ACORNS. 29 



performers, a wood-squirrel, which had, it 

 seems, been just gathering acorns for his winter 

 store. He seemed rather displeased at our 

 presence, and, in a half angry manner, as if he 

 would frighten us away, he every now and then 

 stared, murmured, and threw himself about, to 

 our great amusement. 



- But," I resumed, we were inquiring 

 whether acorns were eatable or not ? I fancy 

 little scug was indignant at hearing the stand- 

 ing repast of himself and friends thus spoken 

 of. Besides custom, which does so much to 

 make us not only patient, but pleased, with 

 many otherwise disagreeable things, climate 

 must be taken into the account. We have 

 chestnut trees in England, — of the Spanish 

 kind, I mean, — but the fruit does not ripen 

 well here, nor acquire its proper and native fla- 



I 



