ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 
21 
PLANT A TREE. 
H 
E who plants a tree 
Plants a hope. 
Rootlets up through fibres blindly grope; 
Leaves unfold into horizons free. 
So man’s life must climb 
From the clods of time 
Unto heavens sublime. 
Canst thou prophesy, thou little tree, 
What the glory of thy boughs shall be ? 
He who plants a tree 
Plants a joy ; 
Plants a comfort that will never cloy. 
Every day a fresh reality. 
Beautiful and strong, 
To whose shelter throng 
Creatures blithe with song. 
If thou couldst but know, thou happy tree, 
Of the bliss that shalt inhabit thee. 
He who plants a tree 
He plants peace. 
Under its green curtains jargons cease, 
Leaf and zephyr murmur soothingly ; 
Shadows soft with sleep 
Down tired eyelids creep, 
Balm of slumber deep. 
Never hast thou dreamed, thou blessed tree. 
Of the benediction thou shalt be. 
He who plants a tree 
He plants youth ; 
Vigor won for centuries in sooth ; 
Life of time, that hints eternity ! 
Boughs their strength uprear, 
New shoots every year 
On old growths appear. 
Thou shalt teach the age^, sturdy tree, 
Youth of soul is immortality. 
He who plants a tree 
He plants love; 
Tents of coolness spreading out above 
Wayfarers, he may not live to see 
Gifts that grow are best; 
Hands that bless are blest; 
Plant; life does the rest? 
Heaven and earth help him who plants a tree, 
And his work its own reward shall be. 
Lucy Larcom. 
