536 



Canadian Forestry Journal, May, igi6. 



The Forest Pleaders 



E. T. Allen, forester of the Wes- 

 tern Forestry & Conservation Asso- 

 ciation, Portland, has sent the fol- 

 lowing recitation for six pupils to 

 schools in Oregon and Washington 

 for use in Arbor Day exercises : 



First pupil, carrying exergreen 



branch : 

 I AM THE F(3REST. 



I clothe this Western land 

 With beauty and on every hand 

 You turn to me in daily need. 

 Your best friend I have always 



stood ; 

 You could not live not using wood. 

 For your protection now I plead. 

 Nor do I bid you take my word : 

 Let these, my witnesses, be heard. 



Second pupil, carrying pail of water : 

 I AM THE STREAM. 



From my woodland springs 

 To river mouth where the white 

 gull wings 

 Over the ships from" the ends 

 of the earth, 

 I flow to your homes and mills 



and fields, 

 And carry the freight that the har- 

 vest yields. 

 But shady forests gave me birth. 



Third pupil, carrying pet animal : 

 I AM THE WILD THINGS. 

 I speak for graceful deer. 

 And flashing trout in brook pools 

 clear. 

 For singing birds and squirrels 

 pert, 

 And all the wearers of feather and 



fur. 

 What should we do if no forest 

 were 

 To shelter us from fear and 

 hurt ? 



Fourth pupil, carrying ax : 

 I AM INDUSTRY. 



To me the forest brings 

 Reward for labor and all things 

 That money buys, for in this 

 state 



Over half our wage-earners' pay 

 Comes from lumbering in some 

 way. 

 The fate of forests is mv fate. 



Fifth pupil, carrying fishing-rod : 

 I AM PLEASURE. 



Happy vacation days, 



Camping, hunting, and all the 

 ways 

 Of nature in her gladdest 

 moods. 



The forest holds for girls and boys 



Who love out-doors and whole- 

 some joys — 

 There is no playground like the 

 woods. 



Sixth pupil, strikes match and holds 

 it burning: 



I AM THE FUTURE. 



Shall all these pass away? 



Must we look forward to a day 

 Of fire-charred, lifeless, stream- 

 less slopes. 



Where thoughtless match or un- 

 watched brand 



From man's ungrateful, careless 

 hand 

 Has destroyed his own chil- 

 dren's hopes? 



All, Future blowing match out, 

 watch as he drops it, then tramps 

 it out : 



FIRE IS OUR ENEMY. 



Won't you help us, then? 

 Learn yourselves, and teach all 

 men. 

 This, the lesson all must learn : 

 Put out the campfire and the 



, match ; 

 Careful with slash and clearing- 

 patch ; 

 Leave no fires in the woods to 

 l)urn. 



