HOLLY-TREE. 361 



Thus moralized the old holly-tree. Snow had fallen 

 through the night, and lay deep upon the ground, and his 

 clear accents broke upon the silence of that wild spot, 

 where not a sound was heard, for the streamlet, that 

 used to wander with a pleasant murmur through the 

 glen, was bound with icy chains. My bright green leaves, 

 he said, are worthy of remark. Small confiding birds resort 

 beneath their shelter, when other trees are leafless. My 

 lower leaves are covered with sharp thorns, affording an im- 

 pregnable citadel, while the upper ones are quite smooth. 



" stranger ! hast thou ever stood to see 



The holly-tree? 

 The eye that contemplates it well, perceives 



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." 



