BOYHOOD. 5 



opponent swings his nut, and tries to smash the 

 other, this is done alternately : the nut that smashes 

 the other is conqueror. One good nut will sometimes 

 conquer scores or hundreds, and reign all through the 

 season, the happy possessor of such a weapon being 

 looked up to as to a king. 



NUTTING. 



" But of all places at this season give me the nutwood, and 

 the old umbrageous lane, with its tall hazel thickets and hedges. 

 How many delightful days spent in these places with young 

 hearts and congenial souls come back upon the memory." W. 

 HOWITT. 



" Then sprightly Carry shouts in French, 

 ' All boys and girls come nutting.' " 



R. D. B. 



What a jolly time it was when we ran off, full of 

 glee, half a dozen of us, boys and girls together, to 

 the russet woods ; the lasses with baskets, the lads 

 with nut-hooks to pull down the hazel branches, all 

 overladen with the brownest of brown nuts. We 

 cracked our nuts, and with them our little jokes, 

 whilst the jealous squirrels up in the tall trees looked 

 down upon us, barking and scolding, afraid that we 

 should carry away all their winter provender : 



"The copse, the lane, the meadow paths, 



The valleys, banks, and hedges, 

 Were green with autumn's aftermath, 



And gold with autumn's pledges. 



" Wild rose, hung coral beads above, 

 And satchel'd nuts grew nigh them, 



Like tips of a little maiden's glove 

 Ere ever she has to buy them." 



R. D. BLACKMORE'S Fringilla. 



