102 
ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 
SOMEBODY’S KNOCKING. 
HERE’S somebody knocking. Hark ! who can it be ? ' 
I It’s not at the door! no, it’s in the elm tree. 
I hear it again ; it goes rat-a-tat-tat! 
Now, what in the world is the meaning of that? 
I think I can tell you. Ah, yes ! it is he: 
It’s young Master Woodpecker, gallant and free. 
He’s dressed very handsomely (; rat-a-tat-tat ), 
Just like a young dandy, so comely and fat. 
He’s making his visits this morning, you see : 
Some friends of his live in that elm tree; 
And, as trees have no door-bells ( rat-a-tat-tat ), 
Of course he must knock : what is plainer than that ? 
Now old Madam Bug hears him rap at her door : 
Why doesn’t she come ? Does she think him a bore? 
She stays in her chamber, and keeps very still. 
I guess she’s afraid that he’s bringing a bill. 
“I’ve seen you before, my good master,” says she: 
“Although I’m a bug, sir, you can’t humbug me. 
Rap on, if you please ! at your rapping I laugh, 
I’m too old a bug to be caught with your chaff.” 
r'ie Nursery. 
MY TREE. 
W HICH is the best of all the trees ? 
Answer me, children all, if you please. 
Is it the oak, the king of the wood, 
That for a hundred years has stood ? 
The graceful elm, or the stately ash, 
Or the aspen, whose leaflets shimmer and flash? 
Is it the solemn and gloomy pine. 
With its million needles so sharp and fine? 
Ah, no ! The tree that I love best, 
It buds and blossoms not with the rest; 
No summer sun on its fruit has smiled, 
But the ice and snow are around it piled ; 
But still it will bloom and bear fruit for me, 
My winter bloomer! my Christmas tree ! 
Youth's Companion. 
