Woodman spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough;
In youth it shelterd me,
And I’ll protect it now;
‘Twas my fore father’s hand
That placed it near his cot,
There woodman let it stand,
Thy axe shall harm it not!
That old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown
Are spread o’er land and sea,
And wouldst thou hack it down.
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth bound ties;
Oh! spare that aged oak,
Now towering to the skies!
When but an idle boy
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kiss’d me here;
My father press’d my hand
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand.
My heart strings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild bird sing,
And still thy branches bend.
Old tree! the storm still brave!
And, woodman, leave the spot;
While I’ve a hand to save,
Thy axe shall harm it not.
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