gooseberries; these have long, weak, trailing branches; the berries are
small, covered with stiff bristles, and of a pale red colour. They are not
wholesome; I have seen people made very ill by eating them; I have heard
even of their dying in consequence of having done so."

"I am sure, nurse, I will not eat those wild currants," said Lady Mary;
"I am glad you have told me about their being poisonous."

"This sort is not often met with, my dear; and these berries, though they
are not good for man, doubtless give nourishment to some of the wild
creatures that seek their food from God, and we have enough dainties, and
to spare, without them.

"The red raspberry is one of the most common and the most useful to us of
the wild fruits. It grows in abundance all over the country, by the
roadside, in the half-opened woods, on upturned roots, or in old neglected
clearings; there is no place so wild but it will grow, wherever its roots
can find a crevice. With maple sugar, the farmers' wives never need lack a
tart, nor a dish of fruit and cream. The poor Irish emigrants' children go
out and gather pailsful, which they carry to the towns and villages to
sell. The birds, too, live upon the fruit, and, flying away with it to
distant places, help to sow the seed. A great many small animals eat the
ripe raspberry, for even the racoon and great black bear come in for their
share."

"The black bears! Oh, nurse, oh, Mrs. Frazer!" exclaimed Lady Mary, in
great astonishment. "What! do bears eat raspberries?" "Yes, indeed, my
lady, they do. Bears are fond of all ripe fruits. The bear resembles the
hog in all its tastes very closely; both in their wild state will eat
flesh, grain, fruit, and roots. There is a small red berry in the woods