THE HOLLY. 



53 



than the merciless hatchet on some December's 

 night lops off all their leaves, leaving a naked 

 unsightly stake to point out our loss : and v^e 

 grieve and are vexed, for they never acquire again 

 comparative beauty." 



On the custom of decorating dwelling-houses 

 with Holly at Christmas appears to have been 

 grafted another, that of replacing them at other 

 seasons, with a succession of different boughs. 



CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS-DAY. 



" Do-vvn with Rosemary and Bays, 

 Down with the Mistletoe ; 

 Instead of Holly now upraise 

 The greener Box for show. 



" The Holly hitherto did sway ; 

 Let Box now domineer, 

 Until the dancing Easter-day 

 Or Easter's eve appear. 



" Then yonthful Box, which now hath grace 

 Your houses to renew, 

 Gro\\T[i old, surrender must his place 

 Unto the crisped Yew. 



" When Yew is out, then Birch comes in, 

 And many flowers beside, 

 Both of a fresh and fragrant kin 

 To honour Whitsuntide. 



" Green rushes then, and sweetest bents, 

 With cooler oaken boughs. 

 Come in for comely ornaments, 

 To re-adom the house. 



Thus times do shift ; each thing his turn doth hold ; 

 New things succeed as former things grow old." 



Herrick's Hesperides, 



This tree was formerly known by the names of 

 Hulver and Holme, besides its more usual appel- 

 lation. It is still called Hulver in Norfolk, and 

 Holme in Devonshire, in which last county it has 



