The autumn, with its ripening fruits, and waving harvest, is now with us. We see on every handthe results of the farmer’s toil and forecast in the springtime. Then it was that he broke up thesoil, sowed the seed, pruned his trees, and guarded the tender plants. Now we see theripening crops. The trees are bending with golden fruit, and abundance rewards farmer’s toil.

But suppose in spring the farmer had left the soil unturned, the seed unsown, the treesuntrimmed, and everything neglected, what would now be the result? We should see nothingbut barren fields, overrun with weeds and briers; and the farmer would feel that a winter ofwant and distress is before him.

And let us remember that the autumn of life will come on apace; and that what we now sow, weshall then reap. If we would reap an abundant harvest, and gather precious fruit, andsecure an autumn of plenty prosperity, we must now, in the springtime of life, be diligent andcareful in the cultivation of our hearts. We must form only those habits which will produce good fruits. Our acts must be noble, our thoughts and our words must be pure, and ourfeelings must be kind. As we now sow, we shall then reap. If we “sow to the wind, we shallreap the whirlwind”.