Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
WHAT THE MAPLE SUGAR SAID.
From King Kindness and the Witch" by Helen
Wells. Copyright.

w
Wells. Copyright.
Dear mel said theachunk of Maple Su-
gar, turning to his neishbor. the Chocolate
Drop. Il am really glad to get settled at
last, for am tired of1traveling. We were
packed together 80 closely could scarcely
breathe and it was very disagreeable.'
Did you come ON the cars?' politely in
quired the Chocolate Drop.
Yes, indeed, and we were travelling for
days, it seemed to me. although it was so
dark in the box I was in, could not tell
whether it was day Ior night" answered
the Maple Sugar
What city did yous come from?" asked
the Chocolate Drop ~
No city at all; I0came from large
maple grove, away out in the country" re-
piled the Maple Sugar
What in the world made you leave 1t to
come to this stuffy placer" demanded the
astonished Chocolate Drop.
We'll, you see. had lived in the maple
tree all of my life with my brothers and
SISTERS and all summer we ran up and
down In the veins of the tree and all Win
ter We slept underground, in the tree roots
safe and warm. When the Spring came
and the Sun called to u.s. we began to go
up into the tops of the tree and out into
the little branches and leaves; we were
called Sap then. and we carried nourish-
ment to the beautiful green leaves and to
the dainty blossoms"
Il never knew that maple trees had bios
sons, interrupted the Chocolate Drop.
1t is because of your city education
then" retorted the Maple Sugar. For If
you had looked in the springtime, you
would have seen the daintiest, prettiest hit
tie fr1nge-l1ke blossoms hanging by slender
threads on the maple trees. Ho wdid you
suppose we got our seeds If we did not
have any blossoms?"
Il never supposed at ALL" meekly replied
the Chocolate Drop
After our blossoms are ripe and drop
their little fringe petals, we are all busy
Tor few weeks: getting our little seed
pods ready to fly
ITO f1y?" echoed the Chocolate Drop in
credulously oh come now, who ever
heard of seeds fying?"
But the Maple Sugar did not notice the
doubt expressed as he answered proudly:
Certainly, our seeds are not like common
seeds with just a shell cover on them; we
have the most beautiful little wings on our
seed pods. cut after the latest fashion Sir
Dragon Fly lent us. And when we get the
seed pods all nicely packed with sap and
baby leaves and roots, we wait until some
friendly wind comes along, and then off
they go!
dancing along in the sunshine,
ting along in the air.
Drifting away in the stream1et-
fou see them everywhere"
II should think it would be lots of fun"
SalU the chocolate Drop.
Fun? well I guess it ISL responded the
Maple Sugar. 1--WE whirl our seed pods
down into the girls hats and into their
faces. and we drop them on the sidewalk
and let people slip up on them: and some
times we send them in a perfect shower
down on the sleepy cat. and she thinks it
is bird and grabs for them. And
they blow away and away on the
wings of the wind. whenever the
fancy takes them And when they
find nice. soft, sunny place, they
sink down under some leaves weeds and
plant their little seed pods and go to sleep"
Then what in the world are you here
for?' asked the Chocolate Drop.
We'll. you see in me victim of disohedi-
erce," said the Maple Sugar. sadly. This
spring some boys came and bored holes
into the bark of Mother Tree and stuck a
little wooden pipe in it, and put pail I'M
der the pipe
Mother Tree said~ Now. sap children.
when you go up and down my branches
don't go near that hole. for If you do you
will be carried off Some of the sap drops
obeyed her. and they are there. playing
together to this dav;H and the Maple Sugar
sadly wiped a sticky tear from his eye
why didn't your asked the Chocolate
Drop.
Because I wanted to be smart and in
dependent. and show how near to the hole
dare go; and the first / knew, I
went. into big black kettle and fire was
lighted under me and 1 was boiled and
and harder and harder, and finally I was
put through strainers. and then into a\big
iron mold to cool. Then I was hacked into
a box and shut up In the dark and stayed
on the shelves. for a long time. Next was
bumped and tumbled into the ears. But
now am here. in this nice glass case. 1
hope shall see good deal of the city life;
for 1 suppose we, stay here?''
Hush said the Chocolate Drop in a
whisper. Some strange things occur here
which I do not understand. Every day
some of us are put into brown paper bags
and carried off by boys and girls. Where
we go. I do not know. but some of the
hungry looks those children cast at me
fairly give a cold chill. WHY. they will
even stand and gaze and point their fingers
at me and smack their lips think 1t is In
horrid had taste. to say the least and he
nodded his brown head vigorously
"Why they never hurt on the maple
trees" said the Sugar; Il always liked
children"
"rhey will probably like you now" re-
sponded the Chocolate Drop. dryly "Our
opinions of children depend upon what
point of view they are taken from. Now,
nrefer to take mine from the outside
Certainly" said the Maple Sugar hast
lily. $50 do T.
Most of my family" continued the
Chocolate Drop, dislike children on ac-
count of a too intimate acquaintance with
them
How" asked the Maple Sugar
'"rhat I do not know, for I have never
seen any of my relatives after their dis
appearance in the society of children
There is a motto in our family. Beware of
Children I Nave heard" he added, that
our family often makes children so sick
their mothers have to send for the DOCTOR
and he smiled complacently.
"Well. it is very pleasant here now. and
think I will take nap" remarked the
Maple Sugar. closing his eyes.
He was awakened by the rustling of a
paper just in time to see the Chocolate
Drop put with lot of other candies into
paper bag: and the Maple Sugar called
after him. ''Good-bye. send me word by
our messenger. the FLY. and tell me how
the children treat you.
"I will" answered the Chocolate Drop
But he never did.
Birds Shun This Tree.