Love and Friendship

Love is like the wild rose-brier; Friendship like the holly-tree. The holly is dark when the rose-brier blooms, But which will bloom most constantly? The wild rose-brier is sweet in spring, Its summer blossoms scent the air; Yet wait till winter comes again, And who will call the wild-brier fair! Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now, And deck thee with the holly's sheen, That, when December blights thy brow, He still may leave thy garland green.