“There’s only one kind that is precious,” said Somebody. “That is the _corallium rubrum_ of the Mediterranean Sea. It was once supposed to be endowed with sacred properties of a mysterious nature; the Mandarins of China wear coral buttons made from it as their badge of office. There is also a very rare black coral which makes its home in the warm water of the Great Australian Barrier Reef. The Italians are the greatest coral workers, making a most valuable industry of making jewelry and buttons and other small articles. “There’s a lot more to learn about this subject, but that’s all I am able to tell you just now,” said Somebody. “Thanks,” said the boy named Billy. “I’ll read up on it.” [Illustration: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY] The Star-spangled Banner The boy named Billy came running into the house one morning, full of the joy of living and singing at the top of his voice, “O, long may the star-spangled banner still wave, o’er the land of the free-ee and the home of the brave.” “Get a step-ladder, Billy. You’ll never reach that ‘land of the free’ any other way,” advised Big Sister. “Well, say,” said Billy grinning, “I’m not a prima donna; it takes a real voice to climb up there. I love it, but I wish there were not so many high places in it. Francis Scott Key never thought of me when he wrote it, that’s sure.” “Francis Scott Key hadn’t a thing to do with it, silly-Billy,” said Big Sister. “How do you learn your history anyhow?” “Well, Somebody, please tell me who did write it then?” asked Billy. “That’s what teacher said anyway.” “Perhaps it was not made quite clear to you, Billy Boy, that the words only were written by Francis Scott Key. You’re not alone in wishing that it was not quite so difficult; when I come to that high note I always stand on tiptoe and I’ve never struck it yet, and nine out of ten people have the same difficulty; yet I love it, as we all do. [Illustration: When we were at war with England] “As to who really wrote it there seems to be no clear record, some crediting it to Dr. Samuel Arnold, an Englishman, but others claim it for John Stafford Smith, who made it over from an old French composition. Anyway, it was used as a popular song in England for some years and was used in other ways also. “In 1798 it was used by Robert Treat Paine in a political way, for a song called ‘Adams and Liberty.’