St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-05-07
Arbor Day at Union School.
Glass Tree Planted With Pleasant E
ercises.

The graduating class of the Union
school established a precedent for that
institution last Thursday by planting
class elm in front of and between the
two school houses, all the pupils of the
union schools being interested specta-
tors of the exercises. Arthur G.. Ran
dali, son of Sias Randall, performed
his part as master of ceremonies with
dignity and self-possessiOn, opening
the exercises as follows.
"In the name of the class of 'S5, we
plant this tree. May it put forth buds,
and as it's leaves expand and brighten,
may it be emblematic of our lives. AS
we go from this school to the pursuits
and duties of life, may our minds now
receiving the first impulses be filed
with gratitude to our instructors, and
may our hearts and lives continue to
grow wiser and better, and at last
reach that perfection that is known
only in that pure and better life which
is to come"
The tree was then planted, the boys
shOveling the earth over its roots.
The class marched round it, the girls
throwing flowers about the base of the
tree, and when all were seated, j.
Dickerman Bates, son of H. G.. Bates,
Esq, was conducted to the speakers
platform and introduced as the orator
of the day. His address, which was
we'll delivered and literally applauded,
was as follows:
"Teachers and SchOOlmates | pre-
sumo you all know why it is that we
are to have a holiday given us to-mOr-
row, but as it is comparatively new
custom it may.nOt be amiss to say awOrd
about it. Arbor day was first Observ-
ed in the West about the year 1874, in
that part of the West where there is a
great scarcity of noble old trees like
the ones which line our streets, fill our
forests, and make old Vermont the
most beautiful state in the union.
VermOnt-nOted for her grand old
hills, from which, rs soon as the snow
is gone, the violets and May-f1Owers
come pushing boldly out; her fertile
valleys, through which silvery streams
go bounding on with joyous leaps to
find their homes in the ocean, and
more than all for her cool, sweet-scent-
ed pines, tall and stately elms this
will be one some day. and her refresh
ing green naples.
To-day, then, we the class of 'S5 are
gathered here for the purpose of com
bining business with pleasure, so to
speak, land we are noted for trying to
do that, only we always get in little
too much pleasure) and in accordance
with the custom established by our
Western brothers, to plant tree which
shall be to us class tree, so that
when we separate and go out to do
battle with the world, we may look
back to the transplanting of this little
tree as sort of starting point in our
lives. Then as we turn our thoughts
to our school days, how many memo
ries will it awaken, both sad and
pleasant Perhaps when this tree
grows older and the birds come and
build their homes among its wide
spread branches, some of us will meet
and rest beneath its shade, and think
and talk of times gone by and of
schOOlmates who have now grown to
be hOnOred men and women. We
shall think of one, who in this very
school house began to nibble at poll
| tics, who will no doubt in the time of
which speak be the democratic NOM
inee for president We shall also
think of the teachers who by their
wise counsel and generous aid helped
us on our upward course, and who, l
am sure, will not only be gratefully re-
membered by the boys of '85 but by
the men of 1907
Three hearty cheers were given for
the class of '85, and the scholars were
dismissed until Monday.