The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
TEEMOA MAPLE SUGAR.
i've Million Pounds This Year-Legend
of the Discovery of the Sugar.

The maple sugar season Is at hand:
everywhere in Vermont farmers are tap
ping trees. 1t is expected that hi years
yield will be about 5.vJ1 @lD pounds. The
maple sugar industry In Vermont grows
larger every year. This year promises to
exceed all others In output.
According TO tradition the discovery OF
maple sugar was purely accidental II is
said that before starting on d hunting
trip one morning. Woksis. the mighty
Indian Nimrod, babe M0qua, his squaw.
TO boil for him before his return a juicy
cut Of moose meat. MoQua filled her ket-
tie with clean snow and hung II over the
cracking fire in the tepee. Then she
sat down and began mending her lord $
moccasins. So absorbed did she, become
In this work that she forgot all about the
kettle and its contents.
The fire grew brighter and the flames
rose higher until they leaped up and
burned the bark cord from which was
suspended the kettle. Without warning
the utensll fell into the ire. the con-
tents were spilled. and the fire was ex-
tlnguished. Moqua leaped 20 her feet
She quickly righted the kettle, obtained
a new bark cord. and again suspended
the kettle in the customary manner. TX
was growing late. Woksis had told Mo-
qua that he would return when the sha-
dows OF evening were falling across the
tepee door. Moqua was al her wit $ ends.
1t was too late to think of melting more
snow In which TO boil the moose meat
What was to be done? Moqua was a re-
sourcelul squaw. She nlied the Kettle
with sap drawn from the big maple back
OF the tepee.
This sap Woksls was In the habit OF
drinking in the evening when entertain
ing company. In a short time the cut or
moose meat was In the midst of the
boiling sap. Moqua had resumed her
mending. Deep in thought again she gave
little heed 10 the kettle and its contents
Time sped on. the sap boiled low. Then
a smell OF burning pervaded the tepee
Moqua, with an exclamation OF fear and
anger. rushed 10 the kettle. Then she
smote her breast. and gave vent to Wild
cries. The sap was thick. unattrdctiye
dark brown substance, while the meat
was shriyelled and backened. Quickly
Moqua snatched the pot from the fire.
Just then she heard Woksis approach
ing. He was a terrible man when arou5-
ed. and Moqpa feared him greatly. The
shlvering little Indian woman stole sill
emily out through the rear of the tepee
and hid herself in n nearby thicket
Woksis entered the tepee. Moqua list
ened I'm vain for some angry exclamation
AT last she summoned enough courage 10
steal from her hiding place and crept 20
. SPOT that afforded her a view OF the
interior or the wigwam. What she saw
made her senses reel with surprise. Wok-
sis sat by the fire eating from the kettle.
Supreme contentment and pleasure were
plctured on his countenance He ate
rapturously. After each morsel he roll
ed his eyes and smacked his lips with
great gusto. Moqua watched him until
the last bit Of the kettles contents had
disappeared; then she slowly ventured
into the wigwam. Woksis greeted her
u,,h n cry OF 10y He could not believe
that the faithful Mcqua had conceived
,he marvel OF cookery. He thought that
Klose.kur- hen. an Indian god. must have
been her Instructor. Moqua was tacttui:
she allowed Woksis 10 believe what ne
pleased. w.