320 THE GINGKO-TREE. 
And every morn a motley crew 
Of idling loungers came to view 
Thy withered limbs on high; 
And many a knowing look was there, 
While somethat thou would'st live did swear, 
And some that thou would'st die. 
Some shook their heads, and hinted fear, 
It cost so much to move thee here, 
That taxes would be cruel ; 
And some exclaimed, what pity °t was, 
In these hard times t? incur the loss 
Of half a cord of fuel. 
But thou, most grave and sapient tree, 
Their idle talk was nought to thee, 
Yet could not be prevented ; 
So thou didst wave thy breezy head, 
And nod assent to all they said, 
And send them home contented. 
Meanwhile thou didst resort to toil, 
Sent forth small roots in quest of soil, 
And husband well thy gains ; 
Two years thou mad’st but little show, 
But let thy useless trimmings go, 
And liv'dst within thy means. 
Dear Gingko, in these days of dread, 
Methinks a lesson may be read, 
In thy lorn situation ; 
Thy story might perhaps impart 
To many a vexed and drooping heart 
Some hints of consolation. 
Tell them thou too hast been distressed, 
And found thyself at times quite pressed 
For want of friendly propping ; 
When none who witnessed thy mishap, 
Would lend thee half a gill of sap 
To save thee e'en from stopping. 
Tell them how low thy credit sank, 
And how they ran upon thy dank, 
And cleared thy vaults profound ; 
How thy supplies were all cut off,— 
And sure thy stock was low enough 
When flat upon the ground. 
But thou, brave tree, didst not despair, 
But heldest up thy head in air, 
And wast not seen to flinch ; 
Thou lett’st them know, for very spunk, 
Thou still hadst something in thy trunk 
To serve thee at a pinch. 
So when thou hadst set up again, 
Although thy garb was rather plain, 
Thy garments old and dusted, 
Yet men who saw thy frugal ways, 
Remembering such in earlier days, 
Believed thou might’st be trusted. 
The birds, thy customers of yore, 
To thy new stand ‘came back once more, 
As an established place ; 
It made thy heavy Aeart feel light, 
When they discharged their bills at sight, 
And paid their notes with grace. 
And so thou hast survived thy fall, 
And fairly disappointed all 
Who thought to see thee down ; 
And better days are stored for thee,— 
Long shalt thou live, triumphant tree, 
And spread thy foliage broad and free, 
A credit to the town. 
