FABLES. 



143 



THE FIR AND THE BRAMBLE. 



A tall Fir, that stood towering- up in the forest, 

 was so proud of his dignity and high' station, that 

 he looked with disdain upon the little shrubs that 

 grew beneath him. A lowly Bramble had often 

 been made to feel the insults and gloomy frowns of 

 his lofty neighbour, who, on the slightest rufflings 

 of the winds, shook his extended arms over the 

 humble shrub, and upbraided him with his con- 

 temptible situation. As for me, said the Fir, I am 

 the first in the forest for beauty and rank: my top 

 shoots up into the clouds, and my branches display 

 a perpetual verdure, whilst you lie grovelling upon 

 the ground, and could not live \vere I to leave off 

 sprinkling you with the drops from my extremities. 

 At this the Bramble set up his prickles, and re- 

 plied, that his haughtiness arose from pride and 

 ignorance ; for He that made thee a lofty tree, 



