Ben was visiting his cousin Hugh in the country, and they had been
having a glorious time getting chestnuts. They started early in the
morning, taking their dinners with them that they might have all day in
the woods. There had been a sharp frost the night before, and the boys
had a merry time as the wind rattled the brown chestnuts down on their
heads. Bags and pockets were soon full to overflowing, and after eating
their lunch by the brook they started for home.
"Now for a feast of roast chestnuts," said Ben, as they sat down by the
fireplace, after the good warm supper which Hugh's mother had ready for
them. "I will roast them and you can pull off the shells when they are
done."
What fun it was to see the nuts jump around in the shovel Ben was using
for a roaster, till their brown shells burst open with the heat!
"We will roast a whole bagful," said Hugh, "then there will be some for
sister Lucy."
To be sure, Hugh burnt his fingers, and Ben dropped some chestnuts into
the fire, but they only laughed the merrier. Lucy joined them after she
had finished helping her mother with the work, and together they ate the
chestnuts and played games till bedtime came, when they all agreed it
had been one of the happiest days of their lives.
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