A BROKEN STRA W. 



branches facetiously called "lawyers," in some parts of 

 England, where these gentlemen are supposed not to let a 

 client off easily when they get one. 



The bramble creeps along through hedges, strikes roots 

 afresh, keeps off sun and air from the young shoots of the 

 hawthorn, and seems to choke every thing which it comes 

 near ; just as envy, stealthily, treacherously, and spitefully, 

 seeks to destroy the character and possessions of one who is 

 seemingly prosperous in wealth, or friends, or esteem. Miss 

 Twamley assigns the bramble to a girl who is crabbed, and 

 displeased with another more amiable than herself, — 



" Yon Bramble fling to Rachel Rann 

 So crabby and so spiteful ; " 



and most aptly does this wild, rough, and prickly plant befit 

 this very objectionable trait. 



Yet the Bramble affords us some pleasure by its pretty pink 

 flowers, and perhaps still more by its fruit, the blackberry, 

 which, when fully ripe, are very agreeable to the palate, and 

 cooling ; if eaten before, they are unpleasant and sour, and 

 if when over ripe, they are nauseous. They make agreeable 

 tarts, but are somewhat insipid. 



A BROKEN STRAW.— Rupture. Dissension. 



The custom of breaking a straw, to intimate the rupture 

 of all mutual obligations, may be traced to a very early 

 period. Madame de la Tour claims for it even a royal 



37 



