The Nutmaker was in a similar boat as The Pearlmaker - I wrote it the day after
I finished the previous one. Such was my desire to get the 2001 annual finished
(I hate having lingering projects...). A nice little tune for one of the shorter stories in the book.

	Can you feel the bite of the wind It seems to tell that autumn is in		Rupert and Bill are scouring around for any sign of chestnuts or acorns on the ground		Can you see them, the elves roaming near
	Gathering all the nuts so it seems there's nothing here		It seems so strange that the elves can disappear into thin air		Quietly wandering amidst all the trees
	The loss of food has the animals in tears		Squirrels and hedgehogs - they search here and there They've stripped the forest of all that it wears		Bill and Rupert have taken on the case
	Down the hatch go the spoils of the race		And down go bear and badger - Their noses in a somewhat secret place
			In a moment the chief of elves appears and gives them the tour to stay any fears		Despite the hoarding of nuts from the woods the elves are growing new trees with the goods
	A new understanding of nature spinning round		A calm reminder to leave some on the ground		For those who need the nourishment of all that they have found