88 ADDRESS TO A HOLLY. 



ARTICLE VII. 



ADDRESS TO A HOLLY. 



Oh, lively holly tree ! 

 How cheering thou to me 

 When Winter's howling tempests drive around ; 

 How pleasing still to view 

 Thy sweet unchanging hue 

 When every other tree is bare and leafless found! 

 For through the varying year 

 No yellow tints appear 

 To streak thy leaves with symptoms of decay ; 



When Spring's mild zephyrs blow, 

 And Summer's fervours glow. 

 The same sweet aspect still dost thou display. 

 When bounteous Autumn pours 

 Her rich o'erflowing stores, 

 Aud the descending vale is redden'd all 

 Into the gorgeousness 

 Which does the farmer bless, 

 And loudly on his grateful feelings call. 



"When Winter's darken'd day 

 O'er Nature's charms bears sway, 

 And Flora's beauties fall beneath the blast, 

 Oh '. still is to be seen 

 Thy everlasting green 

 Delightful and still lovely to the last. 

 A faithful emblem thou 

 Of Friendship ever true, 

 And Love that ever constant will remain ; 



Though fortune may not smile 

 Life's trials to beguile, 

 And youth's high day-dreams cheat us not again. 

 For what a varied scene 

 Has human life e'er been, 

 How changing is the aspect of our fate ! 

 To-day we gaily smile, 

 Pure joys our hours beguile, 

 And happiness is ours, though void of state. 

 To-morrow comes a blast, 

 Like Boreas sweeping past, 

 And scattering Flora's beauties in the gale ; 

 That lays our prospects low, 

 And leaves but pain and woe, 

 And all the countless ills that man assail. 



But though Hope may yet deceive, 

 And I be doom'd to grieve 

 To see my fondest hopes still undermm'd, 

 I still can wisely see 

 That Wisdom whispers me 

 To His just Providence to be resign'd. 

 And let whate'er betide 

 In life's tempestuous tide, 

 Sweet Gratitude shall still remain with me, 

 For One kind, gentle friend, 

 That, faithful to the end, 

 Remains to smile upon my path, like thee, sweet Holly Tree ! 



W.m. Hadrjson. 

 Felton Bridyc End, February 17, 1841. 



