146 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap.IN —B. S. 
“ The farmer objects,” replied the Mistleto, “be¬ 
cause at Christmas tbe servants will cut branches of 
me to make a kissing bush, and he cannot bear young 
people to enjoy that fun, quite forgetting that when 
not so old as he is now, he was not sorry that some 
of my relations grew sufficiently close to his father’s 
house to be got at without much trouble.” 
“True, very true,” rejoined the Apple-tree. 
“And then,” continued the Mistleto, having taken 
breath, “about worshipping us; I could tell you all 
day long about the important part my ancestors used 
to play before the Christian religion came into the 
land; and if you will allow me to remain a few days, 
I could while away the long evenings by telling you 
of their great doings. It is as interesting as anything 
you ever heard.” 
“But the Oak is most respectable; and if you be¬ 
come such an object of admiration when associated 
with it, why don’t you attach yourself to that venera¬ 
ble tree ?” inquired the Apple-tree. 
“You may well ask,” rejoined the Mistleto; “but 
the fact of the matter is, the wood of the Oak, how¬ 
ever well suited for ships, is so very hard that we 
have the greatest difficulty in establishing our roots 
in it; and I am rather partial to putting my feet in a 
soft bed. Besides, there is another circumstance that 
ought not to be concealed from you. I am rather 
fond of good living, and you know that every Christ¬ 
mas the people of the villages like to have a sprig of 
Mistleto in their houses. How, if I am. hidden in a 
forest, no one will think of looking for me there; but 
