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The Song of the Trees words Dorothy Johnson
Dorothy Johnson, a ninety-two-year-old reader from Fort Smith, submitted an account of her life growing up in the country which we published in July. We enjoyed it very much, so imagine our delight when we received another submission from Dorothy, now age ninety-three! She hopes this story will be an encouragement to others, and we are honored to share it with you.
One day or night you will hear a wind blowing strong. You may be cozy in your beds. You can hear the wind more in the farmhouses than you can in the houses here in the city. Either way, you know that the colorful leaves are calling. It’s just like the children used to sing in school. “Come little leaves said the wind one day, come over the hills with me and play. Put on your coats of red and gold, for summer is gone and the days grow cold.” In the mornings you will see piles of leaves on the ground. In time they will be gathered and placed out for the garbage. A few will be burned making a savory smell all around. In the
IT WILL SOON BE FALL IN ARKANSAS. ARKANSAS It came a little
country, they are left on the ground to be covered by snow
earlier in Kentucky where I spent most of my young days, but
later. The tree is bare now, but she is not sad. She is healthy and
the colors and the temperatures are just about the same. It
safe. She knows a secret, one that I did not know though I was
seems to me that the summer is for the young folks who can
an adult, until a speaker at church brought a devotion telling
stay in the water for hours and go sailing in the boats. We older
of the fact that behind every leaf that falls there is a tiny white
folk like the cooler temperatures with a little warmth from the
bud. Though it is tiny, it is strong. It has pushed the leaf out. In
sun much better.
the spring, that bud will push out another leaf. A leaf that will grow and one day will have color and beauty.
My mother's favorite season was fall, and mine is too. When the leaves turned, my husband and I always took a road trip
How like the cycle of life that is…. And as the tree stands
through the hills and mountains of Kentucky. There was
bear through the winter months, sometimes you can hear
beauty on every side of the highway. The trees were dressed
her singing. Though the winds try to shake her, she stands
in red and gold with perhaps a small green leaf mixed in. Every
proud and strong. She is not shaken because she knows the
bush and hedge that rose along the road was beautiful. You
secret. She knows the cycle of the seasons. Sometimes the
may say you don’t feel that fall is ever coming as warm as
snow comes and covers her branches, and she is beautiful
the temperatures are now, and as high as the utility bills are,
again for a season. She remains proud and strong for she
however, if you will open your door or windows at night as
knows that spring is coming, and leaves will fill her branches
I sometimes do, you will hear what sounds like hundreds of
once again, rustling and singing her song.
insects singing a song that fall is coming! If you listen very closely, you may hear a rustling in the trees…it is the mother
I will not be able to see the colors of the leaves this year for my
tree warning the leaves that a change is coming.
eyesight has grown very dim. I will not be sad because I know like the tree and the branches know, that I will see again. The
All summer long, the leaves have stayed on the sturdy branches
cycle of life.
of the trees. Soon now, they will go out on their own. Soon the days and especially the nights will become cooler. The
May all who read this receive new courage and strength. If the
farmers are busy bringing in all the vegetables and plants
winds blow strong against you, you will proudly stand knowing
before the cold weather comes.
that spring will come to your life again. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
