Rob’scropwasfoursmallsquashesandoneimmensepumpkin。Itreallywasa“bouncer，“aseveryonesaid；andIassureyouthattwosmallpersonscouldsitonitsidebyside。Itseemedtohaveabsorbedallthegoodnessofthelittlegarden，andallthesunshinethatshonedownonit，andlaythereagreatround，goldenball，fullofrichsuggestionsofpumpkin-piesforweekstocome。Robbywassoproudofhismammothvegetablethathetookeveryonetoseeit，and，whenfrostsbegantonip，covereditupeachnightwithanoldbedquilt，tuckingitroundasifthepumpkinwasawell-belovedbaby。Thedayitwasgatheredhewouldletnoonetouchitbuthimself，andnearlybrokehisbacktuggingittothebarninhislittlewheelbarrow，withDickandDollyharnessedinfronttogiveaheaveupthepath。HismotherpromisedhimthattheThanksgiving-piesshouldbemadefromit，andhintedvaguelythatshehadaplaninherheadwhichwouldcovertheprizepumpkinanditsownerwithglory。
　　PoorBillyhadplantedcucumbers，butunfortunatelyhoedthemupandleftthepig-weed。Thismistakegrievedhimverymuchfortemminutes，thenheforgotallaboutit，andsowedahandfulofbrightbuttonswhichhehadcollected，evidentlythinkinginhisfeeblemindthattheyweremoney，andwouldcomeupandmultiply，sothathemightmakemanyquarters，asTommydid。Noonedisturbedhim，andhedidwhathelikedwithhisplot，whichsoonlookedasifaseriesofsmallearthquakeshadstirreditup。
　　Whenthegeneralharvest-daycame，hewouldhavehadnothingbutstonesandweedstoshow，ifkindoldAsiahadnothunghalf-a-dozenorangesonthedeadtreehestuckupinthemiddle。Billywasdelightedwithhiscrop；
　　andnoonespoiledhispleasureinthelittlemiraclewhichpitywroughtforhim，bymakingwitheredbranchesbearstrangefruit。
　　Stuffyhadvarioustrialswithhismelons；for，beingimpatienttotastethem，hehadasolitaryrevelbeforetheywereripe，andmadehimselfsoill，thatforadayortwoitseemeddoubtfulifhewouldevereatanymore。Buthepulledthroughit，andserveduphisfirstcantaloupewithouttastingamouthfulhimself。Theywereexcellentmelons，forhehadawarmslopeforthem，andtheyripenedfast。Thelastandbestwerelingeringonthevines，andStuffyhadannouncedthatheshouldsellthemtoaneighbor。
　　Thisdisappointedtheboys，whohadhopedtoeatthemelonsthemselves，andtheyexpressedtheirdispleasureinanewandstrikingmanner。Goingonemorningtogazeuponthethreefinewatermelonswhichhehadkeptforthemarket，Stuffywashorrifiedtofindtheword“PIG“cutinwhitelettersonthegreenrind，staringathimfromeveryone。Hewasinagreatrage，andflewtoMrs。Joforredress。Shelistened，condoledwithhim，andthensaid，­；
　　“Ifyouwanttoturnthelaugh，I’lltellyouhow，butyoumustgiveupthemelons。“
　　“Well，Iwill；forIcan’tthrashalltheboys，butI’dliketogivethemsomethingtoremember，themeansneaks，“growledStuff，stillinafume。
　　NowMrs。Jowasprettysurewhohaddonethetrick，forshehadseenthreeheadssuspiciouslyneartooneanotherinthesofa-cornertheeveningbefore；andwhentheseheadshadnoddedwithchucklesandwhispers，thisexperiencedwomanknewmischiefwasafoot。Amoonlightnight，arustlingintheoldcherry-treenearEmil’swindow，acutonTommy’sfinger，allhelpedtoconfirmhersuspicions；andhavingcooledStuffy’swrathalittle，shebadehimbringhismaltreatedmelonstoherroom，andsaynotawordtoanyoneofwhathadhappened。Hedidso，andthethreewagswereamazedtofindtheirjokesoquietlytaken。Itspoiltthefun，andtheentiredisappearanceofthemelonsmadethemuneasy。SodidStuffy’sgood-nature，forhelookedmoreplacidandplumpthanever，andsurveyedthemwithanairofcalmpitythatperplexedthemverymuch。
　　Atdinner-timetheydiscoveredwhy；forthenStuffy’svengeancefelluponthem，andthelaughwasturnedagainstthem。Whenthepuddingwaseaten，andthefruitwasputon，MaryAnnre-appearedinahighstateofgiggle，bearingalargewatermelon；Silasfollowedwithanother；andDanbroughtuptherearwithathird。Onewasplacedbeforeeachofthethreeguiltylads；andtheyreadonthesmoothgreenskinsthisadditiontotheirownwork，“WiththecomplimentsofthePIG。“Everyoneelsereaditalso，andthewholetablewasinaroar，forthetrickhadbeenwhisperedabout；soeveryoneunderstoodthesequel。Emil，Ned，andTommydidnotknowwheretolook，andhadnotawordtosayforthemselves；sotheywiselyjoinedinthelaugh，cutupthemelons，andhandedthemround，saying，whatalltherestagreedto，thatStuffyhadtakenawiseandmerrywaytoreturngoodforevil。
