126 ARBOR DAY 



fence border, or rocky streak of neglected pasture 

 land, is thickly starred with the white flowers of the 

 bloodroot. The eye can devour a succession of 

 landscapes at such a time; there is nothing that sates 

 or entirely fills it, but every spring token stimulates 

 it and makes it more on the alert. 



THE GLADNESS OF NATURE 



BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 



Is THIS a time to be cloudy and sad, 



When our mother Nature laughs around; 

 When even the deep blue heavens look glad, 



And gladness breathes from the blossoming 



ground ? 

 There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren, 



And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; 

 The ground-squirrel gaily chirps by his den, 



And the wilding bee hums merrily by. 



The clouds are at play in the azure space, 



And their shadows at play on the bright-green vale, 



And here they stretch to the frolic chase, 

 And there they roll on the easy gale. 



There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, 

 There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, 



There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, 

 And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. 



