USEFULNESS OF DEAL TIMBER. 65 



tish Fir^ or common Deal, and the Yew, is very ( 

 great. The Scottish and Norwegian Firs, or 

 Pines, have now become, — from the scarcity 

 of oak, and the comparative difficulty with / 

 which that and the harder woods are worked, 

 — the timber in most general use and request 

 by all our carpenters and builders. The whole 

 wood work of modern houses, and the greater 

 part of plain and useful furniture, are now 

 composed of deal^ as a matter of course ; and 

 a carpenter would stare with perplexity at be- 

 ing required to execute the same work in oak 

 or chestnut." 



Why should he wonder at that ?" asked 

 Frederick. 



Because, perhaps, neither his cash nor 

 his tools would hold out to purchase and pre- 

 pare those expensive and stubborn materials. 

 Fir timber, though cheap and easily worked, 



F 



