For a June entertainment nothing could be more suitable than a tree party, for at this season the new leaves are all out and everything looks fresh and green. Trim the house with branches and blossoms, having as many varieties of trees represented as possible. When all the guests have arrived, give to each one a strip of cardboard (having a pencil tied to it with a bit of green ribbon) upon which are written the following questions for them to answer: | 1. | What's the social tree, | 1. | Pear. Tea. | | 2. | And the dancing tree, | 2. | Hop. | | 3. | And the tree that is nearest the sea? | 3. | Beech. | | 4. | The daintiest tree, | 4. | Spruce. | | 5. | And the kissable tree, | 5. | Tulip. Yew. | | 6. | And the tree where ships may be? | 6. | Bay. | | 7. | What's the telltale tree, | 7. | Peach. | | 8. | And the traitor's tree, | 8. | Judas. | | 9. | And the tree that's the warmest clad? | 9. | Fir. | | 10. | The languishing tree, | 10. | Pine. | | 11. | The chronologist's tree, | 11. | Date. | | 12. | And the tree that makes one sad? | 12. | Weeping Willow. | | 13. | What's the emulous tree, | 13. | Ivy. | | 14. | The industrious tree, | 14. | Spindle-tree. | | 15. | And the tree that will never stand still? | 15. | Caper. | | 16. | The unhealthiest tree, | 16. | Sycamore. | | 17. | The Egyptian-plague tree, | 17. | Locust. | | 18. | And the tree neither up nor down hill? | 18. | Plane. | | 19. | The contemptible tree, | 19. | Medlar. | | 20. | The most yielding tree, | 20. | India-rubber. | | 21. | And the tree that bears a curse? | 21. | Fig. Damson. | | 22. | The reddish brown tree, | 22. | Chestnut. | | 23. | The reddish blue tree, | 23. | Lilac. | | 24. | And the tree like an Irish nurse? | 24. | Honeysuckle. | | 25. | What is the tree | | That makes each townsman flee? | 25. | Citron. | | 26. | And what round itself doth entwine? | 26. | Woodbine. | | 27. | What's the housewife's tree, | 27. | Broom. | | 28. | And the fisherman's tree, | 28. | Basswood. | | 29. | What by cockneys is turned into wine? | 29. | Vine. | | 30. | What's the tree that got up, | 30. | Rose. | | 31. | And the tree that was lazy, | 31. | Satin. Aloe. | | 32. | And the tree that guides ships to go forth? | 32. | (H)elm. | | 33. | The tree that's immortal, | 33. | Arbor-vitÆ. | | 34. | The trees that are not, | 34. | Dyewoods. | | 35. | And the tree whose wood faces the north? | 35. | Southernwood. | | 36. | The tree in a bottle, | 36. | Cork. | | 37. | The tree in a fog, | 37. | Smoketree. Hazel. | | 38. | And what each must become ere he's old? | 38. | Elder. | | 39. | The tree of the people, | 39. | Poplar. | | 40. | The traveler's tree, | 40. | Wayfaring tree | | 41. | And the sad tree when schoolmasters hold? | 41. | Birch. | | 42. | What's the tree that has passed through the fiery heat, | 42. | Ash. | | 43. | That half-given to doctors when ill? | 43. | Coffee. | | 44. | The tree that we offer to friends when we meet? | 44. | Palm. | | 45. | And the tree we may use as a quill? | 45. | Aspen. | | 46. | What's the tree that in death will benight you? | 46. | Deadly nightshade. | | 47. | And the tree that your wants will supply? | 47. | Breadfruit. | | 48. | And the tree that to travel invites you, | 48. | Orange. | | 49. | And the tree that forbids you to die? | 49. | Olive. | Then the following game may be played: Pin a slip, containing the name of some tree, on the back of each person present. Questions may be asked concerning it, which will give a clue to the wearer, who is to guess the tree he is supposed to represent. As fast as each one is guessed, the slip is taken off the back and pinned on the breast. Allow fifteen minutes for each person to write an original poem on the tree he represents. Judges are appointed to select the best poem, and a suitable prize can be awarded.
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