CHAPTER VI.

SWEETS AND BITTERS.

The Home Wreath—Jessie’s doubts about the nature of scandal—Light from the dictionary—A note of inquiry—Henry missing—His appearance—The temple of peace abandoned—Henry’s explanation—His troubles—Mrs. Allen—Making husk mats—What Jessie said—How to be loved—Jessie’s entreaties—The promise—The sugar season—Ronald’s sugar enterprise—Tapping the trees—The sap—Sugar grown, not made—Boiling down the sap—Clarifying it—“Sugaring off”—The cakes—Going to a sugar camp—Who went, and who did not—Description and view of the camp—Appearance of the Home Wreath—Editorial reply to Jessie’s inquiry—The Bible on scandal—Writers on moral science—Scandal is the worst kind of robbery—Cases in which it is right to speak evil of another—Prevalence of scandal—A noble exception—A secret well kept—Oscar’s career, 110