The Lesson of The Leaves

 THE LESSON OF THE LEAVES

How do the leaves grow,  
In spring, upon their stems?  
Oh! the sap swells up with a drop for all,  
And that is life to them.

What do the leaves do
Through the long summer hours,
They make a home for the wandering birds,
And shelter the wild flowers.

How do the leaves fade
Beneath the autumn blast?
Oh! they fairer grow before they die,
Their brightest is their last.

We, too, are like leaves,  
children! weak and small;
God knows each leaf of the forest shade:  
He knows us, each and all.  

Never a leaf falls
Until its part is done;  
God gives us grace, like sap, and then
Some work to every one.

We, too, must grow old,  
Beneath the autumn sky;
But lovelier and brighter our lives may grow
Like leaves before they die.

Brighter with kind deeds,
With love to others given;
Till the leaf falls off from the autumn tree,
And the spirit is in heaven.