“The red ash is very much like the white, but the wood is less valuable.  It is a spreading, broad-headed tree, and the trunk is erect and branching.  It is not so tall as the black ash, yet its trunk is three times as thick.

“A species of ash grows in Sicily that yields a substance called manna which used to be valuable as a medicine, and this manna is obtained in the same way as maple-sap—­by making holes or incisions in the bark of the tree.  At the proper season the persons whose business it is to collect manna begin to make incisions, one after the other, up the stem.  The manna flows out like clear water, but it soon congeals and becomes a solid substance.  It has a sweet taste, and while in a liquid state runs into a leaf of the tree that has been inserted in the wound.  Afterward it flows into a vessel placed below, from which it is carried away and shipped off to other countries.”

“Is there any story about the ash?” asked Malcolm.

“Not much of a story, dear,” was the reply—­“only a little legend of the manna trees; but, such as it is, you shall have it: 

“The king of Naples, it is said, fenced a number of trees round and forbade any to collect the store they yielded unless they paid a tribute.  By this means the royal revenue would be largely increased.  But, according to the story, the manna trees, as if they disapproved of this ungenerous arrangement, refused to yield any manna, and suddenly became bare and barren.  Upon this the king, finding his scheme a failure, revoked the tax and took away the fence.  Then the trees poured out their manna, as usual, in the greatest abundance; so that it was said, ’When the king found he could not make a gain of what Providence had freely bestowed, he gave up the attempt and left the manna as free as God had given it.’

[Illustration:  THE SWING.]

“There, now!” said Miss Harson; “after this long talk, you had better run off and see if there is not a tree somewhere on the grounds, with two ropes attached to it, that will bear better fruit than any tree we have studied yet.”

The trio laughed and raced for the swing, which was first reached by Clara, who seated herself all ready for the push which Malcolm would not grudge, for he pronounced his sister sweeter than apple or peach; and so she was.

CHAPTER VI.

THE OLIVE TREE.

“The ash,” said Miss Harson, “has some relations of which, I think, you will be rather surprised to hear.  These relations are both trees and shrubs, and the lilac, for instance, is one of them.”

“Why, they don’t look a bit alike,” exclaimed Clara.

“No, they certainly do not; for, although this fragrant shrub often grows as large as a tree, it is quite different from the ash tree.  Yet both belong to the olive family.”

“The kind of olives that papa likes to eat at dinner, and that you and I don’t like, Miss Harson?” asked Malcolm.