78 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



is the bark, which is black, and almost always 

 split up into little squares ; the other curious 

 thing is in the branches, of which, by-the- 

 way, the number is much smaller than on 

 other trees : if you look at them you will find 

 them always arranged so as to make crosses." 



" It is a very beautiful tree, Uncle Philip, 

 in spring, when the flowers are out. But I 

 never heard that it was good for any thing. 

 The berries are not good, I know, for I have 

 tried them." 



" Yes, they are bitter enough ; but your 

 friends the robins are glad enough to get 

 them when the frost comes. As to the uses 

 of the tree, in the first place, it is very beauti- 

 ful, as you say ; the dark green leaves and 

 the abundance of white flowers are pleasant 

 to the eye, and when the seeds or berries are 

 ripe, I do not know any thing that is more 

 lovely in colour. As for the wood — " 



" The wood, Uncle Philip ! what can the 

 wood of such little trees be good for ?" 



" I was going to tell you, when you inter- 

 rupted me, which is a very bad practice. 

 Small as it is, the wood is very hard, and fine- 

 grained, and solid, and takes a good polish, 

 and it makes capital handles for hammers, 



