MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 379 



All honor to the man whose head and heart conceived the idea of 

 Arbor Day. Reward him with due honor while he lives, for every grove 

 and tree, planted in. pursuance of that day, will stand in the future to 

 record ascribed praise to his memory. What a grand and potent teacher 

 is Arbor Day, and what a wonderful improvement it will enhance to our 

 western prairie states. The destruction of our fosests was the work of 

 the past, their improvement will be the work of the future. 



" Plant trees, my friends, plant trees to-day 



Beside your cottage doors, 

 And let their leafy shadows play 



With sunshine on your floors. 



Plant trees, that birds may build their nests 



In bowers that you have made, 

 And children play and tire and rest 



Beneath their grateful shade. 



Let oaks and lindens round your field 



Like stately monarchs grow ; 

 With iron arms your home they'll shield 



'Gainst wintry winds and snow. 



Let hemlock, spruce and fragrant fir 



And hardy graceful larch 

 Stand guard against the gales and stir 



The boisterous days of March. 



Let locust scent the breathe of May, 

 Cool April clothe the Prune, 



And Chestnut blossoms, blithe and gay. 

 Wave in the air of June. 



Plant trees along each thoroughfare, 



And let the branches meet 

 Above the country roads and o'er 



The city's dusty street. 



Let willows fringe the sparkling stream 



And poplars line the lane, 

 And let the maple's silver gleam 



Be seen upon the plain. 



