Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-04-18
FROM an OLD CONTRIBUTOR,
WHO rNDULoEs IN SWEET "REMINISCENCES AND
PLEASING DESCRIPTION.

IL IS true that about six weeks since bought
in Boston an entioing-looking compound la
belled maple sugar, which tasted like slight
ly sweotened brick-bat and Judge, was
composed of plaster-of Paris aud brown su-
gar. Where this choice article was obtained
1 cannot conceive am sure no honest Yer
monter would impose such an one upon the
unsuspecting inhabitants Of q sister common
wealth. But ahl this charming sunshine, re-
Hected oil about me in mud-puddes, the coun-
terparts Of the nice little Vermont snow banks
that will nestle in shady corners for weeks to
come, just to accommodate the sugar-makers
this sunshine reminds me of the days when,
with longing faces, the children and the "hir-
ed man" slyly inserted their augurs in the
trees that grew in the sunniest spots, though
sagely warned by the good man of the house
that TO tap too early was very bad for the
trees They are rewarded at last by seeing a
few hesitating drops. (By the way, wonder
why people speak of the Glow of sap"
never saw sap flow but once that was in a
picture in Harper's Magazine, where it de-
scribed a charming curve from the tree to the
bucket) Straightway every utensil that does
not leak, from the sap-bucket to the pint cup,
finds It's place Of usefulness in tho world for
once, il no more and can almost smell the
boiling sap-at least, 1 could if it were not
for those horrid east winds which guard tho
coast and drive everything sweet the opposite
way-and "sugaring" has commenced, that
charming season which begius with sunshine,
hilarity and any amount of feasting lit is
strange how many friends one may have in
sugar time), and ends in mud and weariness
and painful inability to find anything in its
place in the domestic regions, with general
sickness from one end OF the house to the
other, which renders the May cleaning that
follows something less of an absurdity than
it is deemed by most persons of the male per-
suason. Not that their opinions on the sub.
ject are Of much consequence, since they do
not bear the brunt of the battle, though some
Of them may be found afterward in the list
of killed and wounded.
But We did not intend to write on essay on
sugaring, only the season carried us irresisti-
bly, to our Vermont home, and we could not
help wishing that the bread (or sugar. We had
once cast upon the waters might come floating
down to US after 80 many days. so that some
OF our former friends might learn how much
more blessed 1t is to give than TO receive. At
ter assuring them OF an undated regard,
was about to tell you something of the place
which is now blessed with my presence; but,
when l come to think of it, know very little
about it. It contains some eight or nine
thousand inhabitants, with a property valua-
tion Of about one million dollars. II has
grown largely during tho past ten years, ow.
ing to the fact, as / am informed that the
fsh.hake has given way to the pegging ma
chino. For my part, although the former
may not smell so swoetly, yet l must say
| prefer them from an p,thetio point OF view.
1t was so charming when 1 wandered here as
a child, some fifty or sixty years ago mot to
be too particular about dates), to see the long
strips Of green grass just back from the beach
covered with grey network frames which
bore their shining burdens, spread in the sun
shine and carefully watched and turned every
day. Also the beautiful grey rock in the
heart of the town, one side a steep precipicC
covered with vines, the other a gentle slope
where we children used to slide and forget the
school l-hour-ths rock has been blown into
fragments and in its place, sad to say, are
miserable houses, quantities OF them, will
their piazzas and bay windows and masses o
trumpery inside. 1 am glad l can still lool
across the river or on the ocean and see a few
things left as God made them. Still, in jus
tice to the place, must admit that there arr
many ancient things here that He did mo-
make.
Among the inhabitants there are two classes
the good and the bad. At least, so l am told
having lived here but two years, cannot b,
expected to speak from personal acquaintance
The few whom have met belong to the for
mer class, and are Of the species who let no
their right hand know what their loft hanC
doeth.
There is also another distinction among tn
people those who peg, and those who do no
or, as We might say, the pre- and post
Adamites. The former class are distinguishe,
by having possessed ancestors; aud thes
have intermingled to such an extent that tn
result, to a stranger, is very embarrassing. o
course there can be no freedom of speech wher
everyone is cousin to everybody else. Ths
is one reason prefer living in Vermont; on
is not so liable to hurt peoples feelings
There is in this place fine public library
the most superior water department in tn
world, and ire department with magnifcer
equipments The only possible objectio
that can be made to the latter organization
that in cases OF fire it is seldom present
mean until after q considerable lapse of tint
or course they arrive sometime, and thef
little delays arc easily excused when we reco
lect that the department possesses no regult
means of transportation, and must first arouf
several sleepy persons, who harness sever
sleepy horses in different parts of the towr
after which they set ont for the engine houi
es, and, having ascertained the location of h
| fire-which is not always easy-they procee
to do very efficient work, provided the fire
not already extinguished in the natural way
4 Upon reflection think have told you a
: : know-perhaps little more, although l fe
a confident every word is strictly true. Shoul
: ever learn anything that is worth repea
: ing, it will give me great pleasure to infor
+ you. In the meantime bid you, dear rea,
; ers, a most respectful adieu IsHMAEL.
'