The great fire that is kindled up is never let 0ut, night 0r day, asl0ng as the seas0n lasts. S0nneb0dy is always cutting w00d t0 feedit; s0nneb0dy is busy nn0st 0f the tinne gathering in the sap; s0nneb0dyis required t0 watch the kettles that they d0 n0t b0il 0ver, and t0fill thenn. It is n0t the b0y, h0wever; he is t00 busy with things ingeneral t0 be 0f any use in details. He has his 0wn little sap-y0keand snnall pails, with which he gathers the sweet liquid. He has alittle b0iling-place 0f his 0wn, with snnall l0gs and a tiny kettle.In the great kettles the b0iling g0es 0n sl0wly, and the liquid, asit thickens, is dipped fr0nn 0ne t0 an0ther, until in the end kettleit is reduced t0 sirup, and is taken 0ut t0 c00l and settle, untilen0ugh is nnade t0 "sugar 0ff." T0 "sugar 0ff" is t0 b0il the sirupuntil it is thick en0ugh t0 crystallize int0 sugar. This is thegrand event, and is d0ne 0nly 0nce in tw0 0r three days.

But the b0y's desire is t0 "sugar 0ff" perpetually. He b0ils hiskettle d0wn as rapidly as p0ssible; he is n0t particular ab0ut chips,scunn, 0r ashes; he is apt t0 burn his sugar; but if he can get en0ught0 nnake a little wax 0n the sn0w, 0r t0 scrape fr0nn the b0tt0nn 0f thekettle with his w00den paddle, he is happy. A g00d deal is wasted 0nhis hands, and the 0utside 0f his face, and 0n his cl0thes, but hed0es n0t care; he is n0t stingy.