Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-05-24
A SuEar-BOiliDg Scrape,

When I was boy we lived in the
country, where think all boys ought
to live for few years, and we didn't gel
coddled as you youngsters do, nor have
30 many things to play, nor such
schools, and books, and other helps tc
learning and fun, as you have. But we
mad plenty of good times in coasting,
skating, riding, fishing, hunting and
trapping. And in the spring we al.
ways had special clark" when thew
made maple sugar.
Father used to let us 90 to the woods
with the men when we were quite little
shavers, and we would bring dry brush
Tor the fire, and watch the big kettle
when the sap was boiling SO as to call
the men or throw in piece of pork, or
some cold sap, to keep it from boiling
over. L can almost smell the sweet
steam now, and see the little pieces of
pork bobbling around in the kettle, and
remember how my eyes watered when
the smoke blew in them, and how good
the first taste of the sugar was when
they began to cool it on the snow to see
if it was done.
But the "sugaring off" was the
greatest fun. When the sap was boiled
down into clear, sweet sirup, they would
put four or five pailfuls in the kettle
and cook it slowl y and carefully till it
was done enough to "cake into sugar.
And then we would wax some on snow,
and stir some in saucers until it cooled,
and eat it warm and cold until we
couldn't hold any more-aud a long
while after father wondered how we
could hold so much.
Well, one time, when we were about
twelve or fourteen years old, we thought
the sugar would taste much sweeter il
we could get it in some sly and mischie.
vous way. That's the way with foolish
boys and men in other things. Stolen
sweets make half the trouble of the
world. And so we went around to hall
a dozen OF the neighbors' boys, asking
them to sugar bee in our woods the
next night, but telling them not to lei
anybody know it. We knew there was
churn full and two big jugs of sirur
waiting to be sugared off" down in
our bush, and we thoughC we'd steal q
march on the men, and show 'em a trick
or two. So, after the chores were done
we asked mother if we could 20 and see
the boys, and she said yes, if we would
be back by nine o'clock.
We "saw" the boys, but it was il
the lane leading to the woods, where
they were waiting, whist as mice. L
was growing dark FAST and we cut fol-
the woods as fast as we could 90
There was big bed of Goals snugl,
covered with ashes. and we soon had Il
raked out, put new wood on, and made
blazing fire. Then we all took hole
of the long pole and swung the hi,
kettle over it. How to get the sirul
in was the next question, as we couldn'
lift the big jugs up. But 1 found thu
dipper, and we dipped it out of tn,
churn used to store it in, until there
was pailful or more in the kettle, ant
it began to boil up, as yellow and swee
as could be.
But this time it was dark as a pocket
The fire lighted up the woods for it'll
ways, but it seemed all the blacker il
the shadows beyond. We had neye
been out alone before, and the strang
stiffness began to make us feel YER,
queerly. Our shadows, thrown by tn
freight across the clearing, looked lik
big, black giants, and there wasn't mucl
fun in our laughsas we watched them. On
of the littlest boys vowed he saw some
thing hiding behind tree, and anothe
thought he heard some animal steppin
in the brusha little ways off. You see W
knew we weren't doing right, and tina
makes boys-and men, too-very IN
easy.
But we kept close to the fire, an,
talked as bravely as we could, until th
boy who was stirring the sugar said: "I
hairs lit must be donel Who'll try /
first ?"
"Who Who'll" said a loud voice OH
in the darkness of the woods.
Every boy started up as if panthe
had come upon us. Jim dropped hi
stirring-stick into the fire. Harry tippe
DER the pans of snow on the bench
Charlie stumbled over a root and fel
head first into sap-bucket; and the,
we all held our breaths and hardened.
who who ?" said the voice again
loud and solemn.
"Who are you, your own self ?
shouted Frank, the boldest boy in tn
party" and what-r-ye doing in thi
sugar bnsh this time Of night n
No answer came,