32 THE CHEONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



IV. 

 " Thus, though abroad I might appear 

 Harsh and austere, 

 To those who on my leisure woiild intrude, 



Reserved and rude, 

 Gentle at home amid my friends I 'd be, 

 Like the high leaves upon the Holly Tree. 



V. 



" And should my youth, as youth is apt, I know, 



Some harshness shew, 

 All vain asperities I day by day 



Would wear away. 

 Till the smooth temper of my age should be 

 Like the high leaves upon the Holly Tree. 



VI. 

 " And as when all the summer trees are seen 

 So bright and green, 

 The Holly leaves a sober hue display 



Less bright than they, / 



But when the bare and wintry woods Vv'e see 

 What then so cheerful as the Holly Tree ? 



VII. 



" So serious should my youth appear among 

 The thoughtless throng. 

 So would I seem amid the young and gay 



More grave than they. 

 That in my age as cheerful I might be 

 As the green winter of the Holly Tree." 



Next to the holly we may place the Portugal laurel and 

 the bay laurel as the most common ornaments of the 

 shrubbery; for though in some situations the arbutus and 

 sweet bay attain a large size, they are more delicate and 

 not so common as those just named. The leaves of the 



