302 



ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



ASPEN. 



T that awful hour of the passion, when the Saviour of the world felt de- 

 serted in His agony, when 



" The sympathizing sun his light withdrew, 

 And wonder'd how the stars their dying Lord could view " 



A 



when earth, shaken with horror, rung the passing bell for Deity, and universal 

 nature groaned ; then from the loftiest tree to the lowliest flower all felt a 

 sudden thrill, and trembling, bowed their heads, all save the proud and ob- 

 durant aspen, which said, "Why should we weep and tremble? we trees, and 

 plants, and flowers are pure and never sinned ! " Ere it ceased to speak, an 

 involuntary trembling seized its every leaf, and the word went forth that it 

 should never rest, but tremble on until the day of judgment. 



Old Legend. 



MAPLE. 



was a day of delight and wonder, 

 X While lying the shade of the maple trees under 

 He felt the soft breeze at its frolicsome play ; 

 He smelled the sweet odor of newly mown hay, 

 Of wilding blossoms in meadow and wood, 

 And flowers in the garden that orderly stood ; 

 He drank of the milk foaming fresh from the cow, 

 He ate the ripe apple just pulled from the bough ; 

 And lifted his hand to where hung in his reach, 

 All laden with honey, the ruddy-cheeked peach ; 

 Beside him the blackberries juicy and fresh ; 

 Before him the melon with odorous flesh; 

 There he had all for his use or his vision, 



All that the wishes of mortal could seize 

 There where he lay in a country elysian, 

 Happily, dreamily, 

 Under the trees. 



THO'S DUNN ENGLISH. 



Ye field flowers ! the gardens eclipse you 'tis true; 

 Yet, wildings of nature, I doat upon you ; 



For ye waft me to summers of old, 

 When the earth teem'd around me with fairy delight, 

 And when daisies and buttercups gladden'd my sight, 



Like treasures of silver and gold. 



CAMPBELL. 



