On a clear, cold Saturday afternoon in December the three brothers and Songbird went out to look for nuts in the woods near Ashton.

It did not take the boys long to reach the woods, and they soon found a spot where hickory nuts were plentiful.

They had brought some bags along, and were soon hard at work gathering the nuts.

The girls joined the boys in gathering nuts, and so spent an enjoyable hour roaming through the woods.

Often the Rovers and Songbird would knock down the nuts with sticks and stones and leave the girls to gather what they wanted.

"We like to have a large quantity of nuts on hand for the winter," said Minnie to Dick.

"Then, when there is a deep snow on the ground we can sit before the blazing fire and crack nuts and eat them.

Roaming through the woods caused Songbird to become poetic, and while they rested in the sunshine, and picked some of the nuts that Tom and Sam had cracked, he recited some verses composed on the spur of the moment: "Hark to the silence all around!

Somehow, he was now sorry he had gone to the woods after nuts.

It was made of leather, and contained roots, nuts, pins and some other things.

Ah Fong's subsequent story of what happened was simple, and briefly to the effect that Quong, having entered his shop and priced various litchi nuts and pickled starfruit, had purchased some powdered lizard and, with the package in his left hand, had opened the door to go out.

"Or in ivory chopsticks, oolong tea, imitation jade, litchi nuts and preserved leeches!" groaned Tutt.

About him were golden limes, ginger in syrup, litchi nuts, pickled leeches.

Gathering of nuts, that such fools as you are may crack the shells, and I eat the kernels.

He had that afternoon received a very fine consignment of Brazilian diamonds, as he told me, and knowing how beset I am with callers at my business place, he had brought the stones with him, hoping, perhaps, to do a bit of trade over the nuts and wine.

MARSHMALLOW FROSTING Use above mixture with or without figs and nuts as a cake filling or frosting.

Prepare as above, sprinkling with chopped nuts and maple sugar before rolling.

Place on ice, and when it begins to thicken, fold in 1 1/2 cups cream beaten stiff, 1/4 cup pistachio nuts, shredded, 1/4 cup candied cherries cut in pieces.

Double the amount of flour may be used, nuts and raisins omitted, and mixture chilled and rolled out and cut in any desired shape, before baking.

Chopped nuts may be sprinkled over the salad.

Cover 1/4 cup pistachio nuts with Boiling water and boil 1 minute.

Cut 5 ripe olives in narrow strips and sprinkle over the nuts.

Put in paper cases, sprinkle with nuts and place in can of ice cream freezer with waxed paper and cardboard between the layers.

Add 1 cup celery cut lengthwise and crosswise in small pieces and 1 cup shelled Brazil nuts, peeled and cut in small pieces.

I Could prayse Heywood now: or tell how long, Falstaffe from cracking Nuts hath kept the throng: