It was a fascinating game. Some of the little hazelnuts or the slender peanuts were easy to nip with the tongs, but the big English walnuts, or queer-shaped Madeira nuts were very difficult. Great delicacy of touch was necessary, and the children found the new game enthralling. After her first turn Rosy Posy ran away from the game, and Mr. Maynard took her place. "Oho, Father," laughed Kitty, "I thought you'd get them all, but you're no more successful at it than we are." "No," said Mr. Maynard, looking with chagrin at his small heap of nuts, "my fingers are too old and stiff, I think." "So are mine," said Marjorie, laughing. "You're too fat, Dumpling," said her father. "Kitty's slim little claws seem to do the best work." "I think it's a steady hand that counts," said Dick; "watch me now!" With great care, and very slowly, he picked off several nuts that were daintily balanced on the other nuts, but at last he joggled one, and it was King's turn. "I believe in going fast," said King, and like a whirlwind he picked off four nuts, one after the other. But his last one sent several others flying, and so left an easy chance for Gladys, who came next. "There's a prize for this game," announced Mr. Maynard, after the table was entirely cleared, and the nuts were again all in the seven baskets. "In fact there's a prize apiece, all round. And the prizes are nuts, of course. You may each have one." "One nut!" cried Marjorie. "What a little prize!" "Not so very little," said her father, smiling. Then Sarah appeared with a plate of _doughnuts_, and everybody gladly took a prize. A glass of milk went with each of these nuts, and then the children clamored to play the game all over again. "No, indeed!" said Mr. Maynard. "You can play that any day in the year, but just now we're having a picnic, and the picnic must proceed with its programme." "All right!" cried Marjorie. "What comes next?" "Crackers," said her father. "Bring them in, please, Sarah." "Crackers!" exclaimed King. "I don't want any after that big doughnut." "You must take one, though," said his father, "it's part of the programme." Then Sarah came, and brought a big tray on which were three nutcrackers, some nutpicks, and several bowls and plates. "Take a cracker, King," said Mr. Maynard, and the boy promptly took the biggest nutcracker, ready to do the hardest work. The girls took nutpicks and bowls, and Mr. Maynard and Dick Fulton took the other two nutcrackers, and then work began in earnest. But the work was really play, and they all enjoyed cracking and picking out the nuts, though what they were doing it for nobody knew. But with so many at it, it was soon over, and the result was several bowlsful of kernels. The shells were thrown into the fire, and Mr. Maynard directed that the seven empty baskets be set aside till later. "We haven't cracked the cocoanuts yet," said Dick. "They're too big for these nutcrackers."