“THE NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES,” 53
Then I went upon my errand with great glee.
“Work to do! work to do!” was all I could say.
The early morning and the late evening found me
striving to keep up with Mr. Merry’s saw and axe.
The boys vainly tempted me to the playground, and I
was at home only to perform my accustomed duties,
A grand nutting party, long talked of among the
boys, was at length appointed to take place this week.
The boys in our district were all going to join another
district, and visit the great nutting region about ten
miles off. The plan was to go in waggons and spend |
the day, carrying our dinners to eat among the. trees.
We were to take a tea-kettle and other cooking uten-
sils, and live in true .camp style. Heavy frosts had
already cracked the bark of the nuts, and a warm day
- in the early part of November promised to give us the
finest weather for our excursion. How much had I
thought of it! ‘Boys in the country have so few ex-
citements of the kind, that a nutting party possesses
uncommon interest. I believe I dreamed about it for

nearly a week together: and it was now come! the