rels) they should have the nuts if they would pick them up, but
no one was to help. It was easy work, and Teddy liked it, only he soon
got tired, and left his little basket half full for another day. But the
other day was slow to arrive, and, meantime, the sly squirrels were hard
at work, scampering up and down the old elm-trees stowing the nuts away
till their holes were full, then all about the crotches of the boughs,
to be removed at their leisure. Their funny little ways amused the boys,
till one day Silas said,

"Hev you sold them nuts to the squirrels?"

"No," answered Rob, wondering what Silas meant.

"Wal, then, you'd better fly round, or them spry little fellers won't
leave you none."

"Oh, we can beat them when we begin. There are such lots of nuts we
shall have a plenty."

"There ain't many more to come down, and they have cleared the ground
pretty well, see if they hain't."

Robby ran to look, and was alarmed to find how few remained. He called
Teddy, and they worked hard all one afternoon, while the squirrels sat
on the fence and scolded.

"Now, Ted, we must keep watch, and pick up just as fast as they fall, or
we shan't have more than a bushel, and every one will laugh at us if we
don't."

"The naughty quillies tarn't have 'em. I'll pick fast and run and put
'em in the barn twick," said Teddy, frowning at little Frisky, who
chattered and whisked his tail indignantly.

That night a high wind blew down hundreds of nuts, and when Mrs. Jo came
to wake her little sons, she said, briskly,

"Come, my laddies, the squirrels are hard at it, and you will have to
work well to-day, or they will have every nut on the ground."

"No, they won't," and Robby tumbled up in a great hurry, gobbled his
breakfast, and rushed out to save his property.

Teddy went too, and worked like a little beaver, trotting to and fro
with full and empty baskets. Another bushel was soon put away in the
corn-barn, and they were scrambling among the leaves for more nuts when
the bell rang for school.

"O father! let me stay out and pick. Those horrid squirrels will have
my nuts if you don't. I'll do my lessons by and by," cried Rob, running
into the school-room, flushed and tousled by the fresh cold wind and his
eager work.

"If you had been up early and done a little every morning there would be
no hurry now. I told you that, Rob, and you never minded. I cannot have
the lessons neglected as the work has been. The squirrels wil