I0 g ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



UNDER THE APPLE-TREE. 



IN a home-nest of peace and joy, 

 Bright and pleasant as a home can be, 

 Lives a merry and sweet-faced boy 



Under a broad old apple-tree. 

 Searching wide, you will seldom meet 



Child so blithesome and fair as he, 

 How can he help being pretty and sweet, 

 Dwelling under an apple-tree? 



In the spring when the child goes out, 



Glad as a bird that winter 's past, 

 Making his flower-beds all about, 



Liking best what he finished last; 

 Then the tree from each blossomy limb 



Heaps its petals about its feet, 

 And like a benison above him 



Scatters its fragrances, sweet to sweet. 



In the summer the dear old tree 



Spreads above him its cooling shade, 

 Keeping the heat from his cheek, while he, 



Playing at toil with rake and spade, 

 Chasing the humming-bird's gleam and dart, 



Watching the honey-bees drink and doze, 

 Gathers in body and soul and heart, 



Beauty and health like an opening rose. 



In the autumn, before the leaves 



Lose their greenness, the apples fall, 

 Roll on the roof, and bounce from the eaves, 



Pile on the porch, and rest on the wall ; 

 Then he heaps on the grassy ground 



Rosy pyramids brave to see ; 

 How can he help being ruddy and sound, 



Dwelling under an apple-tree? 



In the winter, Avhen winds are wild, 



Then, still faithful, the sturdy tree 

 Keeps its watch o'er the darling child, 



Telling him tales of the May to be ; 

 Teaching him faith under stormy skies, 



Bidding him trust when he cannot see ; 

 How can he help being happy and wise, 



Dwelling under an apple-tree ? 



ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN. 



