204 ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



FOR ARBOR DAY. 



ALL hail this day glad Arbor Day ! 

 A day for joyous labor; 

 A work that blesses every heart 



Because for friend and neighbor ; 

 When boy, girl, man and woman, too, 



The loss of trees deploring, 

 Come forth with heart and hand to learn 

 Dame Nature's art restoring ! 



Man has cut down the stalwart trees, 



Nor thought of e'er replacing ; 

 His reckless waste should on his cheek 



Be fiery blushes tracing. 

 To rob the mother of her jewels 



Is but the grossest sinning, 

 When she so ready is to take 



New nurslings from beginning. 



O see how well does Nature pay 



Her grand Controller praising, 

 For every tree that she destroys 



She thousands more is raising ; 

 She sends the seeds, with hand so free, 



To earth's kind bosom nestling, 

 And gives a feast to growing germs 



That lightens all their wrestling. 



O ye who love these native gems, 



So charming in their living; 

 See how the needs of human life, 



Destructive force is giving! 

 It fells them from" their native homes, 



Where purest beauty, growing, 

 Impels the heart and mind of man 



To stand in meekness bowing. 



Look at the stately forest kings 



That stand morn, noon and even, 

 Their tops long reaching out to kiss 



The light so richly given ! 

 There, 'neath that forest's foliage shade, 



The spirits joys enliven, 

 And feel the secrets of all life 



The life of God and heaven. 



