52 



THE HOLLY. 



foresters. Its fine foliage shining in vigour and 

 health, mingling with its bright coral beads, gives 

 "US the cheering aspect of a summer's verdure, 

 when all besides is desolation and decay. It 



is not only grateful to the eye, but gives us 

 pleasure when we contemplate the food it will 

 afford our poor hedge-faring birds, when all but 

 its berries and those of the Ivy are consumed ; 

 and we are careful to preserve these gay youths of 

 promise, when we trim our fences ; but no sooner 

 do they become young trees in splendid beauty, 



