147 
Chap. IX.— B. S.] THE MORAL OE THE STORY. 
if I am ill an orchard, where everybody sees me, I 
stand a fair chance of being fetched, and then partake 
of the Christmas cheer as a matter of course.” 
The Apple-tree was himself very fond of good liv¬ 
ing ; and when the Mistleto alluded to the Christmas 
cheer, his month began to water. The Mistleto saw 
his advantage, and continued: — 
1 ‘blow, my dear Sir, I have a proposition to make. 
Let me take up my quarters in your branches till 
Christmas, and if I am fetched to any of the houses, 
I shall bring back with me plenty of good things, and 
then we will have a jolly time of it.” 
The Apple-tree’s weak point had been touched, 
lie allowed the Mistleto to take up his quarters with 
him, thinking it would only be for a short time, and 
he would be well remunerated for it. At first Mis¬ 
tleto was pleasant enough, saying many flattering 
things, and telling many a good story; but when 
firmly established, he assumed airs as if everything 
belonged to him. Not satisfied with occupying more 
room than had originally been agreed upon, he invited 
his friends and relations, and after the door had been 
once opened to them, there was no getting rid of 
them. The Apple-tree began to complain; he had as 
yet not seen anything of the Christmas cheer, nobody 
having come for the Mistleto, and at last he resolved 
to rid himself of his unpleasant visitors. One night 
when there was a heavy gale, he improved upon the 
occasion by shaking himself violently; but the only 
result was that all his fruit-blossoms fell off, and one 
of the best branches, hitherto free from the Mistletos, 
l 2 
