HONEYSUCKLE. 107 
HONEYSUCKLE. 
GENEROUS AND DEVOTED AFFECTION - . 
Weakness is fond of strength, and often delights 
in lending to the latter its own graces. Thus have 
I seen a young Honeysuckle lovingly entwine the 
gnarled trunk of an aged oak with its supple and 
delicate arms. It would seem as if this slender 
shrub, whilst climbing upward was striving to sur- 
pass in height the monarch of the forest: soon, 
however, as though finding its effort useless, it 
droops gracefully down and encircles the brow of 
its friend with elegant festoons of fragrant flowers. 
Thus Love sometimes unites the timid maiden to 
the ruthless soldier. Unhappy Desdemonia ! it 
was the admiration awakened by courage and 
valour, but was also the feeling of thine own weak- 
ness, that attached thy heart to the terrible Othello : 
but jealousy caused thy destruction by the very 
hand that should have protected thee ! 
This excellent climbing shrub, which we also 
