Arbor Day Leaves Part 5

=9. ADDRESS.= (BY TEACHER OR SOME ONE INVITED FOR THE OCCASION.)

=10. DECLAMATION.=

A JUNE DAY.

Now is the high-tide of the year, And whatever of life hath ebbed away Comes flooding back with a rippling cheer, Into every bare inlet and creek and bay; Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it, We are happy now because G.o.d wills it; No matter how barren the past may have been, 'Tis enough for us now that the leaves are green; We sit in the warm shade and feel right well How the sap creeps up and the blossoms swell; We may shut our eyes but we cannot help knowing That skies are clear and gra.s.s is growing; The breeze comes whispering in our ear, That dandelions are blossoming near, That maize has sprouted, that streams are flowing, That the river is bluer than the sky, That the robin is plastering his house hard by; And if the breeze kept the good news back, For other couriers we should not lack; We would guess it all by yon heifer's lowing,-- And hark! how clear bold chanticleer, Warmed with the new wine of the year, Tells all in his l.u.s.ty crowing!

Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how: Everything is happy now, Everything is upward striving; 'Tis as easy now for the heart to be true As for gra.s.s to be green or skies to be blue,-- 'Tis the natural way of living.

--LOWELL: _Sir Launfal._

=11. VOTING FOR THE TREE OR FLOWER WHICH SHALL BE THE EMBLEM OF THE SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR.=

Suggestions.--If this programme should prove too long, parts of it may readily be omitted. If the day be a fine one, it might be well to transfer the address and, perhaps, the readings to the third part of the programme at the tree.

In order to facilitate the voting of the tree or flower and have it occupy but little time, it would be well to have a blackboard facing the pupils during the exercises with a few drawings of trees and flowers, each with a characteristic attribute printed beneath it. The voting may then be expeditiously performed by pointing to the drawings.

In some States there is a provision for the children to vote on Arbor Day for a favorite flower, which shall be considered the State flower.

In others a State tree may be selected by vote of the children. In such cases this is the time for the selection.

=12. RECITATION.=

THE AMERICAN FLAG.

When Freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night And set the stars of glory there; She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies, And striped its pure celestial white With streakings of the morning light; Then from his mansion in the sun She called her eagle bearer down, And gave into his mighty hand The symbol of her chosen land.

--J.R. DRAKE.

[To be recited and followed immediately by the song "Star Spangled Banner."]

=13. SONG.=

STAR SPANGLED BANNER.

FRANCIS KEY.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music notation]

1. Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there; Oh, say does the star-spangled banner still wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

2. On the sh.o.r.e dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that, which the breeze o'er the lowering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses!

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; 'Tis the star-spangled banner, Oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

3. Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the pow'r that has made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto--"In G.o.d is our trust,"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

II.--The March.

_Suggestions._--See that the children keep step to the air of the song. Arrange them according to size, the smallest first, that the column may present a picturesque appearance.

MARCHING SONG.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music notation]

1. There's Springtime in the air When the happy robin sings, And earth grows bright and fair, Covered with the robe she brings.

_Cho._ March, oh, march, 'tis Arbor Day, Joy for all and cares away; March, oh, march, from duties free To the planting of the tree.

2. There's Springtime in the air When the buds begin to swell, And woodlands, brown and bare, All the summer joys foretell.--_Cho._

3. There's Springtime in the air When the heart so fondly pays This tribute, sweet and rare, Which to mother earth we raise.--_Cho._

III.--Exercises at the Tree-Planting.

=1. PLANTING OF TREES.= (ONE OR MORE).

=2. SONG.=

PLANTING THE TREE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music notation]

Gather we here to plant the fair tree; Gladsome the hour, joyous and free, Greeting to thee, fairest of May!

Breathe sweet the buds on our loved Arbor Day.

Gather we now, the sapling around, Singing our song--let it resound:

_Refrain._ Happy the day! Happy the hour!

Joyous we, all of us, feel their glad power.

Shovel and spade, trowel and hoe, Carefully dig up the quick-yielding ground; Make we a bed, softly lay low Each little root with the earth spread around; Snug as a nest, the soil round them pressed, This is the home that the rootlings love best.

_Refrain._

Moisten and soften the ground, ye Spring Rains; Swell ye the buds, and fill ye the veins, Bless the dear tree, bountiful Sun; Warm thou the blood in the stem till it run; Hasten the growth, let leaves have birth, Make it most beautiful thing of the earth.

_Refrain._