tattine-第3部分

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Mabel　did　not　hurry　so　very　much　for　the　next　armful；　since　she　could　see　for
herself　there　was　no　great　need　for　haste。　Rudolph　was　simply　getting　excited；
but　then　the　making　of　maple…wax　is　such　a　very　responsible　undertaking；　he
could　not　be　blamed　for　that。　You　need　to　stop　its　boiling　at　precisely　the
right　moment；　else　it　suddenly　reaches　the　point　where；　when　you　cool　it；　it
grows　brittle　like　〃taffy；〃　and　then　good…bye　to　maple…wax　for　that　kettleful。
So　Rudolph；　every　half…minute；　kept　dripping　little　streams　of　the　boiling
sugar　from　the　spoon　upon　the　piece　of　ice；　and　Tattine　and　Mabel　kept　testing
it　with　their　fingers　and　tongues；　until　both　at　last　exclaimed　in　one　and　the
same　breatlg；　〃It's　done！　it's　done！　Lift　it　off　the　fire　quickly；　it's　just
right。〃　Just　right　means　when　the　sugar　hardens　in　a　few　seconds；　or　in　a
little　more　than　half　a　minute；　into　a　delicious　consistency　likewell；　just
like　maple…wax；　for　there　is　nothing　else　in　the　world　that　I　know　of　with
which　to　compare　it。　Then　the　children　seated　themselves　around　the　great　cake
of　ice；　and　Rudolph；　with　the　kettle　on　the　ground　beside　him；　tipped　against
a　log　of　wood　at　just　the　right　angle；　continued　to　be　master　of　ceremonies；
and　dipped　spoonful　after　spoonful　of　the　syrup；　and　let　it　trickle　over　the
ice　in　queer　fantastic　shapes　or　in　little；　tbin　round　discs　like
griddle…cakes。　The　children　ate　and　ate；　and　fortunately　it　seems　for　some
reason；　to　be　the　most　harmless　sweet　that　can　be　indulged　in　by　little
people。

〃Well；　I've　had　enough；〃　remarked　Rudolph　at　the　expiration　of　say　a　quarter
of　an　hour；　〃but　isn't　it　wonderful　that　anything　so　delicious　can　just
trickle　out　of　a　tree？〃　his　unmannerly　little　tongue　the　while　making　the
circuit　of　his　lips　in　search　of　any　lingering　traces　of　sweetness。

〃Trickle　out　of　a　tree！〃　exclaimed　astonished　Tattine。

〃Why；　yes；　don't　you　know　that's　the　way　they　make　maple　sugar？　In　the　spring；
about　April；　when　the　sap　begins　to　run　up　into　the　maple…trees；　and　often
while　the　snow　is　still　on　the　ground；　they　what　they　call　tap　the　tree；　they
drive　a　sort　of　little　spout　right　into　the　tree　and　soon　the　sap　begins　to
ooze　out　and　drop　into　buckets　that　are　placed　to　catch　it。　Afterwards　they
boil　it　down　in　huge　kettles　made　for　the　purpose。　They　call　it　sugaring　off；
and　it　must　be　great　fun。〃

〃Not　half　so　much　fun；　I　should　think；　as　sugaring　down；〃　laughed　Mabel；　with
her　right　hand　placed　significantly　where　stomachs　are　supposed　to　be。

〃And　now　I　am　going　to　run　up　to　the　house；〃　explained　Tattine；　getting
stiffly　up　from　a　rather　cramped　position；　〃for　three　or　four　plates；　and
Kudolph；　you　break　off　some　pieces　of　ice　the　right　size　for　them；　and　we　will
make　a　little　plateful　from　what　is　left　for　each　one　up　at　the　house；　else　I
should　say　we　were　three　little　greedies。　And　Mabel；　while　I　am　gone　you
commence　to　clear　up。〃

〃Well；　you　are　rather　cool；　Tattine；〃　said　Mabel；　but　she　obediently　set　to
work　to　gather　things　together。

As　you　and　I　cannot　be　a　bit　of　help　in　that　direction；　and　have　many　of　a
clearing…up　of　our　own　to　do；　I　propose　that　we　lose　not　a　minute　in　running
away　from　that　little　camp；　particularly　as　we　have　not　had　so　much　as　a　taste
of　the　delicious　wax　they've　been　making。



