RECREA TION. 



34i 



versation. Some brought flutes with 

 which to accompany the singers, while 

 others sang unaccompanied, with voices 

 so sweet they must have borrowed the 

 strains of far-off angelic hosts, or kept 

 the melody of the stars on the first 

 morning of creation. Miss Brook, be- 

 ing musical and bright, was also invited 

 and played a dulcet accompaniment for 

 the birds. 



All the flower-children of Mother 

 Nature were allowed to be present, 

 and assisted in serving the refreshments. 

 The daisies, those tender and innocent 

 ones, opened their 

 sleepy eyes and start- 

 ed up from their 

 grassy couches to 

 hear the music, and 

 the violet smiled, 

 though she shed a 

 tear as she recalled 

 scenes and 

 sounds like 

 these in days 

 gone by. The 

 rosy arbutus 

 t h r e w back 

 her white cov- 

 erlet, donned 

 a green robe 

 and joined the com- 

 pany. The shy little 

 anemone retired with- 

 in the shade of a great 

 oak and could not be 

 induced to join in the 

 gaieties, but her blue- 

 eyed sisters, the bold- 

 er hepaticas, were running about every- 

 where. The marigolds, in their gorgeous 

 gowns of yellow, quite overshadowed 

 their more modest sisters. Those prim 

 spinsters, the trilliums, daintily dressed 

 in white, still lingered in youthful soci- 

 ety (for though a trifle antiquated they 

 did not know it) and devoted themselves 

 to Mr. Bloodroot, the pallid young rec- 

 tor, who was particularly admired for his 

 spotless linen. Little Miss Clover was 

 there too, blushing rosy from the assidu- 

 ous attentions of Mr. Bumble Bee, while 

 Dandy Lion, a vain-glorious young 

 dude, shook out his golden curls over 

 his green waistcoat and endeavored to 

 make a pleasing impression on Miss 

 White Clover. 



For some time the admiring guests 

 flitted through the spacious mansion ; 



then the woodpecker opened the dance 

 with his grand march, and as the birds 

 passed in couples down the great hall, 

 the full orchestra assembled, and, with 

 feet and wings, the company were soon 

 keeping time, in unnumbered fantastic 

 figures, to strains sweeter than those of 

 Strauss cr Chopin. A pair of young 



