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 wo n'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 . Those horrid squirrels will have my nuts if you do n't . I 'll do my lessons by and by , '' cried Rob , running into the school-room , flushed and tousled by the fresh cold wind and his eager work . `` If you had been up early and done a little every morning there would be no hurry now . I told you that , Rob , and you never minded . I can not have the lessons neglected as the work has been . The squirrels will get more than their share this year , and they deserve it , for they have worked best . You may go an hour earlier , but that is all , '' and Mr. Bhaer led Rob to his place where the little man dashed at his books as if bent on making sure of the precious hour promised him . It was almost maddening to sit still and see the wind shaking down the last nuts , and the lively thieves flying about , pausing now and then to eat one in his face , and flirt their tails , as if they said , saucily , `` We 'll have them in spite of you , lazy Rob . '' The only thing that sustained the poor child in this trying moment was the sight of Teddy working away all alone . It was really splendid the pluck and perseverance of the little lad . He picked and picked till his back ached ; he trudged to and fro till his small legs were tired ; and he defied wind , weariness , and wicked `` quillies , '' till his mother left her work and did the carrying for him , full of admiration for the kind little fellow who tried to help his brother . When Rob was dismissed , he found Teddy reposing in the bushel-basket quite used up , but unwilling to quit the field ; for he flapped his hat at the thieves with one grubby little hand , while he refreshed himself with the big apple held in the other . Rob fell to work and the ground was cleared before two o'clock , the nuts safely in the corn-barn loft , and the weary workers exulted in their success .
But Frisky and his wife were not to be vanquished so easily ; and when XXXXX went up to look at his nuts a few days later he was amazed to see how many had vanished .
Frisky Rob Robby Teddy corn-barn fro laddies o'clock quillies school-room