54 



THE YOUNG FLORIST. 



garden, that in 1749, a bounty of three pence 

 per dozen was offered for these birds, by 

 government, which caused a great destruction 

 among them. The consequence was, that the 

 Northern States experienced a complete loss 

 of the grass and grain crops, which were now 

 destroyed by insects. 



Margaret. It seems to me then that the 

 farmer, who would destroy these birds because 

 they take only what is their lawful wages for 

 the sake of adding a little more to his store, is 

 like the covetous dog in the fable — who when 

 crossing the brook with a piece of meat in his 

 mouth, and thinking that his shadow was anoth- 

 er dog with a piece of meat, caught at it, and 

 in so doing lost what he had. — Will you tell 

 me where these birds reside in the winter ? 



Henry. Early in November they leave the 

 Northern States, with the exception of a few 

 who linger on the sea coast or the Middle 



