AND FLOWERS OF POETRY. 
209 
SHARPNESS. 
BARBERRY. 
The fruit of the barberry is so very acid that birds will sel¬ 
dom eat them. The tree is armed with thorns, and the flowers 
are so irritable, that at the slightest touch all the stamina close 
around the pistil. Thus this tree bears all the characteristics 
of persons whose temper is sharp and irritable. 
Now Fate preserve thee — lady fair! — 
I will not breathe the Frenchman’s prayer, 
Who to the maiden’s great alarm, 
Exclaimed: “ God pickle you, madame !” 
But “Fate preserve thee!” — even as they, 
Our housewives notable, allay, 
With sugared sweets, an acid juice, 
And store it up for future use; — 
So “Fate preserve thee ,” or thou’It stay, 
Unplucked, upon the parent-tree; 
Like barberries only fit to be 
Packed in a gallipot away; 
Unless thy sharpness be effaced, 
Thou’rt far too sour to suit my taste. 
F. S. O. 
