A Tall Story

Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch: “Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?”

The birch says he cannot tell. Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling. The birch says, “Wood- pecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?”

The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree. He replies: “It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of Ash I have ever put my pecker in.”