GETTING AC^AINTED WITH THE TREES 



vania likes the country roadsides, especially 

 along loamy banks. Here it has ui>equaled 

 opportunity for hanging out its attractively 

 colored fruits. As one drives along in early 

 fall, just before hard frost, these fine -looking 

 little tomato -like globes of orange and red 

 are advertised in the wind by the absence of 

 the early dropping foliage. They look luscious 

 and tempting; indeed, they are tempting! 

 Past experience — you need but one — had 

 prepared me for this "bunko" fruit; but my 

 friend would not believe me, one day in early 

 October — he must taste for himself. Taste he 

 did, and generously, for the first bite is pleas- 

 ing, and does not alarm, wherefore he had 

 time, before his insulted nerves of mouth and 

 tongue gave full warning, to absorb two of 

 the 'simmons. Whew I What a face he made 

 when the puckering juice got to work, and 

 convinced him that he had been sucking 

 a disguised lump of alum. Choking and 

 gasping, he called for the water we were far 

 from ; and he won't try an unfrosted per- 

 simmon again ! 



My clerical friend who brought home the 



230 



