The flowers then bloomed above the ground, fanned by the breath of spring;
The humming-bird was sporting round upon a purple wing.
The gentle May hath passed away, the rose-leaves all are dead;
That faithless humming-bird so gay on wanton wing hath fled,
Nor cometh there to mourn their fate, but seeks a southern sun;
And thou hast left me desolate, thou false and cruel one.
"Perch is thinking of the beautiful Imogen and the scene in Colonel Hazlewood's garden," said Toney to the Professor. "Neither you nor he seem to have a very favorable opinion of the humming-bird."
"The little creature always reminds one of a fickle beauty, and Perch and I are forsaken lovers; each having felt the full force of a negative. But what is Hercules about to do?"
The giant had seated himself under the shade of a blooming bough, and for the first, and probably for the last time, until translated to a happier sphere, was endeavoring to give vent to the blissful emotions of his soul by attempting the execution of a difficult piece of music; in stentorian tones invoking a certain Susannah and imploring her on no account to weep for him. As with the voice of a Cyclops, at the close of each stanza, he bellowed forth,—