
Down by the river.

Down by the river still bubbles the spring,
And violets blossom and happy birds sing;
But the children,-ah, me-they are far, far away;
Some sleep 'neath the violets; others, grown gray,
Wander back in their dreams and loiter and play,—
Down by the river.