Evening star., 1936-04-11
Plant Tree
Posterity
Can Enjoy
It May Speak for You
to Some One You
Will Never See.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

GPRINGTIME is planting time, and
- the best of all planting is plant
ing a tree. He who plants tree does
SO in faith. Faith in Nature, faith in
the future, faith in those who are to
come after him-for tree grows slow
ly. In silence and impressive dignity it
steadily lifts its trunk and extends its
arms toward the sky. The little crea-
lures of the fields and forests find
their homes in its shelter, and the
children follow them to its comforting
presence,
Trees have personality. He who
plants a tree and has the privilege of
living along with it learns to know its
spirit almost as he knows his own, and
1t gives him the comfort of understand
ing companionship. 1t does a man
good to see tree stand stanchly un-
der the merciless pelting of Winter
snow and ice, to see it bear with grace
and dignity the changes that Nature
imposes upon it.
Spring dresses IL with delicate
beauty. There is nothing fairer in
all Nature than the first faint color
ings of the trees, the indescribable gold
and green, the soft, sweet air that
moves among them. the glow Of color
infused through the great crown. Full
foliaged. it offers cool shade against
Summers burning sun, welcomes the
birds that build in its branches and the
painting, toil-spent men who lie grate-
fully beneath its spreading canopy.
Fall dresses it in sunset colorS, the
foreword of Winters stark message.
Finally, with a blast of icy wind,
Winter strips it bare, and it stands
gray and cool, outlined against dark
ening sky. But the tree has no fear,
no regrets. It lives on steadily and in
faith, its heart beating true to its
creed. Live and grow and leave the
rest to God. A man can get very close
to a tree when he lives along with it.
If I could plant just one tree, it
would be an apple tree. It is a child
of the country, where the Spring can
visit it early, where sweet, clean air
bathes its branches. where bluebirds
and robins can swing in its branches.
Little children always choose to play
under and in and on an apple tree if
there is one about. Apple trees well
come children to their low. sturdy
branches. They stand all the scratches
and bumps that such playmates in
flict and come up smiling every time.
They offer their stout limbs for swings
and shower their blossoms upon the
youngsters who go up and down, up
and down. hoping to touch the sky
beyond the leaves.
After blossoms come the fruit. Chill
dren and apples have close affinity.
I never saw a child who would not
reach for an apple when it was handed
him. It's color speaks the language
all children understand. Its perfume
soothes and pleases them. And when
they sink their teeth into a juicy apple,
how their eyes light up, and what
smacks and grins follow each bite.
Yes, would plant an apple tree.
would know that while slept it would
grow, and that some day birds and
children and men that had never
seen would gather about 1t and bask
in its friendly spirit. I would know
that, just as I have done, some one
today unborn would sit before a fire
and take long shifts Of its burning
wood. A good apple tree finds its
heaven in the fireplace. There it rem
ders its last loving service to man
kind.
Plant your apple tree. so that one
day it may speak for you to some one
who can never hear your voice.
tCopyright. 1861