Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-15
"SUGARING-OFF."
A BOSTON pARTYS VISIT TO A
MAPLE SUGAR ORCHARD
Late Winter i'm New England-Passen-
gers Aboard a Log SIed-Sap Gather
ing and Boiling Down-'Done
Enough for Cakes"
ICnr- Boston 1ranscrinf

As We left Lowell, Manchester and Nashua
behind Us, the mist grew thicker, AMI the
snow appeared, and soon the rain came down
with rush through the colder air, forebod-
I ing no good for the morrow. The conductor
Of the party, backed by "OlI Prob, assured
rs that it woulI he bright and clear, and we
triei to believe him A. We sped by the
Weirs We could only see the white, frozen
lake, instead Of the blue sheet Of dancing
waters, overlooked by the viclet-crowned
heights of Ossipee and its kindred. The sum-
mer steamer " S snugly tucked up in her
winter bed at the dock with spruce trees,
and it was hard to believe that only SO few
months ago a merry party crowded her
decks and enjoyed to the utmost n glorious
day on the mountain-fringed lake.
We came to a halt at the door of the Pemi-
gewasset house. a little after 3 o'clock. A
genial welcome from the host awaited us,
and, TO my delight, found warm rooms
halls and parlors. The appetizing supper
was heartily enjoyed, particularly the grid
die cakes, on which the new maple honey
cast the sweetness of coming events before
The young people of the party spent a
merry evening with music, games and dane
Ing. and the next morning l looked out on
4 beautiful scene-the Pemigewasse, river,
es elns, glimpse of the English looking
church, school and residence which crown
5he bluff, AMI still farther tbs pine WOODS
md the slope Of Prospect
Away in the north rose the sharp peaks OF
The Franconias. steely tlus and over all lay
the brilliant morning sunlight, but OIL how
cold it wasi Undismaysl, however,
we resumed our journey northward,
and shortly after O'Clock our car was de-
tached from the train at Warren, and We
amazed Bostonians We're packed upon log
sled, with dry-goois boxes placed across for
seats. and drawn by two sorry looking nags
To the town hall, where elaborate prepara-
tons We're going on for our dinner.
But this is not according to the pro-
gramme.' demonstrated the conductor. Il
didn't bring this party up here sugaring to
have the camp left out"
why, Aleck. it's SO tarnal cold they'll
.reezs up there Ye carnt 60 anyhow
I'll see il we can't CO." eclaimei the Wig
orous young man. ami of he rushed for the
camp. Soon returning and crying, All
aboarii" we were piled on the sled again
bound for the sugar orchard.
The sugar-house itself was placed on the
slope Of the hill below the grove Of maple
trees Each tree was adorned with a pail
hung Oh. it some two or three feet from the
ground Above the pal little spout Of
woud Or iron was driven into the tree,
through which the sap, delicious,ys sweet.
drips fast or slowly, according to tue
weather
When the pals are nearly full, a man,
with two hu-s buckets which he carries
with the help of an awkward contrivancs
worn across the Shout iers, COOS from tire, TO
tree gathering the sap. which ne pours into
tubs placed at intervals about the Orchard.
From these long lines OF wooden gutters-I
think they callei them conluctors-convey
IL 10 one large tub in thu sugar-house Here
a brisk fire. built under iron pan>. boils ths
san away till If grows DARK and thick,
when it Is taken Of. cooled and strained,
and again put on t. boil in one large kettle.
We watched the furious boiling eagerly
till it was pr nouncsd really TO put on snow,
and then each. armed with saucer AMI
spoon AMI a lrtion Of the fragrant sweet.
went out and poured the liquid on the snow.
To the amazsment of the uninitiated the
hot sugar did not sink into the snow. but
cooled on top Of it, making the most tooth
some delicious, sticky morsel imaginable.
Even Huyler and his confrere, cannot pro-
duce its equal Then the chief cook said it
tie oblcns tin moulis were filed and left to i
"cake'
What was left in the huge kettle was |
stirred vigorously by the farmer, assisted by |
our young ladies. TIL il changed from |
liquii into brown dry sugar We ste all We |
wanted. slid down the bill on big slei that |
we could not navigate; tried to walk on |
but failed because they were so |
large, and we couldn't keep one from step |
ping on the other. and had our pictures |
taken in different attitudes by one Of the /
party and at noon went back to the town /
hall and sat down 10 dinner Of baked |
good folk feared We might be honlesick With
out the familiar diet After a little rest and |
drying Of wet feet we started for another
camp where they were only boiling sap. they
said, and from which we had glorious 4
view Of mountain and valley. Then We
went back to our car, and the farmer came
with 10; Of sugar in which we all invested 1
I'LL his stock was exhausted.
A few minutes after 4 our car was at
tached TO the Boston train. and we were
swiftly going homeward At Plymouth we
were given ample time for hearty supper,
and at late hour came to halt in Boston.
and As We left the train. each with package
Dr. tin can of sugar under his arm, fancy
We all felt. even though We were tired, that
our day among the wind, SHOWS and woods
IL New Hampshire had shown US a side Of
country living We had never before seen.
md that it WIS an experience worth the
bavira