THE FOREST RANGER 



797 



A RANGCR TRACING LINES IN WINTER UNDER DIFl-ICULTli;S. Ml.\.\i;SuTA 



NATIONAL FOREST. 



THE FOREST RANGER 



A. G. Jackson 



Who is this forest ranger man we hear so much about? 

 What does he do, how Hve his life, where is his dailj^ route? 



The forest ranger is the man who guards the nation's w-ood, 

 Performs his Uncle Sam's odd jobs and does his duty good. 



His life is lived away from town, and often quite alone 



He rides the trail or climbs the ridge wherever trees are grown. 



He gathers seed in autumn from the sturdy forest trees, 

 And scatters them where barrenness exists by fire's decrees. 



The snow-clad peaks, the mountain lakes, the river's rushing brim. 

 The cabin and the jungle dark alike are known to him. 



By their first names he calls the trees and counts each one his friend. 

 He knows the furtive wood folk too, and how their lives they spend. 



He finds the way and builds the trail where few have been before; 

 And to a beauty spot long closed he leaves an open door. 



In August's heat he makes his beat from lowlands to the higher, 

 And oftimes mid deep smoke and flames he battles forest fire. 



