154 THE HOLLY-BUSH. 



when I might even see the melting oi that poor 

 boy's, under the sense of what his Redeemer had 

 suffered for him. For him, indeed ; such an un- 

 doubting appropriation of the work to his own 

 eternal gain, few are privileged to witness — fewer 

 to experience. 



After this, he requested us to surround the room 

 on all sides with the holly, until he sat as in a 

 bower ; and then endeavoured to instruct his sister 

 on the great difference between loving the symbol 

 and regarding it superstitiously. He adverted with 

 grief and indignation to the popish chapels, where 

 at this season, a more abundant measure of adora- 

 tion is offered at the idol shrines : and strongly 

 insisted that all honours should be paid to the living 

 God alone. 



Attached as I always was to the old custom of 

 decorating our houses and churches with the holly- 

 bough, it may be believed that the scene just 

 sketched, left an impression not calculated to de- 

 crease my partiality for the usages of other days. 

 From that evening, the holly has been to me a 

 consecrated plant : and every sprig that I have 

 gathered, has furnished me with a text for long 

 and touching meditation, on the subject of our re- 

 demption, — on the character of Him who achieved it 



When commencing these sketches, T promised 

 that they should embrace none but individuals who 

 were known to me, — how solemn is the question 



