TREES 387 



PLANTING A TREE 



What does he plant who plants a tree? 

 He plants a friend of sun and sky; 

 He plants a flag of breezes free; 

 The shaft of beauty towering high; 

 He plants a home to heaven anigh 

 For song and mother croon of bird, 

 In hushed and happy twilight heard — 

 The treble of heaven's harmony — 

 These things plants he who plants a tree. 



What does he plant who plants a tree? 

 He plants cool shade and tender rain, 

 And seed and bud of days to be, 

 And years that fade and flush again; 

 He plants the glory of the plain; 

 He plants the forest's heritage; 

 The harvest of the coming age; 

 The joy that unborn eye shall see — 

 These things he plants who plants a tree. 



What does he plant who plants a tree ? 

 He plants in sap, and leaves and wood. 

 In love of home and loyalty. 

 And far-cast thoughts of civil good — 

 His blessings on the neighborhood. 

 Who in the hollow of his hand 

 Holds all the growth of all our land — • 

 A nation's growth from sea to sea 

 Stirs in his heart who plants a tree. 



— Richard Watson Gilder. 



