The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-26
MAKING MAPLE SUGAR.
How the Lads and the Lassies Enjoy
Themselves in the Sugar Dis
tricts of the Alleghenies.

A Somerset correspondent of the
Pittsburg Chronicle telegraph writes
to that journal the following very
interesting letter on maple-sugar
making in that section.
Here, in the forest clad ranges of
the Alleghenles, nearly every farmer
has maple grove, and just now
everything presents busy aspect.
All other work has been abandoned
and the farmer and his whole fam
lily have turned out to take hand
IN the sugar making. The few who
are not so fortunate as to own
grove of their own, help their neigh
bors, and for their services receive a
supply of the sweet product. Night
and day the work of collecting the
sweet sap and boiling 1T down to
sugar or syrup goes on. During
the short season there is no rest for
anyone about the mountain farm,
but all of this work goes on good
Eaturedly. Throughout the day
the ring of the axes cutting wood to
feed the furnaces, the shouts of the
drivers collecting the sap, and the
merry voices of the whole family at
work about the grove ring out loud
and clear, and at night the real fun
of sugar making is ushered in.
This is indeed a joyful time for
the young folks of the mountain
section. Almost nightly they gather
at some sugar camp, in much the
manner Of surprise party, and
there they are always received with
open hospitality. During the even
ing they virtually take possession of
the camp. The young men assist
( in the work of collecting the sap
and preparing the fuel, and the
rosy-cheeked girls busy themselves
with other duties. At length, how
ever, the taffY is cooked, and then
the feast begins. Many Of Pitts
burg's staid business men were born
and grew to manhood in the noun
tains, and well can they remember
the time when IN their youthful
glee they enjoyed these rural
treats.
As soon as the sweet dainties are
disposed of, the good old fashioned
sports are ushered in and all enter
into them with a will. In all of
these sports kissing holds a promi-
nent place and the young people
seem to enjoy it, for while ordinarily
they are somewhat bashful, this all
disappears in the excitement of these
sports. This merriment is kept up
until far into the night, but The par
Elephants are always ready for the
labors Of the succeeding day.
The delicious syrup when it APP
pears on the table, is a most defect
able treat. With it the hot pancake
is all that could be desired and here
your get the cake as we'll as the sue
culent syrup. But these good things
are not alone on the mountain table
for there are lnnumerable other
= dainties. While these are plentif III
at all times, they are unsparingly
served up for the stranger. One
could not wish for any more good
things than furnished by the maple
sugar region at this season of the
year.
The people Of this region are of
the good old stock. While they are
, an industrious people, they know
how to enjoy life, and above all else
are blessed with a great big slice Of
contentmcnt. The social condition
is enthusiastically PRIMITIVE, but
among all the people the most cor
dial good fellowship exists.
Whenever you go in this glad
country the evidences of the maple
sugar season are ever to be seen.
All along the narrow creek bottoms
and out upon the hillsides in thick
profusion, the stately sugars and
naples rear their lofty heads. The
) smoke lazily curling above the groves
marks the location of the cabin-hke
building where the sweet sap Is
converted into sweeter syrup. y