the little band, then he mounted and started for home. The next morning when Jim went to school he had four small flags for his teacher that Brant had sent.

One Saturday, several weeks later, the boys went nutting to a place called Day's Grove.

Pete accompanied them, and each one was provided with something to hold the nuts. Jim had a pillow-slip made of ticking, and Pete asked him if he expected to fill it.

66

"Oh, yes," answered Jim; " you just wait till you see the loads of nuts over there!" After a long walk they reached the place, and started in to work.

Squirrels scampered up and down the trees, jumping from one branch to another, and peering with bright eyes, as much as to say, "What are you doing here? This belongs to us." One little gray fellow, sitting erect and nibbling, caught Pete's eye, who said cheerfully, "There'll be lots left fer you to crack, so don't werry."

"Wouldn't it be queer to eat nuts all the time, and nothing else?" observed Brandt.

"Yes," replied Jim; "but I guess the squirrels like it, so long as they have enough.

"One time," continued the boy, "there were some nut trees near the orchard, and father had to cut them down for some reason. Well, do you know, Brandt, there were two or three little fellows without any dinner, and what do you suppose they did? They used to take the ripe pears and apples, and get at the seeds in them to eat. Then I got a pile of nuts and left them for the squirrels, and they did not touch the fruit again."

Just then a jolly, fat squirrel hit Jim on the nose with a nut, and the boys laughed.

"Per'aps that's one o' them squirrels what used to live near the orchard," said Pete, "an' 'e's been listening."

At last they all decided they had enough. Brandt had filled his basket, and Jim had the pillow-slip slung over his shoulder, about half filled.

It was almost dark when they came to Jim's house. The door was open, and a most savory odor greeted the boys' nostrils.

"I never felt so hungry in my life!" exclaimed Brandt, his cheeks glowing in the crisp, autumn air. "I wonder what I'm going to have for supper?"

"I know what I'm going to have," cried Jim, smacking his lips; "baked beans, and I just love them!"

"How I would like some!" replied Brandt, and just then Jim's mother appeared at the door.

66

Mother, could Brandt have some of our baked beans?" asked Jim, depositing his bag of nuts on the doorstep.

"Of course he could," answered his mother; "he might stay to supper, if Mrs. Cole is willing."

"I'll run and ask her," said Brandt, hurrying with his basket to the house.

Permission was given to the happy lad, and when he had washed his face and hands, he appeared among his friends in the brown cottage to have supper with Jim.

And what an appetite a growing lad can possess! If I should tell you about the platefuls of melting baked beans, the thick slices of delicious brown bread, hot and but

N

tered, the cups of sweet milk that disappeared, besides gingerbread and apple sauce, you would certainly be fearful lest a famine would occur at Sunnyside.

"Our friends from The Maples called this afternoon," said Brandt, at supper. "Mrs. Cole said they came to say good-by, as they go back to the city on Monday."

"Oh, those ponies!" exclaimed Jim. "When I grow up I'm going to have two just like them."

"Can I have one?" asked Tommy.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HALLOWEEN.

BRANDT was going to have a party in the barn on Halloween. Pete and Jim, and even little Tommy, were helping to get things ready, and decorating in great style. Everything was made sweet and clean, and in one part of the barn chairs were placed for the visitors.

Bunches of wheat tied with bright-colored ribbons ornamented the sides of the barn, while ears of corn hung from the corners. The largest pumpkin that had been raised on the farm that summer stood on a barrel, a piece of cardboard over it, on which was written, "Don't squash me."

An immense head of cabbage was placed on another barrel, with the sign "Big Head" written over it, and other notices of similar nature caught the eye in different places.