oad.

_Mr. A._ Why, if seeing men and horses is your object, you would,
indeed, be better entertained on the highroad. But did you see
William?

_R._ We set out together, but he lagged behind in the lane, so I
walked on and left him.

_Mr. A._ That was a pity. He would have been company for you.

_R._ Oh, he is so tedious, always stopping to look at this thing and
that! I had rather walk alone. I dare say he is not got home yet.

_Mr. A._ Here he comes. Well, William, where have you been?

_W._ Oh, sir, the pleasantest walk! I went all over Broom-heath, and
so up to the mill at the top of the hill, and then down among the
green meadows by the side of the river.

_Mr. A._ Why, that is just the round Robert has been taking, and he
complains of its dullness, and prefers the highroad.

_W._ I wonder at that. I am sure I hardly took a step that did not
delight me, and I have brought home my handkerchief full of
curiosities.

_Mr. A._ Suppose, then, you give us some account of what amused you so
much. I fancy it will be as new to Robert as to me.

_W._ I will, sir. The lane leading to the heath, you know, is close
and sandy, so I did not mind it much, but made the best of my way.
However, I spied a curious thing enough in the hedge. It was an old
crab-tree, out of which grew a great bunch of something green, quite
different from the tree itself. Here is a branch of it.

_Mr. A._ Ah! this is mistletoe, a plant of great fame for the use made
of it by the Druids of old in their religious rites and incantations.
It bears a very slimy white berry, of which birdlime may be made,
whence its Latin name of _Viscus_. It is one of those plants which do
not grow In the ground by a root of their own, but fix themselves upon
other plants; whence they have been humorously styled _parasitical_,
as being hangers-on, or dependents. It was the mistletoe of the oak
that the Druids particularly honored.

_W._ A little farther on I saw a green woodpecker fly to a tree, and
run up the trunk like a cat.

_Mr. A._ That was to seek for insects in the bark, on which they live.
They bore holes with their strong bills for that purpose, and do much
damage to the trees by it.

_W._ What beautiful birds they are!

_Mr. A._ Yes; they have been called, from their color and size, the
English parrot.

_W._ When I got upon the open heath, how charming it was! The air
seemed so fresh, and the prospect on every side so free and unbounded!
The