162 
FINDING NATURE’S TREASURES 
Uncle Jack laughed and said, “There is something 
unusual about it, Fred. I will tell you the live oak’s 
secret. The live oak does not drop its leaves in the fall 
like the other trees. It keeps them until spring. As fast 
as old leaves drop off, the new leaves grow out. Soon 
the live oak has a beautiful new dress, and few persons 
know how or when it got it.” 
“Here are some of the acorns in their pretty little 
cups,” said Marylee, who had finished her lunch and was 
looking around to see what she could find. “Are they 
good to eat?” 
“The acorns of many oak trees are bitter and not at 
all good to eat,” replied her uncle. “But these acorns are 
not sour or bitter. The Indians used to eat them. They 
might taste good to me, if I were very hungry. They are 
rather dry. They taste better when roasted.” 
Fred, tasting one, said, “Whew! I don’t like acorns.” 
Buddy tried one. “I don’t like them, either,” he said. 
“Maybe one could learn to like them,” added Marylee. 
“I’m thankful we don’t have to eat them,” said Fred. 
“Is a tree like this very old, Uncle Jack?” asked Bess. 
“Yes, Bess,” answered Uncle Jack. “It takes many 
years for an oak to grow as large as this one. It is much 
older than your grandfather. It was growing here when 
the Indians lived in this country.” 
“Do you think that the Indians ever sat where we are 
sitting now?” asked Bess. 
“They may have sat under this very tree,” replied 
Uncle Jack. “The Indian girls and boys may have picked 
up acorns here just as you are doing.” 
