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.