　　Danhadnogarden，forhewasawayorlamethegreaterpartofthesummer；
　　sohehadhelpedSilaswhereverhecould，choppedwoodforAsia，andtakencareofthelawnsowell，thatMrs。Joalwayshadsmoothpathsandnicelyshaventurfbeforeherdoor。
　　Whentheothersgotintheircrops，helookedsorrythathehadsolittletoshow；butasautumnwenton，hebethoughthimselfofawoodlandharvestwhichnoonewoulddisputewithhim，andwhichwaspeculiarlyhisown。
　　EverySaturdayhewasawayalonetotheforests，fields，andhills，andalwayscamebackloadedwithspoils；forheseemedtoknowthemeadowswherethebestflag-rootgrew，thethicketwherethesassafraswasspiciest，thehauntswherethesquirrelswentfornuts，thewhiteoakwhosebarkwasmostvaluable，andthelittlegold-threadvinethatNurseylikedtocurethecankerwith。AllsortsofsplendidredandyellowleavesdidDanbringhomeforMrs。Jotodressherparlorwith，­；graceful-seededgrasses，clematistassels，downy，soft，yellowwax-workberries，andmosses，red-brimmed，white，oremeraldgreen。
　　“Ineednotsighforthewoodsnow，becauseDanbringsthewoodstome，“Mrs。Jousedtosay，assheglorifiedthewallswithyellowmapleboughsandscarletwoodbinewreaths，orfilledhervaseswithrussetferns，hemlockspraysfullofdelicatecones，andhardyautumnflowers；forDan’scropsuitedherwell。
　　Thegreatgarretwasfullofthechildren’slittlestoresandforatimewasoneofthesightsofthehouse。Daisy’sflowerseedsinneatlittlepaperbags，alllabelled，layinadrawerofathree-leggedtable。Nan’sherbshunginbunchesagainstthewall，fillingtheairwiththeiraromaticbreath。Tommyhadabasketofthistle-downwiththetinyseedsattached，forhemeanttoplantthemnextyear，iftheydidnotallflyawaybeforethattime。Emilhadbunchesofpop-cornhangingtheretodry，andDemilaidupacornsanddifferentsortsofgrainforthepets。ButDan’scropmadethebestshow，forfullyonehalfofthefloorwascoveredwiththenutshebrought。Allkindswerethere，forherangedthewoodsformilesround，climbedthetallesttrees，andforcedhiswayintothethickesthedgesforhisplunder。Walnuts，chestnuts，hazelnuts，andbeechnutslayinseparatecompartments，gettingbrown，anddry，andsweet，readyforwinterrevels。
　　Therewasonebutternut-treeontheplace，andRobandTeddycalledittheirs。Itborewellthisyear，andthegreatdingynutscamedroppingdowntohideamongthedeadleaves，wherethebusysquirrelsfoundthembetterthanthelazyBhaers。Theirfatherhadtoldthemtheboys，notthesquirrelstheyshouldhavethenutsiftheywouldpickthemup，butnoonewastohelp。Itwaseasywork，andTeddylikedit，onlyhesoongottired，andlefthislittlebaskethalffullforanotherday。Buttheotherdaywasslowtoarrive，and，meantime，theslysquirrelswerehardatwork，scamperingupanddowntheoldelm-treesstowingthenutsawaytilltheirholeswerefull，thenallaboutthecrotchesoftheboughs，toberemovedattheirleisure。Theirfunnylittlewaysamusedtheboys，tillonedaySilassaid，­；
　　“Hevyousoldthemnutstothesquirrels？“
　　“No，“answeredRob，wonderingwhatSilasmeant。
　　“Wal，then，you’dbetterflyround，orthemsprylittlefellerswon’tleaveyounone。“
　　“Oh，wecanbeatthemwhenwebegin。Therearesuchlotsofnutsweshallhaveaplenty。“
　　“Thereain’tmanymoretocomedown，andtheyhaveclearedthegroundprettywell，seeiftheyhain’t。“
　　Robbyrantolook，andwasalarmedtofindhowfewremained。HecalledTeddy，andtheyworkedhardalloneafternoon，whilethesquirrelssatonthefenceandscolded。
　　“Now，Ted，wemustkeepwatch，andpickupjustasfastastheyfall，orweshan’thavemorethanabushel，andeveryonewilllaughatusifwedon’t。“
　　“Thenaughtyquilliestarn’thave’em。I’llpickfastandrunandput’eminthebarntwick，“saidTeddy，frowningatlittleFrisky，whochatteredandwhiskedhistailindignantly。
