ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



367 



Specimen Programs. Port Henry, N. Y. Continued. 



[From Donald G. Mitchell (" Ik Marvel "), an American author.] 



EDGEWOOD, April 27, 1889. 



MY DEAR SIR Your favor came duly and I feel very much honored by the association 

 of my name in even so slight a degree with your proposed good work of tree-plant- 

 ing, and suppose that I owe the flattering attention of which you speak, to my often 

 declared allegiance to country pursuits, and a steady faith in the good that comes from 

 every-day familiarity with the flowers, and the trees, and the sunshine. 



I'm not sure but I love trees even better than books ; love them young, and love 

 them old ; and those mis-shapen and of foul growth, I love to cut and burn (wishing 

 I could do the same for many books I encounter). 



Pray commend me to your young bands of tree-lovers, and believe me, 



Very truly yours, 



DONALD G. MITCHELL. 



3. Dedication Selections by seven pupils, representing the seven departments in the 



main school building. 



First Pupil: 



We, representatives of the school children of New York State, meet to-day to do our 

 share toward making our country more beautiful and fertile. A treeless yard or street is 

 unsightly and desolate, and how much more a whole city or district ! Believing that the 

 wholesale destruction of trees is an injury to our land, and wishing to make the place 

 where we live more beautiful, we now replace a worthless tree by a new, thriftv and 

 vigorous growth. 



Second Pupil ; 



All ye woods, and trees, and bow'rs. 

 All ye virtues and ye povv'rs 

 That inhabit in the lakes, 

 In the pleasant springs or brakes, 



Move your feet 



To pur sound 



Whilst we greet 



On this ground. 



Fourth Pupil: 



Third Pupil : 



Green and lovely thou shalt stand, 



O thou tree !' 



While the summer breeze 

 Sweeps thy crest with its caressing hand, 

 Strong and stately thou shalt rear 



Thy proud fo'rm, 



While the winter storms 

 Strip thee of the leaves that were so dear. 



Fifth Pupil : 



He who plants a tree 



Plants a hope. 



Rootlets up through fibres blindly grope; 

 Leaves unfold into horizons free, 



So man's life must climb 



From the clods of time 



Unto heavens sublime. 

 Can'st thou prophesv, thou little tree. 

 What the glory of thy boughs shall be ? 



He who plants a tree, 



He plants love : 



Tents of coolness spreading out above 

 Wayfarers, he may not live to see. 



Gifts that grow are best ; 



Hands that bless are biest ; 



Plant ! Life does the rest. 

 Heaven and earth help him who plants a tree. 

 And his work its own reward shall be. 



LUCY LARCOM. 

 Sixth Pupil: 



"There is something noble, simple and pure in a taste for "trees. It argues, I think, 

 a sweet and generous nature to have this strong relish for beauties of vegetation, and this 

 friendship for the hardy and glorious sons of the forest. There is a grandeur of thought 

 connected with this part of rural economy. It is worthy of liberal, and free-born, and 

 aspiring men. He who plants an Oak looks forward to 'future ages, and plants for pos- 

 terity. Nothing can be less selfish than this. He cannot expect to sit in its shade nor 

 enjoy its shelter; but he exults in the idea that the acorn which he has buried in the earth 

 shall grow up into a lofty pile, and shall keep on flourishing and increasing and benefit- 

 ing mankind long after he shall have ceased to tread his paternal fields." 



Seventh Pupil : 



O happy tree which we plant to-day. 



What great good fortune waits you ! 

 For you will grow in sun and snow", 



Till age and death o'ertake you. 



Your winter covering of snow. 

 Will dazzle with its splendor. 



Your summer's garb, with richest glow. 

 Will feast of beauty render. 



In your cool shade will tired feet 

 Pause, weary, when 'tis summer. 



And rest like this will be most sweet 

 To even- tired new-comer. 



So do they work, O graceful tree ! 



Thou hast a share in giving ; 

 If thou shalt bless mankind like these, 



T h y life will be worth living. 



After reciting his selection each pupil placed a shovel of dirt around the tree, 

 he did as a representative of his department. 



This 



