"WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE" 313 



Are we worthy to enjoy the bequest of our fore- 

 fathers if we are not just and liberal enough to 

 provide for our descendants? 



"WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE" 



HISTORY OF THE POEM 



MR. MORRIS, in a letter to a friend, dated New 

 York, February i, 1837, gave in substance the fol- 

 lowing account: 



Riding out of town a few days since, in company 

 with a friend, an old gentleman, he invited me to 

 turn down a little, romantic woodland pass, not far 

 from Bloomingdale. "Your object?" inquired I. 

 " Merely to look once more at an old tree planted by 

 my grandfather long before I was born, under which 

 I used to play when a boy, and where my sisters 

 played with me. There I often listened to the good 

 advice of my parents. Father, mother, sisters 

 all are gone; nothing but the old tree remains." 

 And a paleness overspread his fine countenance, 

 and tears came to his eyes. After a moment's 

 pause, he added: "Don't think me foolish. I don't 

 know how it is : I never ride out but I turn down this 

 lane to look at that old tree. I have a thousand 

 recollections about it, and I always greet it as a 

 familiar and well-remembered friend." These words 

 were scarcely uttered when the old gentleman cried 



