The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-04-18
a sugar-Roiling scrape.

N 5u6s%A~nOAAAAS oCEdP0s
When I was boy we lived in the
country, where I think all boys ought to
live for few years, and we didn't get
coddled as you youngsters do, nor have
so many things to play, nor such schools,
and Books, and other helps to learning
and fun, as you have. But we had
plenty of good times in coasting, skat-
ing, riding, fishing, hunting and trap
ping. And In the spring we always had
special clark" when they made maple
sugar.
Father used to let us go to the woods
with the men when we we're quite little
shavers, and we would bring dry brush
for 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. [ 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 snow to see If it was
done.
But the " sugaring off" was the great
est fun. When the sap was boiled down
into clear, sweet sirup, they would put
four or five pailfuls in the kettle and
cook it slowly and carefully till it was
done enough to " cake int 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-and long while after
father wondered how we could hold so
much.
Well, one time, when we we're about
10 or IA years old, we thought the sugar
would taste good deal sweeter if we
could get it in some sly and mischievous
way. That's the way with foolish boys
and men In other things. Stolen sweets
make half the trouble of the world.
And 80 we went around to half q dozen
OF the neighbors' boys, asking them to
sugar bee In our woods the next night,
but telling them not to let anybody
know it. We knew there was o churn
full and two big jugs of strip waiting
to be "sugared off" down in our bush.
and we thought we'd steal march on
the men, and show 'em trick or two.
So, after the chores were done, we asked
mother If we could go and see the BOYS,
and she said yes, if we would be back.
by o'clock.
We ''saw" the boys, but it was in the
lane leading to the woods, where they
were waiting, whist as mice. 1t was
growing dark fast, and we cut for the
woods as fast as we could go. There WIS
big bed of Goals snuglY covered with
ashes, and we soon had it raked out, put
new wood on, and made blazing fire.
Then we all took hold of the long pole
and swung the big kettle over it. How
to get the strip in was the next ques-
ton, as we couldn't lift the big jugs up.
But I found the dipper, and we dipped
it out of the churn used to store It in.
until there was pailful or more in the
kettle, and it began to boil up, as yellow
and sweet as could be.
But this time it was dark as a pocket
The fire lighted up the woods for little
ways, but it seemed all the blacker in
the shadows beyond. We had never
been out alone before, and the strange
stiffness began to make us feel very
queerly. Our shadows, thrown by the
freight across the little clearing. looked
Like big, black giants, and there wasn't
much fun in our laughs as we watched
them. One Of the littlest boys vowed he
saw something hiding behind tree. and
another thought he heard some animal
stepping in the brush little WAYS off.
You see we knew we weren't doing right
and that makes boys-and men, too
very uneasy.
But we kept close to the fire. and
talked as bravely as we could, until the
boy who was stirring the sugar said: 1T
hairsl-it must be done Who'll try it
first ?"
"Whol Who'll" said loud voice out
in the darkness of the woods.
Every boy started up as if panther
had come upon us. Jim dropped his
stirring-gtick into the fire. Harry
tipped Ger the pans of snow on the
bench Charlie stumbled over q root
and fell head first into p-bucket: and
then we all held our breaths and bark
ened.
"Who! who + said the voice again,
loud and solemn.