VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR 181 



To an outsider the whole trip into the upper 

 valley of the Deerfield River is a delight. At 

 Hoosac Tunnel the big train gets tired of the long 

 climb and plunges into the very heart of the 

 mountain. But the little narrow-gauge road takes 

 up the ascent most determinedly. The boy's-size 

 engine snorts and chu-chus up astounding grades, 

 winding into defiles where the mountains close 

 in on each side and almost squeeze the track into 

 the river. At some stations the stop is on such a 

 slant that the engine puffs and grinds for minutes 

 before any progress at all is noticed. The town 

 comes down to see the struggle, and the small boys 

 call the conductor and engineer by their first 

 names and rail at their railroading. " Hey, Bill," 

 says one. " What 's your coffee mill grinding to- 

 day ? " Then, as the imperceptible first motion 

 accelerates to a snail pace, they stroll along with 

 the engine and continue their chaff till the hills 

 shut down and cut them off. Yet after all, when 

 you consider the grades, the curves and the stops, 

 the whole trip is made at a good pace, the twenty- 

 four miles being covered in about an hour and a 

 half. Coming down is coasting, and the speed is 



