“What are you afraid of?” asked Dick Rogers. “It will not be dark for a long time yet, only the trees keep out the light; besides, there is nothing to be afraid of in these woods,—neither lions, nor tigers, nor bears, nor wolves. So help me find some good clubs, Frank, and we will knock off some burs, at any rate.”
“And, if it grows too dark, we can carry them home, and get the nuts out there,” said Frank, as he eagerly looked around for a club.
Sam felt somewhat re-assured by the courage of his companions; and all three of the boys were soon busily employed in knocking the burs from the trees.
It was quite dusk when they reached home. Frank found his supper ready for him; and, after this was over, he spent an hour or two very pleasantly in getting the nuts from the burs, and roasting some of them in the kitchen fire. His sister Clara enjoyed this as much as he did; and they were quite surprised when their father came to tell them that it was half-past eight, and time for them to go to bed.
“Can we go into mother’s room and say good night?” asked the children; for their mother had been ill for some weeks, and had not yet recovered sufficiently to leave her room.
“Yes, if you will move gently,” replied Mr. Wilbur. “I think she is not asleep.”
The children opened the door of their mother’s room very softly, and peeped in. She was sitting in a large easy-chair, and smiled pleasantly upon them as they entered.
“You have been very quiet this evening, my children,” she said. “How have you amused yourselves?”
“We have been cracking chestnut-burs, and roasting some of the nuts,” answered Frank. “I went to the woods after school, and got a fine lot of burs; but the frost has not opened them very well yet.”
“I am glad that you got so many,” replied his mother. “And are your lessons all prepared for to-morrow?”