The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-08

smooth barked branches, broke these
of and caught the sap in suspended yes
sells of birch bark, than which no clean
er and sweeter receptacle could be
imagined. Doubtless the boiling was
done in the earthen kokhs, or pots.
some of which had capacity of sew
eral gallons. According to Indian
myths, il was taught by Heaven-sent
instructor.
The true story Of the discovery Of
maple sugar making is in the legend
of Woksis, the mighty hunter. Going
forth one morning to tbs chase, he
babe Moqua, the squaw of his bosom,
to have choice cut of moose meat
boiled for him when he should return,
and that she might be reminded of the
time stuck stake IN the snow. and
made streight mark out from it in
the place where its shadow would then
fall. She promised strict compliance,
and, as he departed, she hewed on the
desired tidbit with her saarpest stone
knife, and, filling her best kokh with
clean snow for melting, hung it over
the fire. Then she sat down on a bear
skin and began enbroidering pair of
moccasins with variously dyed porcu-
pine quilts.
This was a labor of love, for the moe
oasins, of the finest deerskin, were for
her lord. She became so absorbed in
the work that the kokh was forotteu
till the bark cord that suspended it was
burned of, and it spilled it's contents
on the fire with a startling, quenching.
scattering explosion that filed the wig
wan with steam and smoke. She lifted
the overturned vessel from the embers
end ashes by a stick thrust into its
four-cornered mouth, and when it was
cool enough to handle she repaired it
with a new bail of bark, and the kokh
wes ready for service again. But tho
shadow of the stake had swung so near
toward the mark that she knew there
was not time to melt snow to boil the
dinner.
Happily, she bethought her of the
great maple behind the wigwam, tapped
merely for the provision of a pleasant
drink, but the sweet water might serve
kokh with sap and hung it over the
mended fire, In spite of impatient
watching, it presently began to boil,
whereupon sha popped the ample ration
of moose meat into it and set a cake Of
pounded corn to bake on tho tilted slab
before the fire. Then she resumed her
embroidery, in which the sharp point
of each thread supplied it's own needle.
The work grew more and more in
terestipg. The central figure, her hus.
bands totem of the bear, was becoming
SO hfelike that it could easily be dis
tinguished from the wolves, eagles and
turtles of the other tribal clans. In
moccasins on the feet of her noble Wok-
sis, now stealing in awful silence along
the war path, now on the neck of the
fallen foe. now returning jubilant with
triumph or fleeing homewsrd from de-
feat, to ease the shame of failure by
Kicking her, in which case she felt her
self bearing, as ever, her useful part.
So she dreamed and worked, stitch by
stitch, while the hours passed IN
heeded. the shadow crept past the mark,
the kokh boiled low, and the cake gave
forth the smell of burning. Alas! the
cake was blackenad crisp, and loi the
once juicy piece of meat was shriv-
eled morsel in the midst of a gummy,
dark brown substance.
She snatohed Eokh and cake from the
fire, and then, hearing her husband
coming, she ran and bid herself in the
nearest thiclket of evergreens, for she
knew that when he found not where
with to appeese the rage of hunger
he would be seized with more terrible
one against her. Listening awhile
with quaking heart, and catching no
alarming sound, but aware instead OF
an unaccountable silence, she ventured
forth and peeped into the wigwam.
Wollsis sat by the fire eating with
his fingers from the kokh, while his
face shone with an expression Of sur
preme content and enjoyment With
wonder she watched him devour the
last morsel, but her wonder was greater
when she saw him deliberately break |
the eaEthen pot and lick the last vestige |
of spoiled cookery from the shards. |
She could not restrain a surprised cry, |
and, discovering her. he addressed her:
20, woman of womenl Didst thou |
conceive this marvel OF cookery, or has |
been thy insTuctor?"
Being a woman, she had the wit to |
the exact truth, but permitted |
him TO believe whatever he would.
Let me embrace thee" he cried, and /
upon his lips she tasted the first maple |
Eugar.
The discovery was made public. and
kokhs Of sap were presently boiling |
In every wigwam. AL were so snxious
to get every atom of the precious sweet
that they broke the kokhs and scraped /
the pieces, just as WokSis, the first
had done. And that is
why there are SO many fragments of
broken pottery and SO few whole vessels
70 be found.-Atlantic Monthly.
What She Liked
"I hope, Mr.. Soonly," murmursd the