144 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. IX.— B. S. 
pendent gentleman, though you have no resources of 
your own. It is very different with the Hop, of 
whom you speak so disparagingly; he is too weak to 
stand alone, and requires support; but he does his 
best. All day long he is busy in the ground, picking 
up whatever he can; and look at these fine clusters 
of his; they will be gathered presently by our master, 
and give a fine flavour to the home-brewed ale, of 
which he is as fond as of the cider he makes of my 
fruit. Could one ever look for any such returns from 
you ?” 
u A fine thing to be proud of,” exclaimed the Mis- 
tleto sneeringly. “Ale and cider! My fruit, I am 
happy to say, does not serve the ends of drunkenness. 
Man makes it into excellent lime to catch such sing¬ 
ing birds as he does not wish to kill. It therefore 
actually saves life, whilst yours may be said to de¬ 
stroy it. But it is mere labour thrown away to argue 
with you. I see you are in a dreadfully bad humour 
to-day, and it is no use to ask any favour of you. I 
always thought you hospitable, but I am sorry to find 
that you are, after all, one who greedily keeps every¬ 
thing to himself,—if, indeed, he has anything to spare.” 
“ I knew that I should be abused,” replied the Ap¬ 
ple-tree ; “ real beggars always grumble when refused 
charity.” 
The Mistleto could see the Apple-tree was getting 
angry, and fearing that he would speak so loud that 
the whole neighbourhood would overhear their dis¬ 
pute, and make it more difficult to get snug quarters 
anywhere else, he went to another very fine Apple- 
