146 ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



When the battle comes, and the cannon's roar 



Booms o'er the shuddering deep, 

 Then nobly he'll bear the bold hearts o'er 



The waves, with bounding leap. 

 O, may those hearts be as firm and true, 



When the war-clouds gather dun, 

 As the glorious oak that proudly grew 



Beneath our southern sun. 



HENRY R. JACKSON. 



READY FOR DUTY. 



DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY. 



DAFFY-down-dilly came up in the cold. 

 Through the brown mould, 



Although the March breezes blew keen on her face, 

 Although the white snow lay on many a place. 



Daffy-down-ciilly had heard under ground 



The sweet rushing sound 



Of the streams as they burst off their white winter chains 

 Of the whistling spring winds and the pattering rains. 



' Now, then," thought Daffy, deep down in her heart, 



" It's time I should start ! " 



So she pushed her soft leaves through the hard frozen ground, 

 Quite up to the surface, and then she looked round. 



There was snow all about her, gray clouds overhead, 



The trees all looked dead: 

 Then how do you think Daffy-down-dilly felt 

 When the sun would not shine, and the ice would not melt? 



' Cold weather ! " thought Daffy, still working a\vav : 



"The earth's hard to-day! 



There 's but a half inch of my leaves to be seen, 

 And two-thirds of that is more yellow than green ! 



' I can't do much yet; but I'll do what I can, 



It's well I began ! 



For, unless I can manage to lift up my head, 

 The people will think that the Spring-time is dead." 



So, little by little, she brought her leaves out, 



All clustered about ; 



And then her bright flowers began to unfold, 

 Till Daffy stood robed in her spring green and gold. 



O, Daffy-down-dilly ! so brave and so true ! 



Would all were like you, 

 So ready for duty in all sorts of weather, 

 And loyal to courage and duty together. 



