STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75 



EVENING. 



The meeting was called to order by the President, who introduced 

 Mr. Lewis Frederick Starrett of Rockland, who read several beau- 

 tiful poems, translated by him from the German. The following 

 original poem was prepared for this occasion. 



IISrSPIRATION. 

 By Lewis Frederick Starrett. 



When not a sound is heard 



By the dull ear, 

 Oft an inspiring word 



Doth the soul hear. 

 'Twas so of old time, and 



' Tis so to-day. 

 Well, if one understand, 



If he obey. 



Earth hath her Edens yet ; 



As of old, still 

 To man the task is set 



To keep and till. 

 To him the voice saith : "what 



Thou wouldst have, make; 

 Know that the ground is not 



Cursed for man's sake. 



'•Nor think that thou wert blessed, 



Did the soil teem, 

 With bounteous fruits, undressed. 



Should it so seem. 

 Find in earth's torrid zone 



Crops without care, 

 And see that man alone 



Is a dwarf there. 



"'Study with watchful eye^ 



Plant, shrub and tree; 

 God gave them to thee, thy 



Servants to be. 

 Food from what now is waste 



Let them bestow; 

 Bid thou the tasteless taste, 



And the small grow. 



