Suggestive programs for special day exercises/Arbor Day/Historic Trees

by Jason Elmer Hammond

HISTORIC TREES.

ADA SIMPSON SHERWOOD.

I. CHARTER OAK.

In history we often see
The record of a noted tree.
We’ll now some history pages turn
And note what trees we there discern:
And foremost of this famous band
We think the Charter Oak should stand.
We love to read the story o’er,
How Andrus came from England’s shore
As governor in this new land,
And ruled it with a tyrant hand;
How, when he came to Hartford town
Demanding with a haughty frown
The charter of the people’s rights.
All suddenly out went the lights;
And, e’er again they reappeared,
The charter to their hearts endeared
Lay safely in this hollow tree.
Guard of the people’s liberty.
All honor, then, to Wadsworth’s name,
Who gave the Charter Oak its fame.

II. LIBERTY ELM.

Another very famous tree
Was called the Elm of Liberty.
Beneath its shade the patriots bold
For tyranny their hatred told.
Upon its branches high and free
Was often hung in effigy
Such persons as the patriots thought
Opposed the freedom that they sought.
In war time, oft beneath this tree
The people prayed for victory;
And when at last the old tree fell
There sadly rang each Boston bell.

III. WASHINGTON’S ELM.

In Cambridge there is standing yet
A tree we never should forget;
For here, equipped with sword and gun,
There stood our honored Washington,
When of the little patriot band
For freedom’s cause he took command.
Despite its age—three hundred years—
Its lofty head it still uprears;
Its mighty arms extending wide.
It stands our country’s boasted pride.

IV. BURGOYNE’S ELM.

When, in spite of pride, pomp, and boast,
Burgoyne surrendered with his host.
And then was brought to Albany
A prisoner of war to be.
In gratitude for his defeat.
That day, upon the city street
An elm was planted, which they say
Still stands in memory of that day.

V. THE TREATY ELM.

Within the Quaker City’s realm,
There stood the famous Treaty Elm.
Here, with its sheltering boughs above.
Good William Penn, in peace and love
The Indians met, and there agreed
Upon that treaty which we read
Was never broken, though ho oath
Was taken—justice guiding both.
A monument now marks the ground
Where once this honored tree was found.

VI. TREE FROM NAPOLEON’S GRAVE.

Within a city of the dead,
Near Bunker Hill, just at the head
Of Cotton Mather’s grave, there stands
A weeping willow which fond hands
Brought from Napoleon’s grave, they say,
In St. Helena, far away.

VII. THE CARY TREE.

I’ll tell you of a Sycamore,
And how two poets’ names it bore;
Upon Ohio’s soil it stands,
’Twas placed there by the childish hands
Of sister poets, and is known
As Alice and Phoebe Cary’s own.
One day, when little girls, they found
A sapling lying on the ground;
They planted it with tenderest care
Beside this pleasant highway, where
It grew and thrived and came to be
To all around, the Cary Tree.

VIII. HAMILTON TREES.

In New York City proudly stand
Thirteen monarchs, lofty, grand.
Their branches tow’ring toward the sun
Are monuments of Hamilton,
Who planted them in pride that we
Had won our cause and liberty—
A tribute, history relates,
To the original thirteen states.

IX. RECITATION FOR SCHOOL.

We reverence these famous trees.
What better monuments than these?
How fitting on each Arbor Day
That we a grateful tribute pay
To poet, statesman, author, friend.
To one whose deeds our hearts commend,
As lovingly we plant a tree
Held sacred to his memory;
A fresh memorial, as each year
New life and buds and leaves appear,—
A living monumental tree,
True type of immortality!