QO ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



Written for the "ARBOR DAY MANUAL." 



RESURGAM. 



WHEN the Great Architect conceived the plan 

 To build a habitation fit for man, 

 Earth was not counted perfect from His hand, 

 Till streams and forests gladdened all the land. 



Great forests, like huge temples builded high, 

 With frondent columns reaching toward the sky, 

 Firm founded in the rich and nurturing ground, 



Their roofs with nature's glorious verdure crowned. 



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Almighty Builder ! with what wise design 

 Didst rear the mighty oak, the giant pine ! 

 How did Thy grand beneficence unfold 

 In beech and maple with their wealth untold ! 



Rivers and forests with their scenery grand, 

 Made glad the earth fresh from the Maker's hand ; 

 The orb of day looked down on man's abode, 

 And with the stars sang praise to nature's God. 



So time passed on, till earth was peopled o'er; 

 Human abodes were built on every shore; 

 While in the forests depths, in the soft shade, 

 Four-footed beauties with their offspring played. 



High in their branches feathered warblers sang, 

 Till the dark \v'oods with glad hosannas rang; 

 And all was life and beauty. But God's plan 

 Too soon was marred by greedy, wanton man. 



Stroke upon stroke the cruel axeman plied, 

 Nor rested he till nature's choicest pride, 

 "The grand old woods," were ruthlessly laid low, 

 Entailing dark disaster and 'dire woe ! 



But now, thank God ! a noble band of men 

 Come to the front. The woods shall rise again ! 

 An army of tree planters, bearing trees, 

 Fling out their glorious banner to the breeze ! . 



Come, old and young and join the noble throng 

 Who celebrate this day with speech and song ; 

 And millions yet unborn shall own your sway, 

 And rise to bless our glorious Arbor Day ! 

 Alton. A'. Y. SEYMOUR S. SHORT. 



