Elder, a shrub of the honeysuckle family. The flowers are small, but are borne in large clusters. In England a Christmas wine is made of elder berries. American boys are familiar with elder for popguns. We have two kinds, one with red berries and one with black. A joint of either will do. Cut the wood carefully so as not to crack it, selecting a straight piece an inch in diameter and eight inches long. Push out the large pith and scrape off the outside bark. Polish up the wood inside and out, and make a loose fitting ramrod about two inches longer than the gun. Chew up paper and drive a wad through the gun almost to the farther end. Force a second wad after the first. The air between the wads will be compressed and will expel the first wad with a loud report. The second wad may now be used for a first wad, and so on indefinitely. "Like a popgun" is a proverbial expression for that which makes a noise without producing a corresponding result.