ARBOR DAY MANUAL. 299 



WELCOME TO MAY. 



HAIL ! hail ! hail to the beautiful May ; . . 



Now while nature's green carpet is spread on the ground, 

 With verdure and beauty the hill-sides are crowned, 

 So with music, sweet music, we'll make the wood ring, 

 While nature is smiling, this song we will sing: 

 Welcome to May, beautiful May, 

 Join in the song gladly to-day, 

 With happy voices and with hearts so gay, 

 Sing we a welcome, thrice welcome tc May. 



Hail ! hail ! hail to the beautiful May ; 



Lovely May thou art welcome, we greet thee to-day. 



For winter's cold winds thou hast driven far away, 



While the birds sing so gayly, and flow'rs bloom so bright, 



We'll join in the chorus and sing with delight : 



Welcome to May, beautiful May, 



Join in the song gladly to-day, 



With happy voices and with hearts so gay. 



Sing we a welcome, thrice welcome to May. 



\Vritten for the "ARBOR DAY MANUAL." 



SONG OF CONSECRATION. 



T~) ELEASED from her fetters, all nature rejoices, 

 J\ With music and mirth from her captives set free, 

 We join the grand anthem, and lift our glad voices 

 In praise and thanksgiving, Great Giver, to thee. 



Earth green, 'neath our feet, thy warm sun shining o'er us, 

 With birds and the bowers and the blossoms of spring, 



The landscape of life stretching onward before us, 

 Tis meet that our Arbor Day off' ring we bring. 



From winter's cold sleep, see the myriads awaken ; 



To slumber no longer in silence and gloom, 

 Not a life, not a germ, not a bud is forsaken, 



But all are remembered in nature's first bloom. 



While 'neath the green foliage the shadows are dancing, 

 Our hearts swayed with love as the leaves on the tree, 



And feel the warm zephyrs of summer advancing 



We lift our glad spirits, Great Giver, to thee ! 

 Watertown, -V. Y. E. A. HOLBROOK. 



