Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-21
The Sugar Party.

able to approach them in popularity.
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
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 people,"
made preparations and sent out invita-
tiOns for their sugar party, which every
body anticipated would be a 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 person
ally attended to the boiling of the sap,
in its later stages, and used his utmost
skill and care in keeping it free from
impurities, and i'll reducing it to syrup
of the proper consistency, without scorch-
ing. Then Eliva herself had secured
the bright copper kettle in which this
delectable preparating was to be placed
over the sugar making slow fire in the
kitchen, in time to have it. Feather" as
soon as the guests should be ready for
the grand sweetenlng,
Meanwhile. Nicholas had busted him
self III filling a large tub with the pur-
est 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, cover
ing it with cakes of ice, brought from
a dismal ravlne on the northerly side of
Kellogg's mount.
Moreover, the plotting Eliva, anxious
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 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.
To explain the reason of this; Eliva
Nelby was young lady of lofty pride.
Not only did she account herself the
bell of the town of c., but, having twice
or three times visited relatives residing
in Philadelphia, she had become ambi-
tious of fashionable manners, and pride
herself on her knowledge of the beau
monde. Her proper sphere, she left
convinced, was accomplished society /;
but believing in the necessity of imita-
ting the Romans in their own domains,
she tolerated country people, and con-
descended to patronize the simplicity
! of their midst.
And Eliva could enjoy herself with
her rural friends exceedingly well, too
and she anticipated as much pleasure as
anybody from the proposed sugar party.
But at just three o'clock-how inexpres-
IDLY provoking-the arrival of an unex-
pected visitor produced the effect al
which 1 have already limited.
That visitor was her cousin Lawrence
from the city-her rich, handsome, ac
complished, desirable cousin, who haC
come to spend week with his country
relatives in sugar time !
At any other time Eliva would havt
been delighted with the high homo
which she had so long desired in vain
At no other time could she have been s.
utterly dismayed Although, after sh
had hastily changed her dress to NEE
/ him, the young gentleman greeted he
with easy familiarity, she thought
was only because be happened to be par
tial to her and firmly believing him t
be the slave to etiquette that she SO muc
admired, she shuddered at the though
5 of his disgust should he witness th
: 'valgarity" of the country people, wit
= whom she would be obliged to associat
I, that night
After Lawrence had been introduce
q into the '.best room," Eliva. all fushe
a and Aurried with excitement, poure
D her turbulent fears into the stupid ca
l of the stOical Sam.
a "What will he say-when the foll
come 2" she exclaimed.
" "Say. how dye do of course. r
g piled the unfeeling Samuel.
; "But-everything will appear odd
= him He will think he is among barb
rians He will be disguised with then
k and US, too, for associating with them.
"What'll he be disgusted for ? Ju
E. as if our kind of folks amt as good
s his. any day p
! : But you don't understand J" viii
a pered the perplexed young lady. IT
e. is used to good sOciety-and the you
{. folks here are so rude and uncouth"-
.e "If you call living and hearty 'ru'
= :, and uncouth,' he'll find US up and stri
" ing z exclaimed Sam. Wen have
st good time as he can read about, or 4
st sheep are all goats.
Pc .HOw can you talk so y demand
- of Eliva, passiOnately. Lawrence "