The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-04
HOW SUSIE FIRST TASTED
SUGAR.
BY KATHERINE E. CHAPMAN.

'There's no use talking, mother, I'm go.
ing to make sugar plentier in these parts
before another year" said Susie's father,
pushing back his plate in an emphatic
manner. Now, as no one had said word
about sugar as being either scarce or plen-
tiful, or, indeed, had mentioned it in
any way, his wife beamed mildly at him
with an inquiring expression, and was
opening her mouth to speak, when an
interruption stopped the reply for sever
al minutes.
But first We must explain how it all
began to happen. Susie's mother had
made peach 'cobbler" for dinner. The
peaches were large and fine, but had
been preserved how do you SUPPOSED
in candied honey Susie's mother put
honey into her tea. and her father sweet
ened bis coffee-iust a very little-with
the same, on the rare occasions when they
drank tea or coffee. In fact, sugar had
never been seen beneath that roof since
the now darkening rafters were laid.
For those were early days in Illinois
many OF the articles which we call ne
cessities now, were then dearly bought
luxuries. All the sugar was brought
from far-awsy New Orleans by the Mis-
sissippi River, and sold only in the large
towns, 80 that pioneer farmers who still
preserved their sugar tooth" must go
20 o,,d do 30 I,,1r IT, 1,1
those who had never seen sugar, and very
few of the children had seen it, did not
miss it, for the woods were rich in honey
made by the wild bees, and any one, as
often as he wished, could go to the "bee
trees and help himself.
"But if you think it's fun" said Ben to
LsoDard, one day after an attack on a
bee tree, and bloody decisive engage
ment with the aboriginal proprietors,
@just try it and see! what whole swarm
buzzlng about your ears, and knobs on
your face as big as vain uts. and they
sting, can tell you'll There isn't much
fun in going honeying.'
However, Susie's father, who had lived
in an older State, was not satisfied that
the family cuisine should be sweetened
only with honey, and longed himself, for
the sugar Jumps of his boyhood. 30
when he said he would make sugar more
plentiful, the remark was pre- coded by
much earnest cogitation on the subject.
And now, we have again arrived at that
impertinent interruption which stopped
Mrs. North's reply to her husband. II
came from Susie. While her mother was
opening her mouth to speak (which she
did with deliberation) Susie broke in,
20 papa! What is sugar like? Is it
sweet like honey? May 1 have some
when you get it? And how are you GO
ing to-
"Pity's sake. child stop and take
breathl' exclaimed her father. "Don't
you know you shouldn't interrupt your
parents when they are tslkin9?"
"We must give Susie new name, "
said Mary, the Oldest daughter; I'VE
must call her the interrogation point"
"Whst is an inter" began Susie, but
stopped, as she caught her fathers eye.
"Pl show you an interrogation point,
Susie" said Leonard.
Children, stop talking" now said the
mother. "All this time haven't asked
my question. How are you going to get
plenty OF sugar, Amos?"
"Well, Ihave plan. I'll charter a fat
boat naxt fall, and load it with corn
wheat and pork, and take it to New Or
leans, and bring back cargo of Orleans
molasses and sugar. Wouldn't you like
some sugar for your pies, wite?'
"Indeed, 1 would, Amos, and molssses
and ginger for gingerbread; but for you
TO go SO far-and it will take you long
time, tool don't know"
you'll be all the more glad to see me,
though when get back"
The grand undertaking was discussed
more or less every day through the sum-
mer. The news soon travelled over the