ARBOR DAY, 1891.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9271, 5 August 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

ARBOR DAY, 1891.

Wil vr «l. In- do wli.i el int.-i a tree : II.; plant • i ji'.eas ant mi-.i 111 In set', A ur.iti'l'il -i: lilt: to 111 in .iii.l beast, A !i.>•!!»• (■•:■ birds, a plenteous least, A -h--l1»'i- from tin' coming storm, Where cottage hones lie aii'ig and warm, A i' in retreat fir weary In* ii < >11;• i• ■ -1" I l.y i iiioin c instant strain, Tilt: lover-.' favourite t y-ling _>;> it. Where vows are u'.U'ied an.l forgot, ' 1 ii►_» li.iuiU «»i l» .v* in nesting tiuif, Uh . bent on -polling le tin to climb, (if in- . t-life tilt: concert-halt, 'I'licir chosen bower for m.uy ball, lor wo '-i it'll oVfii a retreat Krmi winter win.is an 1 siiiiuner boat, A 1 mdurirk for th" fishing crew Which li imeward-boiind they keep in view, To life on 1 tod a constant aid, In all it 1 foims in every grade — Tini> l: *•<.'■» in* agents cosmogeiii.. - , l'.-s .li-s, tire* •»'.it i in I scenic, \V J ii' *• -it■ 1111 v, nil lus it 11, unst'i'ii 'I :..,;i action i.'Ms the tiratefal greOß i li meadow [i.st me, pr is-.,' j»l liu '.Vllose juii'v verdure'* due to ram, A bo II vouchsafed to forest-growth I'.'/ , load- to yield lb ii moisture loath. A u tin, from in tr-h ami stagnant more O'er v. i.-te an 1 .1;' - '1 it ion drear, 'I he fatal poison tii-y extract, 'I r ills!' .1111 to lit.' • lie letti il tract, Hi ing ponnl it ion ilid the a I ts, And m ike lor industry new marts; Tiee , I Inn rep air the w lite of war, And introduce tin: aval ir if hn- ! i il ii i i y .till I whole toll — li.",tallied by a generous soil. Willi., It her w. 1 -whe.e hngland s fame, Mi l' h alts of oik, her hero's name .' Whence «: ixion's title to renown, (I -11 irer's, eat in tie shown 7 Would I Wl.b in' ■ sculpture still survive. Had I'.milisli forests ceased to thrive '( Where is the he trill ill ancient ball, With ,-p icioii.s lli'i place, m intel tall, I niuinislieil witii the -re.it yule log Which wars with Christmas snow ami fog, Invites both young ami nil to mirth, To men je-1 and faille ives birth, 1 liming with a yen il glow 1 h • bi ightsoine scene. wh"i e high and low (.'oinliiitigliilg at I lie festive hoanl, •loin li,nds, and gn iran' .illoril Of fill ill meetings t o ivi "id. This home of life which c iiinof build, Nor sow nor reap, nor lorm a guild, Has been a refuge from the hat Of rebels armed agai est the State ; Thus ('htrles escap-d a tilooily late, I'erchauce it's woodland charms may lead A tyrant monarch there to hi oil, So if'ifu fell in lull career Of pride and power, without a teal ; I 111. more the haunt of Kobin Hood, Whose host ami ally was gieenwood, In sense of home, of arms, ami food, While here, were unwished Knglish hearts, Thro. Norm an forest law, whose sinai t.-S idolised I lost s of discontented men I'll Inave decrees and make a den Of woodland < sacred to the sport Of kings and nobles of lie Court. In mod.-I'll notion wood is trade, To towering stems the axe is laid, And 10, the leafy monarch lies, 'I he growth of ag<M instant dies, Without s'lece-sor to replace The scion of ,i noble race. I Jut man, though powerless to rest or® The livery which the country wore, Responsible tie still remains To future dwellers on the plains, Which dry and bare the clouds behold, Drift o'er the hills now bald and cold, And unavailing to attract The moisture which they never lacked, While vegetation's vital power Survived to draw the genial shower. .Moved by tile conscience of a wrong '< iai list lights which to us all belong, The people of out generation I ike up the work of reparation I'or pi.lilting trees appoint a day, A serious task, combined with play, Thus to enlist each several kind of social order, age, and mind, To <• nay out by acclamation, This truly nation il operation, Where all, in ,-tidinhelp themselves, And he's the patriot who delves— In tine, my friends, 'tis Arbor Day, Well worthy of an abler lay, To tir the impulse, clear the sight, Keipiired to penetrate the night iif tut,lire ages, which may bless Tin: providential care of this. 'I'll, it "j-t your coats, ami bend tile back. Disdain to stop wh- ii braces crack, Nor lease, till in the loosened mound, \ our arbor has a footing found. August I, I-.:;. K.