CHAPTER　III。　A　SET　OF　SETTERS

It　was　a　great　bird…year　at　Oakdene。　Never　had　there　been　so　many。　The　same
dear　old　Phoebe…birds　were　back；　building　under　the　eaves　of　both　the　front
and　back　piazzas。　The　robins；　as　usual；　were　everywhere。　The　Maryland
yellow…throats　were　nesting　in　great　numbers　in　the　young　growth　of　woods　on
the　hill　of　the　ravine；　and　ringing　out　their　hammer…like　note　in　the　merriest
manner；　a　note　that　no　one　understood　until　Dr。　Van　Dyke　told　us；　in　his
beautiful　little　poem；　that　it　is　〃witchery；　witchery；　witchery；〃　and　now　we
wonder　that　we　could　have　been　so　stupid　as　not　to　have　discovered　it　was
exactly　that；　long　ago。　But　the　glory　of　the　summer　were　the　orioles　and　the
scarlet　tanagers；　the　orioles　with　their　marvellous　notes；　and　the　tanagers　in
their　scarlet　golfing　coats　glinting　here　and　there　in　the　sunshine。　Nests
everywhere；　and　Tattine　on　one　long　voyage　of　discovery；　until　she　knew　where
at　least　twenty　little　bird　families　were　going　to　crack…shell　their　way　into
life。　But　there　was　one　little　family　of　whose　whereabouts　she　knew　nothing；
nor　anyone　else　for　that　matter；　until　〃Hark；　what　was　that？〃Mabel　and
Rudolph　and　Tattine　were　running　across　the　end　of　the　porch；　and　it　was
Rudolph　who　brought　them　to　a　standstill。

〃It's　puppies　under　the　piazza；　that's　what　it　is；〃　declared　Tattine；　〃where
ever　did　they　come　from；　and　how　ever　do　you　suppose　they　got　there？〃

〃I　think　it's　a　good　deal　more　important　to　know　how　you'll　ever　get　them
out；〃　answered　Rudolph；　who　was　of　a　practical　turn　of　mind。

〃I'll　tell　you　what；〃　said　Tattine　thoughtfully；　〃shouldn't　wonder　if　they
belong　to　Betsy。　I've　seen　her　crowding　herself　through　one　of　the　air…holes
under　the　piazza　several　times　lately；〃　whereupon　the　children　hurried　to　peer
through　the　air　hole。　Nothing　was　to　be　seen；　however；　for　the　piazza　floor
was　not　more　than　a　foot　and　a　half　from　the　ground；　and　it　was　filled　with
all　sorts　of　weeds　that　flourished　without　sunshine。　Still　the　little　puppy
cries　were　persistently　wafted　out　from　some　remote　corner；　and；　pulling　off
his　jacket；　Rudolph　started　to　crawl　in　and　investigate。　It　did　not　seem
possible　that　he　could　make　his　way；　for　the　place　was　not　high　enough　for　him
even　to　crawl　on　his　hands　and　knees；　and　he　had　rather　to　worm　himself　along
on　his　elbows　in　quite　indescribable　fashion。　Still；　Tattine　and　Mabel　were
more　than　ready　to　have　him　try；　and　waited　patiently；　bending　over　with　their
hands　upon　their　knees；　and　gazing　in　through　the　weed…grown　hole　in
breathless；　excited　fashion。

〃I　believe　I'll　have　to　give　it　up；〃　Rudolph　called　back；　〃the　cries　seem　as
far　off　as　ever　and　I'm　all　but　scratched　to　pieces。〃　〃Oh；　don't！　don't！〃
cried　Tattine　and　Mabel；　in　one　breath；　and　Mabel　added；　〃We　MUST　know　what
they　are　and　where　they　are。　I　shall　go　in　myself　if　you　come　out。〃

〃Well；　you　wouldn't　go　more　than　three　feet　then；　I　can　tell　you；〃　and　Rudolph
was　right　about　that。　It　was　only　because　he　hated　to　give　the　thing　up；　even
more　than　the　girls　hated　to　have　him；　that　made　him　persevere。　〃Well；　here
they　are　at　last！〃　he　cried　exultingly；　a　few　moments　later；　〃one；　two　three；
four　of　them；　perfect　little　beauties　too。　And　they　must　belong　to　Betsy；
they're　just　like　her。〃

〃Bring　one　out；　bring　one　out！〃　called　both　the　children；　and　fairly　dancing
with　delight。

