This sounded pleasant, so Marjorie went on, only pausing for one more question.
"What kind of nuts, Father?"
"Gather any kind you see, my child. There was such a strong wind last night, I daresay it blew down all sorts."
And truly that seemed to be the case. Shrieks of surprise and delight from the whole seven announced the discoveries they made.
They found peanuts, English walnuts, pecan nuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, hickory nuts, black walnuts, and some of which they didn't know the names.
The nuts were hidden in all sorts of places. Stuffed down in the cushions of chairs and sofas, on mantels and brackets, under rugs and footstools, on window sills, on the floor, on the chandeliers, they seemed to be everywhere. All over the house the children scampered, filling their baskets as they went.
Sometimes two would make a dash for the same nut, and two bumped heads would ensue, but this was looked upon as part of the fun.
The older children gathered their nuts from the highest places, leaving the low places for the little ones to look into.
Rosy Posy found most of those on the floor, behind the lace curtains or portières, as she toddled about with her basket on one arm and Boffin in the other.
At last the whole house had been pretty thoroughly ransacked, and the nutting-party returned in triumph with loaded baskets.