ON THE OAK. 719

to splinter or shiver as other woods, so that a bali
can pass through it without making a large hole. Did
you never hear the old song,— .

“* Hearts of Oak are our Ships, .
Hearts of Oak are our men,” &c. ?

Geo. No.

Lut. It was made at a time when England was more
successful in war than had ever before been known,
and our success was properly attributed chiefly to our
fleet, the great support of which is the British oak; so
I hope you will henceforth look upon oaks with due
respect. |

Har. Yes; the oak shall always be my favourite
tree.

Tut. Had not Pope reason, when he said, in his
Windsor forest, |

‘¢ Let India boast her plants, nor envy we
The weeping amber or the balmy tree,
While by our Oaks the precious loads are borne,
And realms commanded, which those trees adorn !”

These lines refer to its use as well for merchant-ships
as for men-of-war ; and in fact nearly “ll our ships are
built of either native or foreign oak.

- Har. But are not some ships made of iron P

Tut. Yes; of late years, since steam has been
brought into operation for the propu!siou of vessels on
the water, as well as for a thousand other purposes,
numbers of ships (called steam-ships, or steamers), and
many of them very large, and capable of proceeding
against wind and tide, have been constructed of iron.

Geo. Are the masts of ships made of oak P
. Tut. No—it would be too heavy. Besides, it
would not be easy to find trunks of oak long and
straight enough for that purpose. They are made of
various sorts of fir and pine, which grow very tall and ~
taper.

"Geo. Ts oak wood used for anything besides shipe
building ?