FOREST TREES.
Children have you seen the budding
Of the trees in valleys low?
Have you watched it creeping, creeping,
Up the mountain, soft and slow?
Weaving there a plush-like mantle,
Brownish, grayish, reddish green,
Changing, changing—daily, hourly,
Till it smiles in emerald sheen?
Have you watched the shades so varied,
From the graceful little white birch.
Faint and tender, to the balsam’s
Evergreen, so dark and rich?
Have you seen the quaint mosaics,
Gracing all the mountain-sides,
Where they, mingling’, intertwining.
Sway like softest mid-air tides?
Have you seen the autumn frostings.
Spread in all the leafage bright,—
Frostings of the rarest color.
Red and yellow, dark and light?
Have you seen the glory painted
On the mountain, valley, hill.
When the landscape, all illumined.
Blazes forth his taste and skill?
Have you seen the foliage dropping,
Tender cling, as loth to leave
Mother-trees that taught them deftly
All their warp and woof to weave?
Have you seen the leafless branches
Tossing wildly ’gainst the blue?
Have you seen the soft gray beauty
Of their wintry garments’ hue?
Have you thought the resurrection
Seen in nature year by year
Is a symbol of our rising
In a higher, holier sphere?
Children, ye are buds maturing;
Make your autumn rich and grand.
That your winter be a passage
Through the gates to Glory-land.
PRAYER FOR OUR STATE.
[Air:—“ America.”]
God bless our noble State,
And make her doubly great,
In progress grand,
Nor fear to right the wrong,
Protect among the throng.
The weak as well as strong.
By her command.
Long may her banner bright,
Wave in the morning light.
And all her laws.
Approved by justice stand,—
Her sons a manly band.
Her daughters hand in hand,
The home her cause.
THE GRAND OLD TREES.
[Tune:—There’s Music in the Air.]
We love the grand old trees,—
With the oak, their royal king.
And the maple, forest queen,
We to her our homage bring.
And the elm with stately form,
Long withstanding wind and storm,
Pine, low whispering to the breeze,
O, we love the grand old trees!
We love the grand old trees,—
The cedar bright above the snow,
The poplar straight and tall,
And the willow weeping low.
Butternut, and walnut, too,
Hickory so staunch and true,
Basswood blooming for the bees,
O, we love the grand old trees!
We love the grand old trees,—
The tulip branching broad and high,
The beech with shining robe.
And the birch so sweet and shy.
Aged chestnuts, fair to see.
Holly bright with Christmas glee.
Laurel crown for victories.
O, we love the grand old trees!
