22 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



ta7inin in them ; but none have so much of it 

 as the oak, and the tanners never use any- 

 other when they can get oak. Did you ever 

 taste the fruit of an oak." 



" The fruit, Uncle Phihp ? I did not know 

 that oak-trees had any fruit. I thought they 

 bore nothing but acorns." 



" Well, what is an acorn but the fruit of the 

 oak ? I suppose you think nothing deserves 

 to be called fruit unless it is very nice like a 

 pear or an apple. But did you ever taste 

 an acorn ?" 



" Not very often, I must confess ; they are 

 very bitter." 



" But the hogs eat them gladly enough ; 

 and I have heard it said, the flesh of those 

 that feed mostly on acorns is of a better flavour 

 than any other. It is not so solid, but it is 

 sweeter. I have read, too, that in ancient 

 times acorns were eaten by men; but I sus- 

 pect that it was from necessity, and not choice. 

 If you could get nothing else, I dare say you 

 would be glad enough to get acorns, and per- 

 haps come to like them in time ; and if you 

 had never had any thing better, you would 

 think acorns quite good enough. I suppose 

 you have heard of the Greenlanders, have 

 you not ?" 



