A CITY DWELLER’ S WISH

I LOVE the leaf of the old oak-tree,

I love the gum of the spruce,

I love the bark of the hickory,

And I love the maple’ s juice.

On the walnut’ s grain I fondly dote,

On the cherry’ s fruit I’ d dine,

And I love to lie in a narrow boat,

And scent the odor of pine.

Ah, me! how I wish some power grand

Would invent some single tree

With all these points well developed, and

Would send that tree to me!

I’ d plant it deep in the jardinière

That stands in this flat of mine;

I’ d give it the sweetest, tenderest care,

And water its roots with wine.