22 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



tannin 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 Philip ? 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 ?" 



