Volume I Part 88 (1/2)
”To make little spouts, you know, for the sap to run in. And then, my dear Hugh, they must be sharpened at one end so as to fit where the chisel goes in. I am afraid I have given you a day's work of it. How sorry I am you must go to-morrow to the mill! ? and yet I am glad too.”
”Why need you go round yourself with these people?” said Hugh.
”I don't see the sense of it.”
”They don't know where the trees are,” said Fleda.
”I am sure I do not. Do you?”
”Perfectly well. And besides,” said Fleda, laughing, ”I should have great doubts of the discreetness of Philetus's auger if it were left to his simple direction. I have no notion the trees would yield their sap as kindly to him as to me. But I didn't bargain for Dr. Quackenboss.”
Dr. Quackenboss arrived punctually the next morning with his oxen and sled; and, by the time it was loaded with the sap- troughs, Fleda, in her black cloak, yarn shawl, and grey little hood, came out of the house to the wood-yard. Earl Dougla.s.s was there, too, not with his team, but merely to see how matters stood, and give advice.
”Good day, Mr. Dougla.s.s!” said the doctor. ”You see I'm so fortunate as to have got the start of you.”
”Very good,” said Earl, contentedly; ”you may have it: the start's one thing, and the pull's another. I'm willin' anybody should have the start, but it takes a pull to know whether a man's got stuff in him or no.”
”What do you mean?” said the doctor.
”I don't mean nothin' at all. You make a start to-day, and I'll come ahint and take the pull to-morrow. Ha' you got anythin' to boil down in, Fleda? There's a potash kittle somewheres, aint there? I guess there is. There is in most houses.”
”There is a large kettle ? I suppose large enough,” said Fleda.
”That'll do, I guess. Well, what do you calculate to put the syrup in? Ha' you got a good big cask, or plenty o' tubs and that? or will you sugar off the hull lot every night, and fix it that way? You must do one thing or t'other, and it's good to know what you're a-going to do afore you come to do it.”
”I don't know, Mr. Dougla.s.s,” said Fleda. ”Whichever is the best way: we have no cask large enough, I am afraid.”
”Well, I tell you what I'll do. I know where there's a tub, and where they aint usin' it, nother, and I reckon I can get 'em to let me have it ? I reckon I can; and I'll go round for't and fetch it here to-morrow mornin' when I come with the team. 'Twont be much out of my way. It's more handier to leave the sugarin' off till the next day; and it had ought to have a settlin' besides. Where'll you have your fire built? ? in doors or out?”
”Out, I would rather, if we can. But can we?”
”La! 'tain't nothin' easier; it's as easy out as in. All you've got to do is to take and roll a couple of pretty sized billets for your fireplace, and stick a couple o' crotched sticks for to hang the kittle over: I'd as lieve have it out as in, and if anythin', a leetle liever. If you'll lend me Philetus, me and him 'll fix it all ready agin you come back; 'tain't no trouble at all; and if the sticks aint here, we'll go into the woods after 'em, and have it all sot up.”
But Fleda represented that the services of Philetus were just then in requisition, and that there would be no sap brought home till to-morrow.
”Very good!” said Earl, amicably ? ”_very_ good! it's just as easy done one day as another ? it don't make no difference to me: and if it makes any difference to you, of course, we'll leave it to-day, and there'll be time enough to do it to- morrow. Me and him 'll knock it up in a whistle. What's them little s.h.i.+ngles for?”
Fleda explained the use and application of Hugh's mimic spouts. He turned one about, whistling, while he listened to her.
”That's some o' Seth Plumfield's new jigs, aint it? I wonder if he thinks now the sap's a-goin' to run any sweeter out o'
that 'ere than it would off the end of a chip that wa'n't quite so handsome?”
”No, Mr. Dougla.s.s,” said Fleda smiling, ”he only thinks that this will catch a little more.”
”His sugar wont never tell where it come from,” remarked Earl, throwing the spout down. ”Well, you shall see more o' me to- morrow. Good-bye, Dr. Quackenboss.”
”Do you contemplate the refining process?” said the doctor, as they moved off.
”I have often contemplated the want of it,” said Fleda; ”but it is best not to try to do too much. I should like to make sure of something worth refining in the first place.”
”Mr. Dougla.s.s and I,” said the doctor ? ”I hope ? a ? he's a very good-hearted man, Miss Fleda, but, ha! ha! ? he wouldn't suffer loss from a little refining himself. Haw! you rascal ?
where are you going? Haw! I tell ye” ?
”I am very sorry, Dr. Quackenboss,” said Fleda, when she had the power and the chance to speak again ? ”I am very sorry you should have to take this trouble; but, unfortunately, the art of driving oxen is not among Mr. Skillcorn's accomplishments.”