HONEYSUCKLE. 
107 
HONEYSUCKLE. 
GENEROUS AND DEVOTED AFFECTION. 
Weakness is fond of strength, and often de¬ 
lights 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 surpass 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 some¬ 
times unites the timid maiden to the ruthless 
soldier. Unhappy Desdemona! it was the ad¬ 
miration awakened by courage and valour, but it 
was also the feeling of thine own weakness, that 
attached thy heart to the terrible Othello: but 
jealousy caused thy destruction by the very hand 
that should have protected thee ! 
This elegant climbing shrub, which we also 
call the woodbine, trained against our English 
