FROM SAP TO SUGAR 
“Uncle Jack, please pass the sugar,” said Buddy, while 
they were eating supper. 
“Do you know what sugar is, Buddy?” asked Uncle 
Jack, as he passed it to him. 
“I know that sugar is sweet,” replied Buddy. 
“Yes,” said Uncle Jack. “But where does it come 
from?” 
“This sugar came from the store, didn’t it, Mother?” 
answered Buddy. 
They laughed at Buddy’s answer. Then Marylee said, 
“Everyone knows that we get sugar from the store, 
stupid! Uncle Jack asked if you knew where it came 
from first.” 
“I don’t know where the store gets it,” replied Buddy. 
“I know that they don’t get it out of the ocean, because 
the ocean water is salty.” 
“Please tell us where sugar does come from, Uncle 
Jack,” begged Marylee. 
“Most sugar is made from the sweet sap of sugar cane 
plants,” replied Uncle Jack. “It is so sweet that children 
who live where the sugar cane grows like to chew the 
stems of the plants and suck out the juice.” 
175 
