THE MISTLETOE BOUGH. 119 



Parasitism seldom remains a stable habit of life ; 

 and if the forces of Nature work out their end as, 

 apparently, they have done in other plants there 

 may dawn a far-off Christmas season when mistle- 

 toe, having lost its leaves, and parted with the last 

 evidences of its independence, will no longer remain 

 to cheer the heart of man, or to grace the social life 

 of Yule. 

 9 



