42 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
Mark well the flowering alnrond in the wood ; 
If odorous blooms the bearing branches load, 
The glebe will answer to the sylvan reign, 
Great heats will follow, and large crops of grain. 
But if a wood of leaves o’ershade the tree, 
Such and so barren will the harvest be, 
In vain the hind shall vex the threshing floor, 
For empty straw and chaff will be thy store. 
Dryden’s Virgil. 
Fable confers an affecting origin on this tree. 
It relates that Demophoon, son of Theseus and 
Phaedra, in returning from the siege of Troy, 
was thrown by a storm on the shores of Thrace, 
where then reigned the beautiful Phyllis. The 
young queen graciously received the prince, fell 
in love with him, and became his wife. When 
recalled to Athens by his father’s death, Demo¬ 
phoon promised to return in a month, and fixed 
the day. The affectionate Phyllis counted the 
hours of his absence, and at last the appointed 
'day arrived. Nine times she repaired to the 
shore; but, losing all hope of his return, she 
dropped down dead with grief, and was turned 
into an Almond-tree. Three months after¬ 
wards, Demophoon returned. Overwhelmed 
with sorrow, he offered a sacrifice at the sea- 
