Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02

Is around here yet. I'll see il I can't get
him into a scrape that will let him know
that 1 have not forgotten him. He doesn't
know that I am here. so he viii not be care
full about what he does"
Late that evening, Old Fox, knowing that
the coon was curled UP somewhere asleep
and would not be out until the people were
all in bed made himself very busy through
out the camp. When the people went
around to all the little troughs and gath
cred the sap, he followed just little way
behind them He also found out that the
great trough was nearly full of hot sap.
He said to himself:
Now that sap will not be boiling tonight
but 1t viii be pretty hot and as that cousin
OF mine Is so fond of it, l guess that he
won't object to drinking it warm
lie sneaked around and watched the good
Old squaw cover the great trough carefully
with the broad white slabs Of wood. He
waited until she had fixed everything to
suit her and had gone into the lodge where
he knew that she would soon be fast asleep.
BY and by he slipped carefully around the
side of the great trough and pushed two of
the slabs Just little way apart. He then
moved these two farther over until only
their edges rested on the rim of the trough.
The warm sap sent out a fragrance that
tickled his nose and he could hardly re-
frafn from trying TO get sup of 1t himself
but as he did not wish to get caught in his
own trap he decided to do without 1t. Hav-
Ing fixed things he wanted them he took
himself off. He found convenient place
and set himself TO walt for the coming of
his cousin.
He waited for some time and had about
made up his mind that he had taken ali his
trouble for nothing. when he heard some
one coming along grumbling to himself. and
he recognized his cousins voice.
Il am sure l don't see why these stingy
people have turned all of their old sap
troughs upside down. would have been
sat fSffa t. ha4-a had O7Ixy 10 p hx&
every one of them Is turned bottom side up,
and II | get any at all I'll have to try the
great trough. / guess that they haven't
turned 1t over"
Old Fox kept very quiet and watched the
coon nosing around the lodge and by and
by, he could hardly repress a smoker, when
he saw him walking around the great
trough on tour OF investigation. He had
placed chunk OF wood just in front of the
place. where he had fixed the loose slabs.
He knew that If the coon tried TO get up to
the trough he would be sure TO jump upon
the chunk and then on the loosened slabs
which covered the trough. Old Fox had
figured things out just about right. for this
was exactly what the coon did
He walked all around the great trough
looking for a crack or opening in the slabs.
Finally. he came to the chunk and, putting
his hands on 1t, he raised himself up and
peered closely. He found the opening that
the fox had fixed. He jumped upon the
chunk. glanced around, then gave another
spring. which landed him on the ends of
the loose slabs. These at once slipped over
the other way and went rafting down to
the ground. while Cousin Coon found HIM
self struggling In the middle of the great
trough of sap. 1t had cooled somewhat.
but was still warm enough to be decidedly
uncomfortable.
The noise OF the rafting slabs had awak-
ened the inmates Of the lodge, and out came
the good old squaw to look after her sap
She reached the trough just as the coon
was scramhling out all. dripping with the
warm, sticky sap. Spying him, she seized
a stout stick and gave him a sound whack
on the sides as he seurried off,
from out of dark thicket voice called
to him:
Hob, cousin. 1t seems to me that you are
getting mighty particular as TO where you
take your bath Water, / suppose, Is not
good enough for you any MORE or was Ii
beczuae you wanted hot bath