Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01

sup my Ihtionst uOW 1 uhV0 maze such n
promiser'
"Cettainly not, Tom You shall have m
tons as long - you stay
found IL pleasant 10 call and talk with
Elder Melrose and his wife every day.
fancied they began to esteem me- Somehow
II always happened that saw Clara. but
knew my attention to her father and mother
would react on Clara with double force.
Before n week Cupid was weaving snare
for her feet, and she was being enticed into
IL. became aware she was in no wise
averss to my visits.
The day for the sugar party arrived. II
was designed we should go with one double
team. But preferred to take Clara in a
single one. SO the others acquiesced.
II was beautiful spring day. There was
still enough snow to make good sleighing
II was FIVE miles drive to the sugar place.
Clara had fully recovered from the fall.
She enjoyed the ride, and | was delighted
with the occasion.
We found a brilliant company, mostly
young people, assembled. Reader do you
understand the process of making sap into
sugar in the good old wayp" Do you know
just how il LOOKS when two or three ponder
Gus kettles filed with sap are suspended in y
row beneath a strong pole resting on posts
driven into the groundP Then huge back
and fore logs are rolled up at the sides Of the
kettles. Large quantities of smaller wood
are then placed round them, the fire kindled
and the operation of boiling the sap goes on.
As the sap evapOrates more Is added. This
operation is continued until the strip is OBJ
tanned. This strip is removed from the ket-
tie. cooled. and strained to remove impure
ties. Then It is returned to the kettles again
and the sugaring off commences.
Reader, did You ever go to q good old suR-
aring Off If you ever did you know how
good the sugar looks rs it rises and falls in
great saccharine pillows while boiling. You
have not forgotten how delicious the Odor Of
boiling sugar is. You have, undoubtedly, Mt
such a time seated yourself on u huge knarl
ed log between deep hanks of snow, with
pretty damsel seated beside you. You have
had n bucket of snow on which to cool the
sugar placed between you. Then the hot
sugar was poured on the snow to cool.
Thereupon you proceeded 10 initiate your
selves into the mysteries of the feast that
surpasses all other fcasts. How delicious
the sugar looks cooling on the white snow.
How delicious II tastes in It's freshness and
purity. All, there is no place on earth like
an old time sugaring of. The way Clara
and RECALLED on the sugar until we had eat
en- to our satisfaction, | need not tell. Gu
pid could not resist the temptation to be
present pesring over our shoulders and into
our faces. The sancy scamp is always ut
home at sugar parties, playing his pranks
continually All, how sweet the sugar tast-
ed; how sweet Clara looked. When we
had revealed in its lusciousness and Toasted
TO fillness, Clara and fell to daubing each
others faces and hair with the sticky sweet
ness. Cupid prompted the sport. The ardor
with which we entered into it brought n
healthy glow to our faces, and bursts Of mer-
riment from the party. Very soon we had
reason to be proud Of our saccharine adorn-
ments. We did not hesitate to banter each
other on our improved beauty. Even Elder
Melrose entered into the spirit Of onr harm
less amusement, with zest that madO II a
pleasant occasion. When the party broke
up we all started home.
Clara and | were the last to drive off. We
were in no haste to overtake the others. II
would be needless to repeat all We said, hui
It was suited to the occasion. We had not
driven half way home when | noticed q
pleased expression come over her face. ant
| asked:
What are you thinking about, Miss Mel
roseP"
IL was thinking what ridiculous intro
duction we had"
We'll, that's curious. was thinking tn,
same thing"
"Andhow singular it was that should &C
cidentally slip down just then"
Accidentally! You don't think it acct.
dental do yOu2"
Certainly, how else could it have been p
1T was all prc-arranged, Miss Molrose
There is no doubt of that"
+" How do you make that out? There wa
no pre-arrangement on our part"
" Providence pre-arranged 1t all. Shall
tell you what for3"
Just rs you like. Mr.. Frazier
Well, it was all pre-arranged purposel
to give me this opportunity TO ask you t
marry me, Clara" exclaimed impetuously
The suddenness OF the announcement an'
the impetuosity of my manner startled her
She darted one quick, searching glance a
my face, her eyes dropped, her face sufiuss,
with scarlet, and-but stop, reader, hav
told enough already. Ii is none Of your bus
mess what happened just then. Neither is
becoming you to be inquisitive. Clara nm
know all about what happened, and rs Ion
rs we were satisfied who shall blame us 70
allowing Cupid to gain tho victory.
The next morning Uncle Eben WAS great
ly surprised when announced my determin
alton to take the morning train for Boston
What, Tom, you off so soon3 Change
your mind, heyP"
/" was afraid you would get out of ration
If | stayed longer So | am of Bushes
before pleasure. you know
Yes, Tom. But really | did hope 20
nice girl hoped | should have her for
+ niece
But # found she did not Just suit m
[ Uncle, what thenp"
"Why, suppose you have done sens
4 BILE thing, Tom. Better drop such matte
before anything serious is SAID"
y That's just what | think, Uncle.
good by"
a Three menths after that | received u lett
h from Uncle Eben in which were these word
h You wretch! Why didn't you tell N
you and Clara Melrose were already e
gagged But you know | am invited to Il
wedding. So I'll be revenged on you then
Uncle Ebsn did preside when that TIM
0 came. The parson legtlized Cupid's mi
IS chevous work at the sugaring off while
d made me the possessor of one of the swsete
= wives in existence, and gave Uncle Eben