FLORAL ISMBLEMS. 227 



OBSTACLES, TO OVERCOME, OR 

 SURMOUNT. 



MissELTOE. — Viscum. 



'* The naturalists are puzzled to explain 

 How trees did first this stranger entertain ; 

 Whether the busy birds ingraft it there. 

 Or, else, some deity's mysterious care. 

 As Druids thought ; for when the blasted oak 

 By lightning falls, this plant escapes the stroke." 



Garth. 



This plant, which is without an earthly in- 

 heritance, makes no difficulty in attaching 

 itself to the branches of lofty trees, and there, 

 without apparent labour, subsists upon the 

 ascending sap of its supporter. 



When drawn suspended on a tree, it is the 

 symbol of a flattering hanger-on. 



q2 



