Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-03-14

America. After telling how the boy comes run
ming to the house with his excited announce
ment of "Saps runnin'i" he continues:
| And then indeed, the stir and excitement be-
| gin. The sap-buckets, which have been stored
In the garret over the wood house and which
the boy has occasionally climbed up to look at
with another boy, for they are full of sweet sug-
gestions OF the annual spring frolic are brought
down and set out on the south side of the house
and scalded. The snow is still foot or two deep
In the woods, and the OK sled is got out to make
road to the sugar camp. and the campaign be-
gins. The boy Is everywhere present, superintend-
ing everything asking questions, and filed with
desire TO help the excitement
"In the first place the men 20 about and tan
the trees, drive In the spouts and hang the
buckets under. The boy watches all these op-
erations with the greatest interest He wishes
that sometime when a hole is bored In a tree
that the sap would spout out In a stream as IL
does when cider barrel Is tapped; but 1t never
does, 1t only drops, sometimes almost In
stream, but on the whole slowly and the boy
learns that the sweet things Of life have to be
patiently waited for, and do not usually come
otherwise than drop by drop.
"Then the camp Is to be cleared of snow.
The shanty Ia recovered with boughs. In front
of 1t two enormous logs are rolled nearly to-
gether, and fire Is built between them Forked
sticks are set at each end, and long pole Is
laid on them, and on this are hung the great
caldron kettles. The huge hogsheads are turned
right side up, and cleaned out to receive the
sap that Is gathered. And now, If there is a
good sap rum the establishment la under full
way.
"The great fire that is kinded up 10 never let
out, night or day. as long as the season lasts
Somebody Is always cutting wood to feed 1t
somebody s busy most of the time gathering in
the sap; somebody Is required to watch the ket
ties that they do not boil over and to I'LL them
1t Ia not the boy, however; he Ia too busy with
things In general to be of any use In details
HE likes to boil eggs with the hired man In
the hot sap he likes to roast potatoes In the
ashes, and he would live In the camp day and
night II he we're permitted. The great oc-
casions for the boy, though, are the time of
sugaring off, Sometimes this used to be dons
In the evening and 1t was made the excuse for
frolic In the camp. The neghbors were In
vited sometimes even the pretty girls from the
village, who filed all the woods with their sweet
voices and merry laughter.
AT these sugar parties everyone was expected
to eat as much sugar as possible; and those
who are practiced In 1t can eat great deal II
is popularity about eating warm maple sugar
that, though you may eat 80 much of 1T one day
as to be sick and loathe the thought of it you
will want 1t the next day more than ever. At
the 'sugaring Off they used to pour the hot
sugar upon the snow, where II CONCEALED. with
out crystallizing into sort OF wax which do
suppose is the most delicious substance that was
ever invented. And II takes great while to eat
It. II one should close his teeth firmly on bali
Of 1t, he would be unable to open his mouth nm
Ill II dissolves The sensation while 1t Ia melting
Is very pleasant but one cannot converse.
"The boy used to make a big lump of II and
give II to the dog, who seized II with great
avidlty, and closed his jaws on IL, as dogs will
10 on anything. II was funny the next moment
% see the expression of perfect surprise on the
logs face when he found that he could not open
his Jaws He shook his head he sat down In
despair; he ran round In a circle; he dashed
nto the woods and back again He did every |
hing except climb tree and howl. 1t would |
rave been such relief to him II he could have |
lowled But that was the one thing he could |
lot do"
chr Western Newspaper uaien-