The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-24

Who that was reared in the country does
not remember the delightful season of sugar
making? Brief us it was it had crowded into
its marrow belt OF timc'' more hllarlty, more
good feeling. more fun, frolcking, wild
romping, and merriment than any other IN
the long year. Sometimes the ''sugaring
OFF, was in the ''sap bush,'' by the light OF
burning logs and blazing fatwood torches
sometimes in the old-fashioned houses, such
as the pioneers Of civilization erect while the
country is covered with primegal forests,
upon which the hardy woodman wages war
Of determination. The deep gloom of the
forest. rendered the more intense by the
blazing light Of the campfire, is before Us
now. coming UP in all It's freshness from the
long past. All around are tall old forest
trees, stately and solemn, standing in aiI
their primeyal grandeur, just as they stood
before the white mans tread was heard over
their fallen leaves. Above, aud looking down
ON their everlasting watch, are the bright
stars and the moon smiling in beauty az
she walks across the sky. The old owl
boots, and the night bird calls from his dis
tant perch.
Young people, men and maidens, are gath
cred there, and the voice Of gladness, tile
merry shout. the Joyous laugh 70 ringing
through the old woods. The syrup foams in
the great kettle suspended over the burning
logs and comes sur.lng up 70 overlooking.
ut il restrained by the magic influence Of the
porkrind. over a bed of Goals ut one side
Is smaller kettle, wherein IN the feast 81
the visitors ia IL more advanced granulation.
Ladies' Whitfield into shape are in the hands Of
all, snow gathered from the unthawed drifts
Is in pans around, upon which the hot sugar
~ ynnra1 and rupNv
bubbles are blown from one TO another or
thrown from the ends Of switches dipped in
foaming liquid there is no fear Of soiiins
garments, for all are dressed for the ocea-
sion.
The old og-house, the great fireplace and
broad hearth Of stone, too, come looming up
from the forgotten past. Suspended upon
the large iron crane is the great cauldron,
while on the smaller one IN the other corner
hangs O kettle of less dimensions, in which
the syrup Just changing into sugar foams.
The old house dog Is doing listlessly in his
place and the eat sits demurelv between his
outstretchcd feet. On a deal table in the
centre Of the room, covered with q snowy
cloth, are piles Of old-fashioned nut caEa
and measure of foaming elder Allaround
are young happy faces glowing with health,
fill Of merriment and glee, upon which no
lines Of care are drawn. Happy times those,
the memory Of which comes drifting down
from the dina and shadowy past. Albany
Register
CT The New York press stand thus polit-
ieally The Tribune, Times, Cour1ei. aud
Post support the Repub lican cause the Err
press, 1drertiSer and Mirror support the
Know Nothings the Journal Of CONNIE e
and Dag Book support the Black Democra-
cY. and the Herald advocates slavery extern
SION on its own hook The Post has been
the organ Of the Silas Wright Democracy.
The Courier is the fayorite paper Of the old
Wing merchants and bankers.
NAVIGATION il MSNEsorA We learn from
t6e ST. Paul papers Of the 10th, that the iirst
boat up from Prescott arrived on the pregi-
aas day. The ice opposite the city com
mpneed moving on that day, and in hour the
river was clear. Two boats left at once for
the head Of the Lake. The Minnesota is
open from its mouth to the rapids and Is
also open at different points above the rap
ids.
o- Oliver Wendell Holmes quantity re-
marks that We like new forms Of the poetic
element, even if they resemble the old ~
the birth of q child is always d charming
novelty, although Cain was the only really
venerable and truly original baby.
g. George q. Foster, known as the au-
thor Of '.New York by Gas Light ssNew
York in Slices and other works Of kindred
character, died suddenly at Philadelphia on
Wednesday last.
ABEL LEONARD. HORACE EyKrF4T
IHnN aR II A. Fsx-EuEEr