The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-16
THE SUGAR PARTY.

Sugar parties, in the town of G., have
from time immemorial been accounted
famous affairs, no Cuttings, merry max
lngs, or "bees" of any description
being able to approach them in popu-
larity.
The Nelbies, senior, gave a party to
all the fathers and mothers of fsmilies in
tho town of O., at the time of the
earliest "run" of sap, last season; and
couple of weeks later, when another
grand thaw sent the transparent blood
OF tue maple circulating through torpid
trunks and limbs, the Nelbies, Junior,
with the permission Of the cold peo-
pie, made preparations and sent out
invitations for their sugar party, which
everybody anticipated would be grand
affair.
Certainly. Eliva Nelby and her broth
ers, Samuel and Nicholas, spared no
"pains or expense" to meet the antici-
sonally attended to the boiling of the
sap, in its later stages, and used his ut
most skill and care in keeping it free
from impurities, and in reducing it to
syrup of the proper consistency, with
out scorching. Then Eliva herself had
secured the bright copper kettle in
which this delectable preparation was
to be placed over the sugar making slow
fire IN the kitchen, in time to have it
leather az soon as the guests should
be ready for the grand sweetening.
Meanwhile, Nicholas had busted him
self In filling large tub with the purest
snow which could be found in the woods.
and 10 hollow places, protected from the
sun; and he had deposited the cooling
treasure IN the shed, covering it with
cakes of ice, brought from q dismal
ravine on the northerly side of Kellogg g
mount.
Moreover, the plotting Eliva, anx-
lous to have the old folks out of the
way, had planned an engagement for
them at married peoples sugar party,
over the river; and now everything was
arranged exact y as she desired.
And Eliva was very happy, until
about three o'clock on the important
day. About that time an incident oc-
Cured which threw her into the utmost
confusion. Eliva wished the sugar party
had never been thought of.
10 explain the reason of this: Eliva
Neiby was young lady of lofty pride.
Not only did she account herself the
belle OF the town of O., but, having
twice or three times visited relatives re-
siding in Philadelphia, she had become
ambitious of fashionable manners, and
prided herself on her knowledge of the
beau monde. Her proper sphere, she
felt convinced, was accomplished soci-
ETY.; but believing in the necessity of
initiating the Romans in their own do
mains, she tolerated country people, and
condescended to patronize the simplic-
ity of their manners when in their midst.
And Elivs could enjoy herself with
her rural friends exceedingly we'll, too :;
and she anticipated as much pleasure as
anybody from the proposed sugar party.
But at just three o'clock-how mex
pressibly provoking-the arrival OF an
unexpected visitor produced the effect
at which have already limited.
That visitor was her cousin Lawrence,
from the city-her rich, handsome, ao-
complishe9, desirable cousin, who had
come to spend q week with his country
relatives in sugar time
At any other time Eliva would have
been delighted with the high honor
which she had so long desired in vain.
At no other time could she have been 80
utterly dismayed Although, after she
had hastily changed her dress to meet
him, the young gentleman greeted her
with easy familiarity, she thought it was
only because he happened to be partial
to her; and firmly believing him to be
the slave to etiquette that she 80 much