126 



THE ELDER. 



and capable of a higli polish^ many small arti- 

 cles are made : and it is the nearest to Box in 

 appearance and in grain^ of any wood we have. 

 I suppose, I need not inform these young gen- 

 tlemen, that, in the centre, there is a hollow, 

 or tube, which contains a pith, very easily re- 

 moved, and then that highly useful pneumatic 

 engine, called a pop-gun^ is almost completed !" 



Oh, Sir, now you are laughing at us." 



I beg pardon, if I gave the least ground 

 for such a suspicion. Well then, we will dis- 

 charge the pop-gun, and proceed. Ointments 

 are made of the inner bark, and of the leaves. 

 The flowers, those who like them, may use as 

 tea, or wash their faces with the decoction. 

 The clusters of flowers, before they open, are 

 made into pickles for boiled mutton ; the ber- 

 ries are boiled into a treacly substance, for 

 sore throats and coughs ; the branches will — 

 let me see — will drive away flies !" 



