17 



man, who with his gardener paid a visit for the first time in 

 his life to his garden, and coming to a bed of tulips, says, 

 "What are these?" "Tulips, sir." "Will they boil?" 

 " 'No, sir." " Throw them out," and so on with other things. 

 Anon they came to a holly-tree, which was condemned in 

 like manner, but the gardener pointed out a little robin 

 singing on the topmost bough, and begged that for its sake 

 the tree should be spared ; the tree was left for as long as the 

 robin should frequent it, and you know it remains standing 

 to this day. 



I^ow our studies here may be but a holly-bush, yet if we 

 cultivate them diligently, we shall find that a little robin 

 presides over every one, and so long as he sings merrily in 

 the green boughs, we must be made wiser, better, happier ; 

 and an influence for good be shed abroad in our hearts, not 

 only for the remainder of this short life, but even for ever — 

 and for ever. 



