22 THE oak: stem and arms. 



is often forty^ or even sixty feet in height, 

 before it has a branch. Observe, m what a 

 right-angled manner the stubborn branches 

 shoot from the main trunk; and afterwards 

 start abruptly in various directions. When 

 the tree is in full leaf, you can scarcely discern 

 this ; yet if you go nearer, and almost under 

 it, you will perceive it, especially if you com- 

 pare its square-turned and akimbo arms with 

 those of its neighbour there, on the left, the 

 pliant ash." 



Those straggling arms are useless, I sup- 

 pose," said Harry : there is no cutting a 

 long plank out of them." 



" Then they are only unfit for plankSy Mr. 

 Henry. So far from being useless, they are, 

 for some purposes, very valuable. They are 

 already bent, you see ; and therefore, suit 



