Deep within the woodlands, two giants spread their crowns toward the sky. One was a mighty Birch tree; one a mighty Beech. Between them, on the forest floor, stood a young sapling, stuggling up into the light. A debate raged between the giants: "Now, that's a son of a Birch, if ever there was one," boasted the Birch. "Nonsense!" countered the Beech, "I'll hear none of that. Why, it's plain; he must be a son of a Beech." There was no middle ground for the sapling. The Debate found no resolution. The two great trees called in a third party. The woodpecker flew down and pecked around for hours, finally remembering the giants. He flew up among the branches, and they asked impatiently, "Well . . .?" "You are both wrong." called the bird (and he would have smiled if he could) "Why, that is the sweetest little Ash I have ever tasted."
