The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-28

could scarcely open his eyes at all. But
when he got down stairs he found the
feeding already done and breakfast almost
ready. They ate by candlelight and the
light Of blazing logs In the fireplace. and
then they clambered in the wagon aud
were off There was a drive of about two
miles ahead of them, mostly through
heavy timber, between the branches of
which the stars shone like eyes. All
things were so solemn and still, and 1t
was so early that Charley slept little.
1t was just coming daylight when they
halted before q cabin in the woods and
began to unpack things. Charley assisted
in carrying things into the hut. while Mr.
Moulton kindled a fire ON the hearth and
another In brick oven surmounted by
great kettle. AS he worked, helping to
unload the things and put them in place,
Charley noticed how black the straight
trees seemed against the shallow snow
on the hillside and the pearl gray of the
morning sky. He also noticed that in the
fireplace in this house were two stout
hooks which would move from side to
side, evidently intended for holding a pot
or kettle. The unloading being over
horses and wagon were sent back home.
ny nclp lOE ludL pdipOsc.
1T Is going to be a fine day, boys" re-
marked Mr.. Moulton, going out and ex-
aiming the sky 1.-The sap will run we'll
You youngsters had better take pals and
gather the sap while l get in more fuel
The boys seized the pals and raced
through the woods Soon they came to
trees from which little spouts protruded,
and under each was a small bucket or
trough to receive the sap which dripped
from the end of the spout, Charley was
surprised to find that things were already
in readiness, and the bracing morning air,
the still forest, the solemnity of nature,
filled him at once with awe and an ebulli-
ton of spirit which prompted him TO
shout.
"0h, isn't 1t ine!' he cried. "oh. oh.
oh, oh, ohio" and his voice rang and
echoed through the wood
"Taste it, Charley; isn't 1t sweet?"
Charley tipped a half-flled bucket to
his lips and slipped of the contents. 1t
tasted to him almost like the juice of
sugar cane. He was disappointed. He
expected it to taste like maple syrup.
Isn't any of 1t sweeter than thls?"
'Oh, this tree is as sweet as 1t can
be-" cried Simon from a tree to the left.
Ills IS just IKE uouey, eACiaiAeu ia
cob, to the right.
Charley sampled both, but neither
seemed to fulfill its promise However
the boys were by this time emptying the
buckets into the larger pals and hanging
the empty vessels back under the drip,
and Charley did likewise. Soon all the
pals were filed and they carried them
back to the hut, where Mr.. Moulton
poured them into the great kettles on the
hearth and over the brick firebox, ana
they went again for more sap. 1t was
something like work, for all the trees
had to be visited, and some of the sap
was to be carried quite distance. Some
places, Simon told him, they hauled the
sap in a tub, on great sleds. but the
ground was too rolling here to permit of
it. But the boys talked Of hunting and
trapping and didn't mind the work at
all. When all the trees had been gath
cred from they ate some mince pies and