--of at least
twelve inches in length by two in breadth--exactly the shape of a
crescent or young moon. It reminded us of the pods of the locust,
though differing considerably in shape. Like them, too, when opened--
which was forthwith done--it was seen to contain a pulpy substance, in
which several large grey-coloured seeds were imbedded. These seeds, she
informed us, when parched, ground, and boiled--after the manner of the
true coffee--would afford us a beverage nearly as good and quite as
wholesome.

"`The tree,' said she, `from which I have plucked this pod, grows in
most parts of America. You may have observed it here?'

"`I have,' interrupted Harry. `Now that mamma has shown us the use of
the maples, I have been looking particularly at all the trees; since I
find that some of them that appeared scarce worthy of notice, may after
all be very interesting.'

"`I have observed the tree,' added Frank, who was something of a
botanist as well as his mother; `I noticed that its bark is very rough,
dropping off here and there in large curling scales. The branches, too,
are very odd-looking; they have blunt, stumpy ends, that give the tree a
clumsy appearance. Is it not so, mamma?'

"`Precisely as you say. Hence its name of "chicot" among the Canadian
French, and "stump-tree" in the United States. Its botanical name is
_gymnocladus_, which means, "with naked branches;" for during the
winter, as you shall find, it will present a very naked appearance. It
is also known as the "Kentucky coffee-tree," because the early pioneers
and settlers of that country, when they were unable to obtain the true
coffee, made use of its seeds, as we intend doing.'

"`Oh!' cried Harry; `only think of it--sugar, and coffee, and salt, and
plenty of meat, and roast turkey--everything but bread. If we only had
bread! Would our corn not grow if we planted it now, papa?'

"`No; the frost would kill the young plants. We must have patience
until spring.'

"`It is a long time till spring,' said Harry, with rather a discontented
air; `and then we must wait much longer while the corn is growing. It
is a very long time to wait.'

"`Come, Master Hal,' rejoined his mother, `I fear you are one of those
who cannot be satisfied, no matter how many blessings are heaped upon
them. Remember how many are worse off than yourself--how many are
without bread, even where it is plentiest. No doubt, at this moment
many a hungry boy in the stree