The Seen and the Unseen 



brace that to which it so steadfastly 

 clings, and it falls and dies. The 

 creeper, on the contrary, deprived of 

 the support with which it is familiar, 

 will wander freely round about, and 

 take up readily again with anything 

 that comes its way. It is a good 

 "mixer," has overflowing vitality, 

 makes friends with everybody, and 

 therefore enjoys universal popularity. 

 The ivy seeks and finds some one 

 thing it loves, and you must not tear 

 it loose, for, if you do, it will not rise 

 again. 



The woodbine probably cannot quite 

 understand what makes the ivy pursue 

 a course that will not stand rough 

 handling, and doubtless scorns its 

 single-heartedness of purpose; but that 

 attitude can by no possibility change 

 the other creature's nature. It was 

 born a totally different type, and in the 

 end will inevitably be crowded out and 

 overcome by coarser growths. We are 

 taught, however, that in Nature it is 



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