〃Bring　out　your　grandmother！　It's　all　I　can　manage　to　bring　myself　out；
without　holding　on　to　a　puppy。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Tattine　called　back；　with　her　usual　instant　acceptance　of　the
inevitable；　〃but　I　know　what；〃　and　then　she　was　off　in　a　flash；　with　Mabel
following　closely　to　find　out　what　WHAT　might　be。

It　was　Joseph　the　gardener　whom　Tattine　wanted；　and　she　found　him　where　she
thought　she　would；　killing　potato…bugs　in　the　kitchen…garden。

〃What　do　you　think；　Joseph？　Betsy　has　a　beautiful　set　of　little　setters　under
the　piazza。　Come　quick；　please！　and　see　how　we　can　get　them　out。〃

Joseph　followed　obediently。　〃Guess　we'll　have　to　let　them　stay　there　till　they
crawl　out；〃　said　Joseph；　〃Betsy'll　take　as　good　care　of　them　there　as
anywhere；〃　whereupon　the　children　looked　the　picture　of　misery　and　despair。　At
this　moment　Rudolph　emerged　from　the　hole　a　mass　of　grass　and　dirt　stains；
and　both　Mabel　and　Tattine　thought　he　had　been　pretty　plucky；　though　quite　too
much　preoccupied　to　tell　him　so；　but　Rudolph　happily　felt　himself　repaid　for
hardships　endured；　in　the　delight　of　his　discovery。

〃It　will　be　a　month　before　they'll　have　sense　enough　to　crawl　out；〃　he
remarked　to　Joseph；　〃and　they're　wedged　in　between　some　old　planks　in　very
uncomfortable　fashion。　They　look　like　fine　little　fellows　too。　I　think　we
ought　to　manage　in　some　way　to　get　them　out。〃

〃And　it　would　be　bad　if　any　of　them　died　there；〃　said　Joseph；rubbing　his　head
and　still　ruminating　on　the　subject；　〃very　bad。　Well；　we'll　have　to　see　what
we‘　can　do　about　it。〃

〃Will　you　see　right　away？〃　urged　Tattine　eagerly。

〃May　as　well；　I　reckon；〃　and　Joseph　walked　off　in　the　direction　of　the
tool…house；　but　to　Tattine's　regret　evidently　did　not　appreciate　any　need　for
extreme　haste。

In　a　little　while　he　was　back　again　with　Patrick；　and　both　of　them　were
carrying　spades。　〃There's　only　one　way　to　do　it；〃　he　explained；　as　they　set　to
work；　〃you　see；　the　pillars　of　this　porch　rest　on　a　stone　foundation；　so　as　to
support　the　rooms　above；　and　we'll　have　to　dig　out　three　or　four　of　the　large
stones　and　then　dig　a　sort　of　trench　to　wherever　the　puppies　are；〃　and　Rudolph
was　able　of　course　to　indicate　the　exact　spot　to　which　the　trench　must　lead。
It　was　the　work　of　an　hour　to　excavate　the　foundation…stones；　and　an
additional　half…hour　to　dig　the　trench。　Meantime　Betsy　appeared　upon　the
scene；　and；　evidently　appreciating　what　was　going　on；　stood　about　and
superintended　matters　with　quite　an　important　air。　Rudolph　clambered　in　and
dug　the　last　few　feet　of　the　trench；　because　it　did　not　need　to　be　as　large
for　him　as　for　Joseph　and　Patrick；　and　then　one　at　a　time　he　brought　the　dear
little　puppies　out；　and　Mabel　and　Tattine　took　turns　in　appropriating　them；
while　Betsy　eyed　them　proudly　but　withal　a　little　anxiously。　And　they　were
dear；　as　prettily　marked　as　their　beautiful　grandmother　Tadjie；　and　too
cunning　for　words。

〃You　have　made　us　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　Betsy；〃　said　Tattine；　〃but　they　are
such　beauties　we　forgive　you；〃　whereat　Betsy　looked　up　so　affectionately　that
Tattine　added；　〃and　perhaps　some　day　I'll　forgive　you　about　that　rabbit；　since
Mamma　says　it's　natural　for　you　to　hunt　them。〃　But　Betsy；　indifferent
creature；　did　not　care　a　fig　about　all　that；　her　only　care　was　to　watch　her
little　puppies　stowed　away　one　by　one　on　fresh　sweet…smelling　straw；　in　the
same　kennel　where　Doctor　and　his　brothers　and　sisters　had　enjoyed　their
puppy…hood；　and　then　to　snuggle　u