ARBOR DAY ASPIRATION 43 



to make forests abound where now they are unknown. 

 A forest murderously ruined by the lumberman's 

 axe is like a field of battle when the fighting is over 

 a sight to make humanity weep. Not so the forest 

 that springs into life from the treeless plain. And 

 so the mission of Arbor Day varies as the trees 

 themselves. One blessed thing, however, is com- 

 mon to all the Arbor Days of the land we love, and 

 that is the spirit to make the most of God's useful 

 and beautiful trees. 



ARBOR DAY ASPIRATION 



BY JOHN RUSKIN 



WE will try to make some small piece of ground 

 beautiful, peaceful, and fruitful. We will have 

 no untended or unthought-of creatures upon it. 

 We will have flowers and vegetables in our gardens, 

 plenty of corn and grass in our fields. We will have 

 some music and poetry; the children shall learn to 

 dance and sing it; perhaps some of the old people, 

 in time, may also. We will have some art; and 

 little by little some higher art and imagination 

 may manifest themselves among us nay even 

 perhaps an uncalculating and uncovetous wisdom, 

 as of rude Magi, presenting gifts of gold and 

 frankincense. 



