146 FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



"It is green in the Winter and gay in the Spring, 

 And the old Holly Tree is a beautiful thing. 



The Holly among the Romans denoted peace and good will, and 

 possibly for this cause was chosen by the early Christians as symbolical 

 of the peaceable character that should distinguish the followers of the 

 Lord Jesus Christ — the Prince of Peace. The earliest notice of decking 

 the churches and dwelling-houses with Holly, is in the reign of Henry 

 VI, by some pious, but now forgotten writer — a chronicler of old 

 customs — -who devoutly lamenting over the disuse of some observances 

 in church matters, consoles himself with the remark that "Our churches 

 and houses are decked with Rosemary, Holly and Ivy, with other 

 goodlye shrubbes that keepe ever green ; doubtless to reminde us that 

 the childe then borne was God and man, who shoulde spring uppe as a 

 tender floure to live in oure hartes, and there dwelle for ever more." 



Our woody, red-berried Winter-berry is the nearest relation we have 

 to the Holly in Ontario, but it is not prickly, neither is it an evergreen. 



The crest of the Strickland family is the Holly Tree, of the Gordons, 

 the Ivy. This custom of heraldic bearings, especially the crest sur- 

 mounting the coat of arms, is very ancient, and may be referred back to 

 the time when writing was not in use, and formed a sort of pictorial 

 history as to the origin of the family. We find it here among Indian 

 tribes, each tribe, and the members of it, being known by its totem, or 

 heraldic sign. Thus we have the " Eagle Tribe," the " Crane," the 

 "Crow," the "Snake," &c. The figure of bird, beast, tree, or reptile, 

 being the sign adopted by the heads of the tribe, or chiefs, as the sign 

 manual to be appended to any deed or treaty ; scratched or figured with 

 pen, charred stick, or knife, whatever is the instrument at hand, the 

 totem is rudely drawn, and is the superscription of the tribe, or 

 their totem. 



The individual name is derived from some circumstance indepen- 

 dent of the totem of the tribe ; whatever object first meets the eye of 

 the child is given as a name. Thus we find " Opechee " (robin), 

 "Omemce" (wild pigeon), "Snowstorm," " Red Cloud," "Westwind," 

 " Murmuring Waters," and other poetical names among the Indians, 

 descriptive of natural objects or events. 



The Holly* is endeared to us by many interesting associations 

 connected with childhood and youth up to extreme old age. 



It gladdens the cottage, it brightensf tiie hall, 

 And the gay Ilolly-tree is beloved by all ; 

 It shadows the altar, it hallows the hearth — 

 An emblem of peaceful and innocent mirth. 



