Because Laddie and Leon were bigger they could outrun us, and lots of hens laid in the barn, so there the boys always had first chance.

Often during the month we would find and take each other's eggs a dozen times.
We divided them, and hid part in different places, so that if either were found there would still be some left.
Laddie had his in the hopper of the cider press right on the threshing floor, and as he was sure to get more than I had anyway, I usually put mine with his.

May had hers some place, and where Leon had his, none of us could find or imagine.

I almost lay awake of nights trying to think, and every time I thought of a new place, the next day I would look, and they wouldn't be there.

Three days before Easter, mother began to cook and get the big dinner ready, and she ran short of eggs.
She told me to go to the barn and tell the boys that each of them must send her a dozen as quickly as they could.