St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-05-20

greatest difficulty, in connection with
the domestic and culinary departments
Of their homes, was the procuring OF
clothing and provisions. Game was
abundant, it is true, and the rifle
afforded them supplies of venison, wild
turkey, geese, rabbits, ETC., but to those
who had enjoyed the Injuries Of old
Java, Rio and Mocha and refined sugar,
there seemed to be a something lacking
that could never be restored Instead
OF the broadcloth and cashmere, the
male portion of the household contented
themselves with jeans or coarser fab
RIGS, woven upon the hand-loom Of some
fortunate neighbor, and the women
| were satisfied with linsey-woolsey and
calico, while parched wheat took the
place in the cotfee-pot of the fragrant
| berries from Arabia and Brazil; the
| sugar made from the sap of the rock
I maple, which grew in great numbers
throughout the country, proved sweet
substitute for the more aristocratic and
costly ''loaf,' then so highly esteemed
in the older States.
With the genial sun and airs OF
March, the settlers began the manu-,
tacture OF maple-sugar, and old and
young partook of the fun engendered
always in and about the ''camp." The
familiar distich:
Be ready, for with the March sun
The maple trees begin to run,
had been needed, and innumerable hol-
low 'sspiles," made of the elder-bush,
and troughs hewn out of the buckeye,
and huge iron kettles, and vessels OF
| IN
scene of operations. The trees having
been bored and the 'spiles'' inserted
that were to convey the saccharlne
| juice to the ''troughs,'' they ''began to
rum" and that so briskly, that in How
ard Inskip's orchard of two hundred
splendid naples they kept all hands
busy for a full week, day and night,
emptying the vessels, ''boiling down,
''stirring'' to the required grain, or pour
ing the granulating substance into the
basins and mould to harden and be
broken up when wanted in the future.
Saturday afternoon arrived, and, the
sap not flowing very freely, Mr.. lnsklp,
with all employed, except his son. lad
of fifteen, and lass his junior by some
two years, left the camp for their re-
spective homes, Harold being charged
by his father to :'look after things and
start with Jennie for home 'sbefore sun
down.
Gan right" replied Harold, "Jennie
and l will be at the 'Hilr by the time
it is dark, anyhow, if it is three miles,
for you know we are both good walk
ers." And as Mr.. Inskip and party
disappeared in the forest, he fell to
work righting affairs in the camp with
the assistance of Jennie Mcmillan, a
right-haired, buxom and brave little
girl, adopted as daughter into the In
skip family, favorite with all, and,
perhaps, particularly SO with Harold.
But there was more to arrange than
was expected, and the sun had set and
twilight come on, and the great forest
through which they had to pass doomed
up black, and the sky was hidden by
clouds threatening to deprive them both
Of moon and starlight, while they had
only a bazed'' path to follow through
the dense and dark woods. It was not
a pleasant walk in prospect for Jennie
and Harold, but thus far in their bright
f and sunny lives they had learned moth
inc of fear. Their hearts were innocent,
, and guilt alone hath dread "of things
seen and unseen"
"Come, Jennie said Harold, /" al
t is ready now to start, and | shall take
: my Ak along"
!, .'But you don't want it at home to-
: night, audit is so heavy youwill get tree
carving it; besides you will want it here
: on Monday urged Jennie.
"That's true, but I don't mind it:
: weight; then some straggler might drol
5 into camp and steal it. o, yes, I'll take
| it with me- and throwing it on hi
: shoulder, and clasping Jennie's hand il
3 his, they walked out Of the dying camp
3 fires light into the gloom of the dark
3 ness, and one following them at rod!
7 distance could not have discerned theil
!. outlines; and for a few minutes they
l were as mute as the gigantic poplar
l and black y walnuts, between whose
, trunks they CROPPED their way.
40, Harold, isn't this dreadful.
dark night?' asked Jennie, in an under
, tone, as if fearful of disturbing the aw
full hush above and about them.
I eyes, Jennie; but it won't be Ions
until we reach that bit Of prairie tina
: runs into the wood, and then we vii
! have some light. You dom t feel afraid
l do you?' and Harold pressed her hant
> encouragingly. !.
"No, but then, Harold, I though
/, lust nowhere! bark! don't you hear
: There's something following usp' ane
: Jennie drew up closedsto the side Of hel
companion, who, pushing her quickly tx
. the front, stepped back, and, peerins
: into the darkness, saw but few fee
! distant black object.
81 see it," he replied, " it's only tn
J big black dog that neighbor Houston
, brought from Pennsylvania last week
I'll call him. Here, Carlo! come here!'
: AS the supposed Newfoundland