St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-26
grated SAD Iii dow again.

srated sap will flow again.
The first run that Harvey had lasted
four days, and as he had nearly a hum
dred trees tapped he had busy time
enough of it. He was compelled to
boil not only all day but two whole
nights. The last day that he boiled
he finished at. about dark, and, as he
had quite . little quantity of syrup, he
did not endeavor to take it home. but
left it in the great holder with weight
of wood over the cover to fasten it
down. Then barricading the door so
that he thought it impossible for any
wild animal to open it, he returned to
the house to sleep.
If there is any thing that the black
bear is fOnder of than another it is
those things which possess saccha-
rine nature. He will run nearly any
risk to obtain honey, and next to
hosey he likes maple syrup.
Bruins sweet tooth was attracted by
the scent of the warm syrup. The
temptation was more than he could
withstand, and when Harvey returned
in the morning to convey his treasure
home, he found the hut cast down, and
every drep of the costly evaporation
destroyed. Six gallons of the best,
most toothsome sweetening had been
cObbla1 l,r hruinIS buO0rv ,,ou Tho
holder had been Tapped out as clean as
| though it had been rinsed with water.
That day was the first of April and
concluding that he had been pretty
dearly sold he marched home and
wisely said nothing. The following
day was a "sap day" 1t had frozen
hard the preceding night and the frost
was succeeded by one of the warmest
of April days.
How the sap did run that day! BY
sunset when Harvey had gathered the
RIM of the day he found he had every
thing full and would be obliged to boil
all night The knowledge was not
very pleasant, but he was too brave to
express his fears, and after supper he
very quietly took his gun and Rover
and walked down to the camp.
1t was a clear, starlight night with
no moon, and the air was warm and
still. Harvey was occupied some little
time in getting things ready for the
night, then carrying sufficient guam
| tety of wood into the shanty to last till
morning, he pulled the door to as
closely as circumstances would admit
and fastened it carefully.
The night hours passed slowly and
it grew TO be very lonesome. He look
ed up through the open roof and saw
the stars looking down upon him with
bright, weird glances, as it seemed.
! The playing of the soft wind among
the tree tops made a dreary murmur
that appeared to him like the signing
of lost spirits.
Later the boy grew sleepy and found
himself falling into cat maps from
which lie would awaken with n start,
dreaming that he was struggling in the
grasp of some formidable monster.
Rover's fierce growing at last made
the lad aware that some unusual pres
ence was about the shanty. He did
not dare to peep out so he threw some
wood upon the fire and sat very silent
! " listening.
The soft pat of large, sOft-tooted
creature came up to the door OF the
hut. There WAS a loud shifting and
then Harvey heard one of the logs that
fastened his door pushed quickly and
powerfully away.
Rover made towards the door with n
kind of half courage, as if unwilling to
be thought coward, yet prudently
determining to do nothing rashly. He
looked fierce enough whatever may
have been his internal feelings, for
each individual hair upon his back
stood erect, and his long fierce growls
disclosed white, savagelookiDg fangs.
Harvey withdrew to the other side
of the hut putting the fire between
himself and the door, and with his gun
aud axe determined to make good his
defence.
By the blaze of the fire he saw
black, hairy paw thrust within, then a
heavy pressure was brought to bear
upon the door. 1t yielded and as it
fell to the ground the lad saw the form
of his enemy outlined a la silhouette
against the freight.
To lift his gun to his shoulder, take
a swift but steady aim at the brute's
shaggy breast was only the work of "a
moment. A loud report reverberated
through the night and the cabin was
filled with smoke.
When the atmosphere cleared the
boy was surprised to see the bear stand
ing erect striking the air tiercely with
his paws, but apparently nnhurt. 1t
would be difficult to say whether ii
was chagrin or fear that predOminated
the next moment in the boys bosom.
Rover would fain try his luck next, so,
rushing in he grappled with bruin.
There was short but indescribable
struggle, and then a few short, melan-
choly yelps, rs the bear folded the I'M
lucky canine to his bosom in close
and fatal embrace.
Harvey, meanwhile, was trying to
find his powder horn which he had
overlooked in his confusion. He was
80. 1;-,.1.,,d I,o,rav.r RI 500 his ga