32 FOREST FANCIES 



in cold milk to keep it from bubbling over. 

 Dick drove Dotty May home on the sledge, 

 but Nani remained in the sugar bush to help 

 dip the thin sirup into a barrel. Suddenly she 

 paused; the sun had set, and there was frost 

 in the air. 



**I hear the earth-mother calling," said she, 

 **and I must go." 



'^That's a good girl, mind your ma," replied 

 Farmer Brier, looking around. 



But Nani was nowhere to be seen. 



When Dick returned, he questioned his 

 father about her. 



**She went mighty sudden," said Farmer 

 Brier, simply, ^*but I guess it's all right." 



The next day, Uncle Isaac, long and lean, 

 came to help in the sugar bush. 



^* Where do you live at, anyhow?" he asked 

 as Nani joined them in the maple grove. 



*'I live in the sugar bush!" laughed she. 



**Hev your folks made maple sugar long?" 

 he questioned her further. 



^^Nokomis, the earth-mother, made maple 

 sugar before the White Man came. 



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