ARBOR DA V MANUAL. 
Written for the “ Arbor Day Manual ” 
THE TREE OF STATE.* 
DEDICATED TO THE , MAPLE. 
MBLEM Tree of the Empire State! 
I < Thy virtues on this festal day 
Cheerfully I commemorate, 
And own allegiance to thy sway. 
Deep-rooted in thy native soil, 
Field of all my earlier toil,—- 
Sepulchre which holds in trust 
For future time my kindred dust; 
Play-ground of my childhood years, 
Cradle of my loves, dreams, fears,— 
The very dust is dear which creeps 
About thy roots, and vigil keeps ; 
And every fiber of thy growth 
Endeared to me since early youth, 
Grows dearer still while dreaming where 
Magnolia blooms fill all the air. 
I see thee now, before the storm king bending, 
As I have seen thee oft and fled from under, 
When lightning flashes scarce begun, scarce ending, 
Their work have told in tones of fiercest thunder; 
And thou wast beautiful and great, 
O, Emblem Tree of the Empire State ! 
I see thee now, well rounded, calm and blending 
Shades and touches by deft, nature’s brush, 
And o’er the whole the latest sunset lending 
That strange soft something twixt a glow and flush, 
Which holds entranced. E’en now I wait, 
Loved Emblem Tree of the Empire State ! 
And lo ! Behold ! Two happy lovers straying 
Draw near; while sympathetic moon beams stealing 
Athwart their path, their earnestness betraying, 
And all unconsciously their love revealing. 
Are shadowed, with the pair who wait 
’Neath thy dense shade, O Tree of State ! 
E’en merry urchins ’neath thy branches swinging, 
Refresh themselves at thy o’erflowing fountain, 
And praises loud in childish glee are ringing, 
As one by one thy topmost branches mounting, 
Each vies with each, O Tree of State ! 
While echoing hills reiterate. 
of those who participated in the Arbor Day exercises of 1889, in New York State, the Ma 
the State Tree. 
