Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-30
Farmer Slapdash:
Dr. Sugar Making as it Vas.
BY A. NJ. FOSTER.

Our hero had good physical organiza-
ton, but owing perhaps to the hardships and
lack of opportunities incident to new
cOuDtry, his mental development was not of
high order,
Two grown-up sons inherited their fathers
physical and mental qualities. Their aver
sion for school grieved Mr.. Slapdash for
while, but Incorporating man came along
one time, (he was selling patent rights, l
believe,) and informed Slapdash the elder
that Daniel Webster was very dull boy,
and that children confined constantly in
school usually broke down in health then
he said something about letting children
follow their bent. This the old gentleman
did not exactly understand, but as they
were bent on hunting aud fishing he conclud-
ed that was it, and settled down quite con-
tented. But how spring-like it appears
the snow is melting upon the north side Of
buildings; where We step in the snow it
looks moist in the tracks; white, Aeecy
clouds are passing over from west to cast !;
neighbor Forecast is out tapping his sugar
place.
The sap is not very sweet, we are going
to have good sugar year, think. Farm.
er Slapdash is in a quandary about COM
mencing to sugar he consults the old
Farmers Almanac; he reads as follows !:
"Look out for storm about these days"
The moon fulls tomorrow, we never get a
run of sap on the full Of the moon and he
concludes not to tap until after the line
storm.
what fine sugar weather." says Mr..
Forecast, III have caught hundred pals
full, and want to boil it and get it into
market while sugar is high" This turns
the scale with Slapdash. He summons the
boys they take their snowshoes, dogs, and
guns, and start for the woods The old tubs
and trOughs are got out and set to the trees.
1t looks little hazy in the west we shall
have a storm "Now, boys, shovel out the
boiling-pace. You will find the snow
pretty deep, for it has not been shoveled
out for two years. Where are the kettles
One we boiled swill in last fall, and the
other was used for making soap, They are
all right, of course. Where are our sap
holders One is full of ice at the corner
Of the house, as it has been used for rain
water the past year. That must be chopped
out The scalding tub and old churn will
make out the complement for storage We
will cut the nearest tree to the boiling
place for side logs the small wood we can
draw on handsled."
Now comes the boiling. With green
wood and drilling rain this is no small
ieat,-especially without any shanty. The
first day is spent in blowing but no boiling
by noon the second day he gets it warmed
up little, and at night leaves good FIRE
What is his surprise in the morning to find
not syrup but few cinders in his kettle
What will my wife say to this she mus
not know it }" and the boys are sent for sap
everything goes finely the sap is all gath
cred. The father and sons are tending thu
kettles when a short, sharp bark is heard
Bose has freed squirrel. Now for som,
fun. The excitement reases,-become
intense. slapdash tucks up his fires ant
joins the boys time passes, the shadow
begin to creep up the distant hills. Thi
reminds Slapdash Of his syrup, he smell
burnt sugar,-and sees it, too another dis
appointment to his wife. He gees home
sadder if not wiser man. AS they gathe