234 
ARBOR DAY MANUAL. 
THE FIRST FLOWERS. 
F OR ages on our river borders, 
These tassels in their tawny bloom, 
And willowy studs of downy silver, 
Have prophesied of spring to come. 
For ages have the unbound waters 
Smiled on them from their pebbly hem, 
And the clear carol of the robin 
And song of bluebird welcomed them. 
But never yet from smiling river, 
Or song of early bird, have they 
Been greeted with a gladder welcome 
Than whispers from mj r heart to-day. 
They break (he spell of cold and darkness,. 
The weary watch of sleepless pain; 
And from my heart as from the river, 
The ice of winter melts again. 
Whittier,. 
HYMN. 
(For the American Horticultural Society, 1882.) 
0 PAINTER of the fruits and flowers, 
We own Thy wise design, 
Whereby these human hands of ours 
May share the work of Thine ! 
Apart from Thee we plant in vain 
The root and sow the seed; 
Thy early and Thy later rain, • 
Thy sun and dew we need. 
Our toil is sweet with thankfulness, 
Our burden is our boon; 
The curse of earth’s gray morning is 
The blessing of its noon. 
Why search the wide world everywhere 
For Eden’s unknown ground ? 
TJiat garden of the primal pair 
May nevermore be found. 
But blest by Thee, our patient toil 
May right the ancient wrong. 
And give to every clime and soil 
The beauty lost so long. 
Our homestead flowers and fruited trees- 
May Eden’s orchard shame; 
We taste the tempting sweets of these 
Like Eve, without her blame. 
And, north and south and east and west 
The pride of every zone, 
The fairest, rarest and the best 
May all be made our own. 
Its earliest shrines the young world sought- 
In hill-groves and in bowers, 
The fittest offerings thither brought 
Were Thy own fruits and flowers. 
And still with reverent hands we cull 
Thy gifts each year renewed; 
The good is always beautiful, 
The beautiful is good. 
Whittier. 
There never yet was flower fair in vain, 
Let classic poets rhyme it as they will; 
The seasons toil that it may blow again, 
And summer’s heart doth feel its every ill. 
Lowell- 
