Part 14 (1/2)

”This allusion to Harry'sjoke of the day, was not at all relished by hiravity which he had assumed now became _real_ His mother-- hom Harry was a favourite--noticed that he was vexed, and that noas the very tied the current of his thoughts, by proposing to disclose the secret she had promised

”'Well, then,' said she, ' up the valley thisI saw at some distance over the woods the top leaves of a very beautiful and very valuable tree'

”'A tree!' cried Harry; 'what! a cocoa-nut?'

”'No'

”'A bread-fruit, e, then?'

”'No, Harry,' replied his mother 'You must knoe are not in that latitude We are too far north for either bread-fruits, orange-trees, or cocoa-nut palh, 'those three are the only trees I care a fig for'

”'Ho, if it were a fig-tree, since you speak of figs?'

”'Oh! very well,' replied Harry, 'figs will do; but I would rather it had been one of the others'

”'But it is not even a fig-tree'

”'Oh! it is not What then, mamma?'

”'That of which I speak is a tree of the tereatest perfection in the coldest parts of it Have you noticed soht red colour?'

”'Yes, mamma,' answered Frank; 'I have I know a part of the valley where there are many of thee-coloured'

”'Those are the trees of which I speak The leaves are now of those colours because it is autureen above, and whitish--or, as it is terlaucous--on the under surface'

”'Oh!' said Harry, seely disappointed with this information 'I have noticed them, too They are very beautiful trees, it is true; but then--'

”'Then, what?'

”'They are of no use to us--such big trees as they are There is no fruit upon them, for I looked carefully; and what then? We do not need their tiood timber as ant in these tulip-trees'

”'Come, Master Hal--not so fast, if you please There are many parts of a tree which may serve for valuable uses besides its fruit, or its timber either'

”'What! the leaves?' inquired the impatient Harry 'What use can we make of leaves?'

”'Co tone; 'the leaves of some trees are very valuable What think you of the tea-plant, for instance?'

”Harry felt rebuked, and remained silent

”'We can make no use of the leaves of this tree,' continued his mother; 'at least none that I aated Harry

”'No--not the bark either'