44 FOREST FANCIES 



found an ermine carpet spread in the maple 

 grove. He awoke the trees from their night 

 napping, and soon the sap dripped gaily into 

 the waiting pails. 



To-day was the first sugaring-off, and the 

 white carpet was soon tracked over by busy 

 feet. After the thin sirup had been boiled and 

 stirred for hours, Farmer Brier looped a twig, 

 dipped it quickly into the kettle, and blew 

 through the film spread over the loop. 



''It feathers," said he, ''and the sugar is 

 done." 



The thick, amber liquid was now taken from 

 the fire and poured into molds to granulate 

 into golden bricks of sugar. There were two 

 saucers in which to mold sugar cakes for Nani 

 and Dotty May, but Dick had brought empty 

 egg-shells to be filled. 



"They are for next Christmas," he ex- 

 plained — "one for each cousin in the city; but 

 the big one is for Nani Niset." 



"Christmas is a long ways off," drawled 

 Uncle Isaac. 



"Oh, but I love to think of it now, 'specially 



