human
The State did not realize you were coming, old man; otherwise they would have had some weather especially prepared for your benefit, Bob replied, springing into the sleigh beside his chum.
gpt
My, but this is a jolly old pung! Hear it creak. I say, he leaned forward to address the driver,
human
Law, Mr. Bob, this ain't your father's, David drawled.
gpt
He ain't got anything but wheeled vehicles in the barn, and not one of 'em will be a mite of use till April. I borrowed this turnout of the McMasters', who live a piece down the road; the foreman, you know. It was either this or a straight sledge, and we happened to be using the sledges collecting sap.
human
Are you sugaring off already? questioned Bob with evident disappointment.
gpt
I understood Father to say we'd get here in time to be in on that.
human
Bless your soul, Mr. Bob, you'll see all you want of it, was David's quick answer.
gpt
There's gallons of sap that hasn't been boiled down yet. It's a great year for maple-sugar, a great year.
human
Are some years better than others?
gpt
Yes, indeed. What you want to make the sap run is a good cold snap, followed by a thaw. That's just what we've been having. It's a prime combination.
human
Get up there, Admiral! He's the very worst horse to stop that ever was made. You see in summer he drags a hay-cart, and he has to keep halting for the hay to be piled on; then in the fall we use him for working on the road, and he has to wait while we pick up stones and spread gravel; in the spring he makes the rounds of the sugar orchard every morning and stands round on three legs while we empty the sap buckets into the cask on the sledge. Poor soul, he never seems to get going that he ain't hauled up. He's so used to it now that he'd rather stop than go, I reckon.
gpt
Pine Ridge
human
Well, I'll wager you're pretty hungry,
gpt
Hungry, Mother! We're starved--hollow down to our shoe-strings! Swinging himself out upon the steps Bob bent and kissed his mother.
human
Mother, this is my roommate, Van Blake,
gpt
I'm very glad to see you, Van, Mrs. Carlton said, putting both her hands into those of the big fellow who smiled down at her.
human
How strange it is that although you and Bob are such friends and he is continually talking and writing of you that you and I should never have met!
gpt
I don't just know how it's happened, Mrs. Carlton, Van answered.
human
It seems as if the times you've been at the school to visit I've either been away or shut up in the infirmary with chicken-pox or something. I'm great at catching diseases, you know--I get everything that's going. Father says he thinks I can't bear to let anything get by me.
gpt
Speaking of fathers, where's Dad, Mater?
human
He stopped to put another log on the fire. Come in and see what a blaze we have ready for you.
gpt
This is Van Blake, Father,
human
I'm glad to see you, young man, Mr. Carlton responded.
gpt
Bob's friends will always find a welcome from us.
human
Thank you, sir.
gpt
I don't suppose you happen to be a connection of the Colorado Blakes.
human
I come from Colorado,
gpt
You're not one of the sugar Blakes; not Asa Blake's son.
human
Yes, cried Van.
gpt
Mr. Asa Blake is my father, and he is in the beet sugar business. Do you know him?
human
I believe I've met him,
gpt
Why, Father--
human
Come, boys, said Mrs. Carlton bustling in.
gpt
I guess you've warmed your fingers by this time. Bob, take Van up-stairs and tumble out of those fur coats as fast as ever you can so to be ready for dinner.