34 



THE HOLLY. 



more to do, for it forms its own defence ; and, 

 moreover, it has one advantage over most other 

 plants, namely, it can push its way successfully 

 up amid surrounding shade and pressure. Its 

 lateral branches, too, will take root, so soon as 

 they come in contact with the soft soil beneath 

 them. 



If you place a young holly plant in a full- 

 grown hawthorn hedge, it will vegetate in that 

 incommodious site; and will manage, at last, 

 to raise its head aloft, and nourish clear of all 

 opposition. Thus, driven from his native home, 

 perhaps through scarcity of wheat and whiskey, 

 I have known a hardy son of Caledonia, al- 

 though put in a situation apparently hostile to 

 advancement either in fame or in fortune, main- 

 tain himself under fearful trials of adversity. 

 In process of time, his perseverance and honesty 

 were crowned by complete success. He took 

 kindly to it, where you thought there would be 

 no chance of ever getting on ; but, by carefully 

 watching his hour of advance, in the death of 

 this competitor or in the negligence of that, 

 this frugal, careful, steady emigrator from the 

 North, moved slowly onwards, till, in due good 

 time, he passed through all surrounding diffi- 



