This episode is Chapter 21 of Arthur Scott Bailey's 'The Tale of Grunty Pig', narrated by Larry Wilson. It begins by describing a gray beech tree standing beside the road down the hill from Farmer Green's house. In the fall, when the nuts are ripe, Johnny Green often visits the tree, along with a frisky squirrel and the noisy Jasper Jay. These three characters like beech nuts and have the notion that the tree belongs exclusively to them. On a fine, crisp fall day, while Johnny Green is at school, a fourth nut lover, Grunty Pig, wanders down the road. Grunty Pig stops between the wheel tracks and sniffs, crying out with a joyful squeal that he smells beech nuts. He crashes into the light underbrush along the roadside and begins searching among the fallen leaves with his long nose. Soon, Grunty comes upon a cluster of three-sided nuts clinging inside a burr that frost has split open. He eats the sweet nuts, shells and all, and with many grunts of delight, he grubs beneath the tree from which the nuts fell. His keen nose leads him to burrs that Johnny Green had trampled over that very morning and missed. The episode concludes with Grunty Pig wondering aloud why nobody else is around. The story is part of the Slumber Town Tales series and features whimsical animal characters. It explores themes of resource discovery and competition in a simple, engaging narrative. The setting is a rural area near a farm, with seasonal autumn elements. The language is descriptive and playful, typical of children's literature. Characters are anthropomorphized, with Grunty Pig displaying curiosity and joy. The episode builds a light conflict over the beech nuts, hinting at potential future encounters. It serves as a standalone adventure while fitting into the larger series arc.
