ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



BEAUTIFUL TREES. 



NATURE'S children, beautiful trees! 

 Whose branches bow to the gentle breeze ; 

 Maple, beech, oak and elm, 

 In even- country, in even- realm, 

 In lonely valley, on mountain side, 

 They tower aloft in stately pride, 

 In pasture, meadow and forest dell, 

 Dear old landmarks ! we love them well. 



Along the highway dusty and dreary, 



How welcome their shade to the trav'ler weary; 



Beneath their green boughs in the dim twilight, 



Youth and maid oft linger their vows to plight, 



And the old, old story that ever is new 



Is told 'neath the hawthorn, maple and yew. 



Where would the birds build their curious nests, 



Humming-bird, oriole, robin red-breast ; 



Away from the school boys' eyes so keen, 



Save in the tree-top's leafy screen. 



How could we build our houses grand, 



If trees grew not in even,' land ? 



Our beautiful trees stately and tall 



Must help to build school-house, church and hall. 



They've waved their green banners since the beginning of time, 

 Their uses are many, their missions sublime, 

 Pure and noble as all men should be, 

 Honest and upright like a proud forest tree ; 

 Let us ever be grateful for blessings like these, 

 Let us honor and love God's beautiful trees. 

 Smithville, N. Y., Arbor Day, 1889. A. L. R. 



ARBOR DAY. 



OFF to the woods ! Off to the woods ! Scamper and frolic ! Gather the flowers, 

 Boys it's a grand new holiday ! Shouting our merriest roundelay; 



Off to the woods for a green young tree, The buds shall bloom, and the birds shall sing 

 And we'll plant it ourselves, on Arbor Day. In the tree we plant on Arbor Day. 



Joy to the thought of our own, own tree ! 



Long may its branches shade our way; 

 This task shall ever our pleasure be, 



Planting a tree on Arbor Day. 



