52 FLORAL EMBLEMS. 



As emblematical of hospitality's festive 

 month. 



" The cluster'd berries claim the eye 



O'er the bright holly's gay green leaves:" 



We therefore weave our garland with this 

 glossy foliage intermixed with its vermilion 

 berries, from the centre of which we suspend 

 a branch of mirth-inspiring* misletoe. 



Peacham says '' December must be ex- 

 pressed with a horrid and fearful aspect, clad 

 in Irish rugge, or coarse freeze girt upon him, 

 instead of a garland upon his head, three or 

 four night-caps, with a Turkish turban over 

 them. His nose red, his mouth and beard 

 clogged with icicles, at his back a bundle of 

 holly, ivy, or misletoe, holding in furred mit- 

 tens the sign of Capricornus. 



We shall conclude our emblems of the 

 months by Peacham's instructions to the pain- 

 ters of the seventeenth century. 



