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HISTORIC TREES 



I. CHARTER OAK. 



In history we often see 



The record of a noted tree. 



We'll now some history pages turn 



And note what trees we there discern : 



And foremost of this famous band 



We think the Charter Oak should stand. 



We love to read the story o'er, 



How Andrus came from England's shore 



As governor in this new land, 



And ruled it with a tyrant's hand; 



How, when he came to Hartford town 



Demanding with a haughty frown 



The charter of the people's rights, 



All suddenly out went the lights; 



And e'er again they re-appeared, 



The charter to their hearts endeared 



Lay safely in this hollow tree, 



Guard of the people's liberty. 



All honor, then to Wadsworth's name, 



Who gave the Charter Oak its fame. 



II. LIBERTY ELM. 



Another very famous tree 

 Was called the Elm of Liberty. 

 Beneath its shade the patriots bold 

 For tyranny their hatred told. 

 Upon its branches high and free 

 Was often hung in effigy 

 Such persons as the patriots thought 

 Opposed the freedom which they sought. 

 In war time, oft beneath this tree 

 The people prayed for victory ; 

 And when at last the old tree fell 

 There sadly rang each Boston bell. 



III. WASHINGTON ELM. 



In Cambridge there is standing yet 



A tree we never should forget; 



For here, equipped with sword and gun, 



There stood our honored Washington, 



When of the little patriot band 



For freedom's cause he took command. 



Despite its age three hundred years 



Its lofty head it still uprears; 



Its mighty arms extending wide, 



It stands our country's boasted pride. 



iv. BURGOYNE'S ELM. 

 When, in spite of pride, pomp and boast, 

 Burgoyne surrendered with his host, 

 And then was brought to Albany 

 A prisoner of war to be, 

 In gratitude for his defeat, 

 That day, upon the city street, 

 An elm was planted, which they say 

 Still stands in memory of that day. 



V. THE TREATY ELM. 



Within the Quaker City's realm, 

 There stood the famous Treaty Elm. 

 Here, with its sheltering boughs above, 

 Good William Fenn, in peace and love, 

 The Indians met, and there agreed 

 Upon that treaty which we read 

 Was never broken, though no oath 

 Was taken justice guiding both. 

 A monument now marks the ground 

 Where once this honored tree was found. 



VI. TREE FROM NAPOLEON'S GRAVE. 



Within a city of the dead, 



Near Bunker Hill, just at the head 



Of Cotton Mather's grave, there stands 



A weeping willow which fond hands 



Brought from Napoleon's grave, they say, 



In St. Helena, far away. 



VII. THE GARY TREE. 



I'll tell you of a sycamore 



And how two poet's names it bore; 



Upon Ohio's soil it stands, 



Twas placed there by the childish hands 



Of sister poets, and is known 



As Alice and Phoebe Gary's own. 



One day, when little girls, they found 



A sapling lying on the ground ; 



They planted it with tenderest care 



Beside this pleasant highway, where 



It grew and thrived and lived to be 



To all around the Gary tree. 



VIII. THE HAMILTON TREES. 



In New York City proudly stand 

 Thirteen monarchs, lofty, grand, 

 Their branches tow'ring toward the sun 

 Are monuments of Hamilton, 

 Who planted them in pride that we 

 Had won our cause and liberty 

 A tribute, history relates, 

 To the original thirteen States. 



IX. RECITATION FOR SCHOOL. 



We reverence these famous trees. 



What better monuments than these? 



How fitting on each Arbor Day 



That we a grateful tribute pay 



To poet, statesman, author, friend, 



To one whose deeds our hearts commend 



As lovingly we plant a tree 



Held sacred to his memory ; 



A fresh memorial, as each year 



New life and buds and leaves appear 



A living monumental tree, 



True type of immortality. 



Ada Simj^son Sherwood. 



