The Song of the Giant Redwood

(The following poem appeared in a beautiful and unusual complimentary folder, sent out by the Pacific Lumber Com.pany, under the title of the "Sequoia Sempervirens (Redwood Everlasing) of Humboldt County California.': 'fhe author, James NL Leaver of Scotia, Ca'li,fornia, has been a prominent figure in the lumber industry for the past forty years. He has long been affiliated with the wooden box trade and forty years ago found him operating a box factory in ,one of our large eastern cities, in the days when "shook" was unknown. Twenty five ye,ars ago, he was a regular contributor to "Packages," which carried a series of articles fror.n l.ris.pen entitled "Box N{aking For A Profit." In the manufacture of boxes, Mr. Leaver found that much of the price cutting lvas due to a poor knowle,dge of estim,ating and started to compile a box esti'mator which he published. "The Olficial Estimator," has been adopted by the National Association"of Box Manufacturers as the offtcial estimator and it is a'lso in use by all the leading box and mill associations of the country. He is also the author and publisher of the "Lumber Estimator;" "Leaver's' O,fficial Feetage Estim,ator;" an'd "Surface Measure Estimator." Mr. Leaver is still very active in lumber circles, and at the present time is assistant to the president of the Pacific Lumber Company, J. E. Emmert.)

Song Of The Giant Redwood I

A stripling I rvhen Bethe'len.r's Star, Effulgent, shed its constant ray lior quidance of wise men from far

To where the infant Sav,ior lay.

O'er manger bed the angels then Sang clear and sweet, in joyful strain, "Peace on this Earth, Good-Will to mert," With dulcet golden harp's refrain.

On California's northwest shore

I gained in stature, girth and grace, As ever to the light I bore

In stately strength and pride of race, My trunk, with 'armored bark arrayed, Absorbed cloud's mist and sun's wartn ray; My roots, 'neath thickest fern's cool shade, From Earth's moist store drank deep eacl-r day.

'lh e centuries came, tt-, "

IJ.ltttrr rl. s w en t, Harsh despots ruled and brave men fought,

Kingdoms were born and kingdoms spent, Through all t Knowledge and truth great sages sought. rroush the rack of human str,ife, str,ife. The storm-king's blast or lighting's 'Mid evil, good; throughout my life, Serene I stood, whatever came.

Iv

flame,

'.lwo thousand years-now o'er my crest Etheric songs "Marconi" singsBeneath "Bell" talks with busy zest, "Morse" flashes on electric wings"Wrights" planes rush by; with great turmoil T'he lambent air is tossed and riven, The "Baldwin" horse invades my soil, By daring men and vapor driven. V

Ere long the knights of axe and saw Will surely end my lengthe.ned sway, And I, who thrived by nature's law, Must yield to puny man's rough w,ay. E'en then I shall not die-but ch'ange, To things of beauty that shal'l grace The home, the mart, in widest range In age-long tenure, worth and place.

Vi

Exult I then that nature's plan, So comprehensive, sound and true, Did form me thus to succor man, With needful special end in view: That so whene'er in woods or mill, My ,bulk, transformed by brawn and brain. Will unborn generations thril'l So long as art and skill remain, Scotia, Cal.

James M. Leaver