The Holly as a Subject for the Poet 



'Twas a dying maiden sung while the cold hail rattled down, 

 And fierce winds whistled mournfully o'er Dublin's dreary 



town j 



One stiff hand clutched her Ivy-sprigs and Holly-boughs so fair 

 With the other she kept brushing the hail-drops from her hair. 



I dreamed of wanderings in the woods amongst the Holly 



green ; 



I dreamed of my own native cot, and porch with Ivy screen \ 

 I dreamed of lights for ever dimmed of hopes that can't 



return 

 And dropped a tear on Christmas fires that never more can 



burn." 



The next is from a poem of nine verses by 

 Wm. Harrison, published in the Floricultural 

 Cabinet for 1841, p. 88. 



" 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, 

 And the descending vale is redden'd all 

 Into the gorgeousness 

 Which does the farmer bless 

 And loudly on his grateful feeling call 

 57 



