34 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
Mark well the flowering Almond 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 hy 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 li's father’s death, 
Demophoon promised to return in a month, and 
fixed the day. The affectionate Phyllis counted 
the hours of his absence, and at last the ap¬ 
pointed 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 af¬ 
terwards, Demophoon returned. Overwhelmed 
with sorrow, he offered a sacrifice at the sea- 
