THE COMMON ALMOND. 



Phyllis ran to the sea-shore. Demophon came not ; then hope 

 fled from her breast, she fell a prey to grief and died, some 

 say by her own hand. She was transformed into an Almond- 

 tree. Demophon had been detained, but was not faithless. 

 Three months after, he returned ; returned with heart desolated 

 by the death of his betrothed. He offered sacrifices with all 

 due rites, to appease the manes of the loved one ; and the 

 fable tells us that she was sensible of his return, for the 

 Almond-tree which enclosed her in its bark, was suddenly 

 covered with flowers, as if thus she would make known to 

 him that death itself had not altered her affection. 



This, the sweet Almond, and its variety, the bitter Almond, 

 are extensively planted in the front of shrubberies and 

 suburban gardens, where, on the first approach of spring, 

 the branches, yet nude of foliage, are covered with the lovely 

 flowers of this beautiful tree. Hence the fruit-germs are 

 formed so early, that the later frosts destroy them, and they 

 do not come to maturity. How meet an emblem of that 

 thoughtlessness which too often leads youth to rash deeds, 

 which mar their future prospects, and render the efforts of a 

 lifetime nearly fruitless, when compared with the results 

 which might, and probably w^ould have followed, upon a 

 thoughtful and deliberate course of action ! 



The spring frosts destroy the fruit in embryo ; but instead 

 of causing the flowers to fade and perish, they seem to endue 

 them with fresh lustre, — 



" The almond-ljloom doth show, 

 When fully spread upon the leafless tree, 

 A whiteness like the drifted snow ;" 

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