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ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 
THE VINE AND THE OAK. 
A VINE was growing beside a thrifty oak, and had just reached that height 
at which it requires support. “ Oak,” said the vine, “ bend your trunk so 
that you may be a support to me.” 
“ My support,” replied the oak, “ is naturally yours, and you may rely on my 
strength to bear you up; but I am too large and too solid to bend. Put your 
arms around me, my pretty vine, and I will manfully support and cherish you, 
if you have an ambition to climb as high as the clouds. 
“While I thus hold you up, you will ornament my rough trunk with your 
pretty green leaves and shining scarlet berries. We were made by the Master 
of Life to grow together, that by our union the weak may be made strong, and 
the strong render aid to the weak.” 
“But I wish to grow independently,” said the vine; “why cannot you twine 
around me, and let me grow up straight, and not be a mere dependent on you ? ” 
“Nature,” answered the oak, “did not so design it. It is impossible that you 
should grow to any height alone ; and if you try it, the winds and the rain, if 
not your own weight, will bring you to the ground. 
“ Neither is it proper for you to run your arms hither and thither among the 
trees. They will say, ‘It is not my vine — it is a stranger—get thee gone; I 
will not cherish thee!’ By this time thou wilt be so entangled among the 
different branches that thou canst not get back to the oak, and nobody will 
then admire thee or pity thee.” 
“Ah, me,” said the vine, “ let me escape from such a destiny; ” and she twined 
herself around the oak, and they grew and flourished happily together. 
THE UNFADING EVERGREEN. 
H OW bright, the unfading evergreen, 
Amid the forest trees ! 
In Summer and Winter there ’tis seen 
To wave to the passing breeze. 
And may I be so like to thee, 
O never fading tree ! 
That all may feel, in woe or weal, 
1 shall unchanging be. 
How bright the unfading evergreen, 
Amid the forest trees ! 
In Summer and Winter there ’tis seen, 
To wave to the passing breeze. 
Ever, ever may I be seen 
Like to the beauteous evergreen. 
