52 



THE YOUNG FLORIST. 



deniy over their heads, with a noise like a 

 tempest, which after a few circuitous, whirl- 

 ing flights, showing their black dress, orna- 

 mented by the vermilion red of their wings 

 to the best advantage, settled upon a large red 

 maple below the garden in the meadow. The 

 tree itself, an object of admiration, at this sea- 

 son of the year, covered with its showy scarlet 

 flowers, was beheld with silent astonishment 

 as its branches literally bent with its noisy 

 visitors clothed in their funereal plumage, con- 

 trasting elegantly with the flowers of the tree. 

 They commenced such a concert of discord 

 and harmony, that it might be heard for more 

 than a mile ; each performer appearing to exert 

 himself to be heard above the rest. After 

 continuing their clamorous concert for a few 

 minutes, as if by common consent, they sud- 

 denly commenced their social, chattering 

 flight to a distant part of the meadow. 



