The Autumn Leaf

The little tree leaf sprung up in spring and it was soft and tender and green. It loved the world around it and experienced all the joy and wonder of new life. All through the marvelous summer months it grew and blossomed with love and glory. The sun shone on its delicate green surface by day and sometimes the gentle rain would soothe it with care and tenderness. It grew and grew and the summer was one long joyful season of sunshine and plenty. It seemed that the summer of love would never end and it was always happy and content. Yet, one day the first chill of cold weather set in as the seasons started to turn. Autumn had arrived at last as the leaves on the trees began to change colour and turn from green to yellow then brown. Softly they fell from the sky and landed gently on the withering grass below. The world was cool and beautiful with all of the autumn colors of beauty and grace. The little summer leaf also changed as it became yellow with age and the cold, it too fell softly from the tree branch to the tender grass below. Here it lay yellow but still juicy and said to itself, ‘My, I have become old and discarded by all, and now I will surely wither away with all of the rest.’ It was still contemplating its own sad and lonely end when two young ladies came by to wonder at the beauty and splendour of all the wonderful autumn colours. One stooped down and picked him up from the grass where he lay and said to the other girl, ‘Just look at how pretty this one looks. It is still yellow and tender and not dried out like all of the rest.’ ‘Why don’t we take it home and press it in our flower book to keep forever.’ And they both smiled and took him away with care and love in their hearts. The girl pressed him between the pages of her big black flower book and here he lay with all of the blooms that she loved so dearly. Every now and then she would open her book of flowers and when she came to the beautiful yellow autumn leaf she would stop for a while and admire him with wonder. The end is not always final, but sometimes it is only the beginning of far greater things in life. And he smiled to himself with love and joy all of his days. Someone out there still cared for him after all.