ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 245 



Listened as if I heard an angel sing 



With news from heaven, which he could bring 



Fresh ever}- day to my untainted ears 



When birds and flowers and I were happy peers. 



How like a prodigal doth nature seem, 



When thou, for all thy gold, so common art ! 

 Thou teachest me to deem 



More sacredly of every human heart, 

 Since each reflects in joy its scanty gleam 

 Of heaven, and could some wondrous secret show, 



Did we but pay the love we owe, 

 And with a child's undoubting wisdom look 

 On all these living pages of God's book. 



LOWELL. 



TREES IN THE CITY. 



"T^IS beautiful to see a forest stand, 



J. Brave with its moss-grown monarchs and the pride 

 Of foliage dense, to which the south wind bland 



Comes with a kiss, as lover to his bride ; 

 To watch the light grow fainter, as it streams 



Through arching aisles, where branches interlace, 

 Where sombre pines rise o'er the shadowy gleams 



Of silver birch, trembling with modest grace. 



But they who dwell beside the stream and hill 



Prize little treasures there so kindly given : 

 The song of birds, the babbling of the rill, 



The pure unclouded light and air of heaven. 

 They walk as those who seeing, cannot see, 



Blind to this beauty even from their birth : 

 We value little blessings ever free : 



We covet most the rarest things of earth. 



But rising from the dust of busy streets 



These forest children gladden many hearts ; 

 As some old friend their welcome presence greets 

 The toil-worn soul, and fresher life imparts. 

 Their shade is doubly grateful when it lies 



Above the glare which stifling walls throw back ; 

 Through quivering leaves we see the soft blue skies, 

 Then happier tread the dull, unvaried track. 



ALICE B. NEAL. 



