Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-05
THE SUGAR PARTY.

Sugar parties, in the town of G., have
from time immemorial been accounted
famous affairs, no cuttings, merry max
ings, or "bees" of any description
being able to approach them in popu-
larity.
The Nelbies, senior, gave party to
all the fathers and mothers of families in
the town of c., at the time of the
earliest "run" of sap, last season; and
q couple of weeks later, when another
grand thaw sent the transparent blood
of the maple circulating through torpid
trunks and limbs, the Nelbies, junior,
with the permission of the "old peo-
ple," 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-
pations of the public. Sam had per-
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
"feathcr" as soon as the guests should
be ready for the grand sweetening.
Meanwhile, Nicholas had busted him
self in filling large tub with tho purest
snow which could be found in the woods.
and in hollow places, protected from the
sun; and he had deposited the cooling
treasure in the shed, covering it with
cakes of ice, brought from a dismal
ravine on the northerly side Of Kellogg's
mount.
Moreover, the plotting Eliva, anx-
ious 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 exactly as shs 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.
To explain the reason of this: Eliva
Nelby was q young lady of lofty pride.
Not only did she account herself the
belle of the town of G., 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 Rorans 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 ly well, too
and she anticipated as much pleasure as
anybody from the proposed sugar party.
But at just three o'clock-how inex-
pressibly provoking-the arrival of nn
unexpected visitor produced the effect
at which have already limited.
That visitor was her cousin Lawrence,
from the city-her rich, handsome, ac-
complished, desirable cousin, who had
come to spend week with his country
relatives in sugar time
At any other time Eliva wonld have
been delighted with the high honor
which she had so long desired in vain.
At no other time could she have been SO
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 SO much
admired, she shuddered at the thought
of his disgust should he witness the
"vulgarity of the countr7 people, with
whom she would be obliged to associate
that night ...
After Lawrence had been introduced
into the best room," Eliva, all flushed
and furried with excitement, poured her
turbulent fears into the stupid ear of the
stoical Sam.
"What will he say-whcn the folks
comet" she exclaimed.
"Say, 'how dye do, OF course" re-
piled the unfeeling Samuel.
But-everything will appear odd to
him He will think he is among barba.-
rians! He will be disgusted with them,
and us, too, for associating with them."
What1l he be disgusted forl just
as if our kind of folks amt as good as
his, any day |" ....
"But you don't understand |" whis-
pered the perplexed young lady. "He
is nsed to good society-and the young
folks here are SO rude and uncouth -
=" If you call living and hearty rude
and uncouth, he'll find us mp and striv
ing!" exclaimed Sam. "We'll have as
good time as he can read about, or nv
sheep are all goats" Il