　　Thatnightahighwindblewdownhundredsofnuts，andwhenMrs。Jocametowakeherlittlesons，shesaid，briskly，­；
　　“Come，myladdies，thesquirrelsarehardatit，andyouwillhavetoworkwellto-day，ortheywillhaveeverynutontheground。“
　　“No，theywon’t，“andRobbytumbledupinagreathurry，gobbledhisbreakfast，andrushedouttosavehisproperty。
　　Teddywenttoo，andworkedlikealittlebeaver，trottingtoandfrowithfullandemptybaskets。Anotherbushelwassoonputawayinthecorn-barn，andtheywerescramblingamongtheleavesformorenutswhenthebellrangforschool。
　　“Ofather!letmestayoutandpick。Thosehorridsquirrelswillhavemynutsifyoudon’t。I’lldomylessonsbyandby，“criedRob，runningintotheschool-room，flushedandtousledbythefreshcoldwindandhiseagerwork。
　　“Ifyouhadbeenupearlyanddonealittleeverymorningtherewouldbenohurrynow。Itoldyouthat，Rob，andyouneverminded。Icannothavethelessonsneglectedastheworkhasbeen。Thesquirrelswillgetmorethantheirsharethisyear，andtheydeserveit，fortheyhaveworkedbest。
　　Youmaygoanhourearlier，butthatisall，“andMr。BhaerledRobtohisplacewherethelittlemandashedathisbooksasifbentonmakingsureoftheprecioushourpromisedhim。
　　Itwasalmostmaddeningtositstillandseethewindshakingdownthelastnuts，andthelivelythievesflyingabout，pausingnowandthentoeatoneinhisface，andflirttheirtails，asiftheysaid，saucily，“We’llhavetheminspiteofyou，lazyRob。“TheonlythingthatsustainedthepoorchildinthistryingmomentwasthesightofTeddyworkingawayallalone。Itwasreallysplendidthepluckandperseveranceofthelittlelad。Hepickedandpickedtillhisbackached；hetrudgedtoandfrotillhissmalllegsweretired；andhedefiedwind，weariness，andwicked“quillies，“
　　tillhismotherleftherworkanddidthecarryingforhim，fullofadmirationforthekindlittlefellowwhotriedtohelphisbrother。WhenRobwasdismissed，hefoundTeddyreposinginthebushel-basketquiteusedup，butunwillingtoquitthefield；forheflappedhishatatthethieveswithonegrubbylittlehand，whileherefreshedhimselfwiththebigappleheldintheother。
　　Robfelltoworkandthegroundwasclearedbeforetwoo’clock，thenutssafelyinthecorn-barnloft，andthewearyworkersexultedintheirsuccess。ButFriskyandhiswifewerenottobevanquishedsoeasily；andwhenRobwentuptolookathisnutsafewdayslaterhewasamazedtoseehowmanyhadvanished。Noneoftheboyscouldhavestolenthem，becausethedoorhadbeenlocked；thedovescouldnothaveeatenthem，andtherewerenoratsabout。TherewasgreatlamentationamongtheyoungBhaerstillDicksaid­；
　　“IsawFriskyontheroofofthecorn-barn，maybehetookthem。“
　　“Iknowhedid!I’llhaveatrap，andkillhimdead，“criedRob，disgustedwithFrisky’sgraspingnature。
　　“Perhapsifyouwatch，youcanfindoutwhereheputsthem，andImaybeabletogetthembackforyou，“saidDan，whowasmuchamusedbythefightbetweentheboysandsquirrels。
　　SoRobwatchedandsawMr。andMrs。Friskydropfromthedroopingelmboughsontotheroofofthecorn-barn，dodgeinatoneofthelittledoors，muchtothedisturbanceofthedoves，andcomeoutwithanutineachmouth。
　　Soladentheycouldnotgetbackthewaytheycame，butrandownthelowroof，alongthewall，andleapingoffatacornertheyvanishedaminuteandre-appearedwithouttheirplunder。Robrantotheplace，andinahollowundertheleaveshefoundaheapofthestolenpropertyhiddenawaytobecarriedofftotheholesbyandby。
　　“Oh，youlittlevillains!I’llcheatyounow，andnotleaveone，“
　　saidRob。Soheclearedthecornerandthecorn-barn，andputthecontestednutsinthegarret，makingsurethatnobrokenwindow-panecouldanywhereletintheunprincipledsquirrels。Theyseemedtofeelthatthecontestwasover，andretiredtotheirhole，butnowandthencouldnotresistthrowingdownnut-shellsonRob’shead，andscoldingviolentlyasiftheycouldnotforgivehimnorforgetthathehadthebestofthebattle。
　　FatherandMotherBhaer’scropwasofadifferentsort，andnotsoeasilydescribed；buttheyweresatisfiedwithit，feltthattheirsummerworkhadprosperedwell，andbyandbyhadaharvestthatmadethemveryhappy。