38 WILD FLOWERS OF 



and drop the neglected ivy : it " dies and makes no 

 sign" So that in good sooth ivy must be contented 

 with the fate assigned to it in the old carol cited by 

 BRAND, where it is put in contrast with the glorious 

 old English Christmas-inspiring red-berried holly :- 



" 3oUj) antl Ijys merry men tfiep tfansnn arttJ tfiet) sung, 

 Bro antf i;ur JHanTjenns tfjep toepnn antf tfjen tornng." 



But really, this is becoming a dissertation of so 

 sombre a character, that we almost fancy ourselves 

 giving out that celebrated couplet from STERNHOLD 

 and HOPKINS 



" Like to an owl in ivy-bush, 

 That self same thing am I ;" 



we must, therefore, look out for a brighter object. 

 It may not, however, be amiss to state, that ivy, if 

 planted in pots, and properly watered, may in any 

 balcony or parlour be taught to trail upon trelliswork 

 in a very elegant and ornamental manner, with little 

 trouble, and thus agreeably diversify a drawing-room 

 with a feature of the picturesque. 



Authors state ivy to be considered symbolical of 

 friendship, from the closeness of its adherence to the 

 tree on which it has once fixed itself; we, however, ra- 

 ther feel inclined to say to this too fraternal hugger 

 " Paws off!" for though its " marriageable arms ' 

 are poetically assumed to be very agreeable, and orna- 

 mental to the trees embraced, yet, where too thick, 

 they get the upper hand of their arboreal spouse, 

 and, as they cannot be shaken off, he becomes almost 

 smothered, little better than a peg whereon to hang 

 the habiliments of the deceiver who has robed the 

 captive in her verdant bonds. It is said by herbalists 

 that a decoction of the leaves or berries of the ivy 



