ARBOR DAY MANUAL. 2 Q 



GROWTH. 



GROW as the trees grow, 

 Your head lifted straight to the sky, 

 Your roots holding fast where they lie, 

 In the richness below; 

 Your branches outspread 

 To the sun pouring down, and the dew, 

 With the glorious infinite blue 



Stretching over your head. 



Receiving the storms 



That may writhe you, and bend, but not break, 

 While your roots the more sturdily take 



A strength in their forms. 



God means us, the growth of His trees, 

 Alike thro' the shadow and shine. 

 Receiving as freely the life-giving wine 



Of the air and the breeze. 



Not sunshine alone, 

 The soft summer dew and the breeze 

 Hath fashioned these wonderful trees. 



The tempest hath moaned : 

 They have tossed their strong arms in despair, 

 At the blast of the terrible there, 



In the thunder's loud tone. 



But under it all 



Were the roots clasping closer the sod, 

 The top still aspiring to God 



Who prevented their fall. 



Come out from the gloom, 

 And open your heart to the light 

 That is flooding God's world with delight, 



And unfolding its bloom. 



His kingdom of grace 

 Is symboled in all that we see, 

 In budding and leafing of tree, 



And fruit in its place. 

 CAatauftMH, July, 1884. EMILY J. BUGBEE. 



