ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 83 



THE HOLLY-TREE. 



READER ! hast thou ever stood to see 

 The Holly-tree ? 

 The eye that contemplates it will perceive 



Its glossy leaves 



Ordered by an intelligence so wise 

 As might confound the Atheist's sophistries. 



Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen, 



Wrinkled and keen ; 

 No grazing cattle through their prickly round 



Can reach to wound ; 



But. as they grow where nothing is to fear, 

 Smooth and unarmed the pointless leaves appear. 



I love to view these things with curious eyes, 



And moralize ; 

 And in this wisdom of the Holly-tree 



Can emblem see 



Wherewith perchance to make a pleasant rhyme, 

 One which ma}' profit in after-time. 



Thus, though abroad perchance I might appear 



Harsh and austere 

 To those who on my leisure would intrude 



Reserved and rude, 



Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be, 

 Like the high leaves upon the Holly-tree 



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



Some harshness show, 

 All vain asperities I da}- by day 



Would wear away. 



Till the smooth temper of my age should be 

 Like the high leaves upon the Holly-tree. 



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 we see, 

 What then so cheerful as the Holly-tree ? 



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. 



ROBERT SOUTHEY, 1798. 



