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March would drive them to our door。 I was then too young to do much
except look on； but I fully en… tered into the spirit of the occasion； and
rejoiced to see the bigger boys industriously sharpen their arrows； resting
them against the ends of the long sticks which were burning in the fire；
and occasion… ally cutting a chip from the stick。 In their eager… ness they
paid little attention to this circumstance； although they well knew that it
was strictly for… bidden to touch a knife to a burning ember。
Suddenly loud screams were heard from without and we all rushed out
to see what was the matter。 It was a serious affair。 My grandmother's
axe had slipped； and by an upward stroke nearly sev… ered three of the
fingers of my aunt； who stood looking on； with her hands folded upon her
waist。 As we ran out the old lady； who had already no… ticed and
reproved our carelessness in regard to the burning embers； pursued us with
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loud reproaches and threats of a whipping。 This will seem mys… terious
to my readers； but is easily explained by the Indian superstition； which
holds that such an offense as we had committed is invariably punished by
the accidental cutting of some one of the family。
My grandmother did not confine herself to canoe…making。 She also
collected a good supply of fuel for the fires； for she would not have much
time to gather wood when the sap began to flow。 Presently the weather
moderated and the snow be… gan to melt。 The month of April brought
show… ers which carried most of it off into the Minnesota river。 Now the
women began to test the trees moving leisurely among them； axe in hand；
and striking a single quick blow； to see if the sap would appear。 The trees；
like people； have their indi… vidual characters； some were ready to yield up
their life…blood； while others were more reluctant。 Now one of the
birchen basins was set under each tree； and a hardwood chip driven deep
into the cut which the axe had made。 From the corners of this chipat
first drop by drop； then more freely the sap trickled into the little dishes。
It is usual to make sugar from maples； but sev… eral other trees were
also tapped by the Indians。 From the birch and ash was made a dark…
colored sugar； with a somewhat bitter taste； which was used for medicinal
purposes。 The box…elder yielded a beautiful white sugar； whose only
fault was that there was never enough of it！
A long fire was now made in the sugar house； and a row of brass
kettles suspended over the blaze。 The sap was collected by the women in
tin or birchen buckets and poured into the canoes； from which the kettles
were kept filled。 The hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant antici…
pations when they heard the welcome hissing sound of the boiling sap！
Each boy claimed one kettle for his especial charge。 It was his duty to see
that the fire was kept up under it； to watch lest it boil over； and finally；
when the sap became sirup； to test it upon the snow； dipping it out with a
wooden paddle。 So frequent were these tests that for the first day or two
we consumed nearly all that could be made； and it was not until the
sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set herself in earnest to store
up sugar for future use。 She made it into cakes of various forms； in
birch… en molds； and sometimes in hollow canes or reeds； and the bills of
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ducks and geese。 Some of it was pulverized and packed in rawhide cases。
Being a prudent woman； she did not give it to us after the first month or so；
except upon special occa… sions； and it was thus made to last almost the
year around。 The smaller candies were reserved as an occasional treat for
the little fellows； and the sugar was eaten at feasts with wild rice or
parched corn； and also with pounded dried meat。 Coffee and tea； with
their substitutes； were all unknown to us in those days。
Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties。 My grandmother's special
tribulations； during the sugaring season； were the upsetting and gnawing
of holes in her birch…bark pans。 The transgres… sors were the rabbit and
squirrel tribes； and we little boys for once became useful； in shooting them
with our bows and arrows。 We hunted all over the sugar camp； until the
little creatures were fairly driven out of the neighborhood。 Oc…
casionally one of my older brothers brought home a rabbit or two； and
then we had a feast。
The sugaring season extended well into April； and the returning birds
made the precincts of our camp joyful with their songs。 I often followed
my older brothers into the woods； although I was then but four or five
years old。 Upon one of these excursions they went so far that I ventured
back alone。 When within sight of our hut； I saw a chipmunk sitting upon
a log； and uttering the sound he makes when he calls to his mate。 How
glorious it would be； I thought； if I could shoot him with my tiny bow and
arrows！ Stealthily and cautiously I approached； keeping my eyes upon the
pretty little animal； and just as I was about to let fly my shaft； I heard a
hissing noise at my feet。 There lay a horrid snake； coiled and ready to
spring！ Forgetful that I was a warrior； I gave a loud scream and started
backward； but soon recollecting myself； looked down with shame；
although no one was near。 However； I retreated to the inclined trunk of a
fallen tree； and there； as I have often been told； was overheard soliloquiz…
ing in the following words： 〃I wonder if a snake can climb a tree！〃
I remember on this occasion of our last sugar bush in Minnesota； that I
stood one day outside of our hut and watched the approach of a visitor a
bent old man； his hair almost white； and carrying on his back a large
bundle of red willow； or kinnikinick； which the Indians use for smoking。
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