ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 103 



PEACH BLOSSOMS. 



FOR RECITATION". 



COME here ! come here ! cousin Man' and see 

 What fair, ripe peaches there are on the tree 

 On the very same bough that was given to me 



By father, one day last spring. 

 When it looked so beautiful, all in the blow, 

 And I wanted to pluck it, he told me, you know, 

 I might, but that waiting a few months would show 

 The fruit that patience might bring. 



And as I perceived by the sound of his voice, 

 And the look of his eye, it was clearly his choice 

 That it should not be touched, I have now to rejoice 



That I told him we'd let it remain ; 

 For, had it been gathered when full in the flower, 

 Its blossoms had withered, perhaps in an hour, 

 And nothing on earth could have given the power 



That would make them flourish again. 



But now, of a fruit so delicious and sweet 



I've enough for myself and my playmates a treat , 



They tell me* besides, that the kernels secrete 

 What, if planted, will make other trees : 



For the shell will come open to let down the root ; 



A sprout will spring up, whence the branches will shoot; 



There'll be buds, leaves, and blossoms; and then comes the fruit- 

 Such beautiful peaches as these ! 



And Nature, they say, like a mighty machine, 



Has a wheel in a wheel, which, if aught comes between, 



It ruins her work, as it might have been seen, 



Had it not given patience this trial. 

 From this, I'll be careful to keep it in mind. 

 When the blossoms I love, that there lingers behind 

 A better reward, that the trusting shall find 



For a trifling self-denial. 



HANXAH F. GOULD. 



1 Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, 

 Rock'd in the cradle of the western breeze." 



COWPER. Tirocinium, Line 43. 



The church was beautifully decorated with sweet spring flowers and the air 

 was heavy with their fragrance. As the service was about to begin, small 

 Kitty pulled her mother's sleeve : " Oh, mamma, don't it smell solemn ?" 



