Friends and parents gather with us, In our school today, Thoughts of grove and tangled wildwoods, In our minds hold sway.

CHORUS.

Spare the trees, Oh thoughtless woodman, Hew but what you need, They give balm to vagrant breezes, For their lives we plead.

Giant oaks in sunny pastures Cast their pleasant shade Maples clad in gold and crimson Cheer the darkened glade.

Lofty firs and murmuring pine trees Shading mountain's crest, Are the growth of weary ages; For them we protest.

Heralded in leafy banners, Season's four we greet; Every bough a sacred temple For the song birds sweet.

--_Iowa Special Days._

WE LOVE THE 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 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, b.u.t.ternut and Walnut, too, Hickory, so staunch and true, Ba.s.swood, 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!

--_Ada S. Sherwood, in Journal of Education._

RECITATION.

Do you know the trees by name When you see them growing In the fields or in the woods?

They are well worth knowing.

Watch them in the early spring, When their buds are swelling; Watch each tiny little leaf Leave its little dwelling.

Watch them later, when their leaves Everywhere are showing; Soon you'll know the different trees When you see them growing.

--_Selected._

GOIN' BAREFOOTED.

It's more fun goin' barefoot than anythin' I know, There ain't a single 'nother thing that helps your feelin's so.

Some days I stay in muvver's room, a-gettin' in her way, An' when I've bothered her so much, she sez, "Oh, run and play!"

I say, "Kin I go barefoot?" En she sez, "If y' choose."

Nen I alwuz wanter holler when I'm pullin' off my shoes!

It's fun a-going barefoot when yer playin' any game, 'Cause robbers would be noisy, an' Indians awful tame Unless they had their shoes off when they crep' up in the night, An' folks can't know they're comin' till they get right close in sight.

An' I'm surely goin' barefoot every day when I get old, An' haven't got a nurse to say I'll catch my death of cold.

An' if you're goin' barefoot, yer want to go outdoors; Y' can't stretch out an' dig yer heels in stupid, hardwood floors, Like you can dig 'em in th' dirt. An' where th' long gra.s.s grows, Th' blades feel kinder tickley and cool between yer toes.

So when I'm pullin' off my shoes I'm mighty 'fraid I'll cough, 'Cause then I know Ma'd stop me 'fore I got my stockin's off.

If y' often go 'round barefoot there's lots o' things to know-- Of how to curl yer feet on stones, so they won't hurt y' so; An' when th' gra.s.s is stickley, an' p.r.i.c.ks y' at a touch, Jes' plank yer feet down solid, an' it don't hurt half so much; I lose my hat mos' every day--I wish I did my shoes; Er else I wisht I was so poor I hadn't none to lose!

--_Burges Johnson, in "Harper's Magazine."_

The year's at the spring, And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-sides dew pearled: The larks on the wing: The snails on the thorn; G.o.d's in his heaven-- All's right with the world!

--_Browning._

In fact there is nothing that keeps its youth So far as I know, but a tree and truth.

--_O. W. Holmes._

There's never a leaf or a blade too mean To be some creature's palace.

--_Lowell._

TIME TO RISE.

A birdie with a yellow bill Hopped upon the window sill.

c.o.c.ked his shining eye and said: "Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head!"