CHRISTMAS MISTLETOE 181 
cottonwood did its best to shake me down, or 
at the least, to make me battle for my mistletoe, 
I cling here hardily like a sailor to a mast on 
windy seas and on swaying ship and show this 
particular wind and this particular tree what 
a much of a man it has to deal with; and I pro- 
ceed leisurely, as befits a pleasurer, to do this 
particular Christmas shopping. All’s delight. 
I gather the mistletoe and toss it down trust- 
ing to the wind to cushion it for its fall. Swaying 
like nesting birds, I pursue this Christmas glad- 
ness and gather enough mistletoe to give festival 
for all our Christmas kissing. 
I come down leisurely as becomes a man who 
has succeeded in his quest, gather my mysterious 
Christmas spoils, and in the blowing wind and 
clear sunlight dimming now a little toward 
evening, begin footing it home in happy return 
for the happy day and happy voyage in a revel 
of adventure doing a thing I had never before 
done. 
And when I came to the house that held my 
loved ones, the lights were lit and I was given 
a kissing-welcome under the mistletoe of my 
own gathering, which was a welcome home to 
sow sunshine across my landscape of life for all 
years everywhere. 
