The Detroit times., 1916-12-07
A Poem a Day
THE Old CHERRY TREE
Annie sIrnsnton

Annie sifnonton
tTh~ Incidents narrated In the fnl-
lowing lines are literally trIe, sul
occurred In the lifetime OF th~ late
Horatio KlnE. for "a yesrs in th"
postofh-s department al WashinSt'u.
y. g., rsslgning a. gos,,mSs.St < gen .i.
which became THE old cherry Tree.
and during VISIT 10 hiss yFnFrsut. t.
mother in 1855 occurred his ctHfsn
tlnn viii the robins and her beautiful
pleas for tncir protect on
/ Away from The tumuit ~ busy life
Afar from The musical saa-
! TN" fnuslcal. moaning sea
Lies rny native home that isie of
In me ocean ~ Memory
| IL sleeps IN the arms ~ The gentle
Md the meadows green end still
- p~acefli sui green and etI
Like a sougbird isilet in i's lesfS
Unhred.ng ufe's storm and lL
within the gardens sheltered nook
In the beautiful loug-ded years
The golden. eva nlshrd years
planted tree with hoyish hands.
And heart un~hilled ~ fears.
I The varylnE seasons went and came
Through soistic- and rain and
ThrogEh aery heat and SNOW
| ] watched the leaves unfold or fan
And the young tree thrive and
grow
1 ft gathered strength IN rain and gun
( TIL over the homestead root
The dear old honest ad root
/ II wove thru The blue - the summer
sky
It's green and velvet woof
/ Thick-ciusterec like hopes In light
young hearts.
/ Spring left n white with flowers
. - H-fH "a ~ IA fHF q r
And the tempting fruitage decked th'
In the early autumn hours
But manhood came az seasons sped
! Drifting on like nolHeless lido
A swift relentless tide
/ And I-jourueyed out from the home
A. iifes pain grow strange and
In snVod ways so srarse and
watched no more the budd.ns
As IN the hours long past
/ The hours forever past
Life buos forth hope Ike the CHEEKY
where the fruI,age falls at last
All. many forms In tho solemn years
| Have passed from that open door
From the slowly open door
Some come and g IKE tho restless
tides.
And some return no more.
| The cherries hiarken IN the sun.
while tho robins build and sing
Mid the laden branches nlng--
| But winter has come 20 some love
Life hath but one sweet spring
where tho green leaves stoop 10 the
window pane
Ny mother sits and dreams--
In The shadow sits and dreams
oil ~
Their muzlcai murmur seems.
| Through 'he iifted bouEhs the SUM
beams come
To bless her unawaTe--
lake angels una ware
And the birds with music hli her
hours
OF lonely grief and care.
or late ! sought tho oiden roof
with a feeling ~ love and pride
-pf heytsh Joy and pride
! In the quisf shade ~ the cherry tree
! found me at her side.
But the robins lightened each luscious
| hough
TIL sad IN earnest tone
with eager. earnest tone
would take the lives of the dainty
who robbed me OF my own.
And then. A. II an angel spake.
with reverent lips she sald
| with sanity tone she said
| when feel cannot praise my Zoo
1 For tine bless ug round me spread
The Joy around me spread
| When 7 cannot praise my God enough
| FOR his grace and meTcles free.
| I call on these little aonRsters sweet
To praise him alouu for me-
| oh. precious words from hallowed
tips'
| Ringing out Ike an anthem Qear--
| Like holy anthem clear ID
/ Mar In the rush ~ the bufy world,
| They are music Ia my ear.
/ Tonr wave the treo Der the nome
| stead roof
Through the summers bright ans
calm
Through many summers calm
/ May the song birds gDme % the rip
| sninE bOuEhs.
l And sing for her their psalm
| Nofs-The tree 10 still standing anf
bearinR. in Paris. Me on tho estate
| atili held by the family
Fate IN n firt who fools men anS
then giggies at than