Mrs. Chamberlain also had a bee, an apple-drying bee, and, following the example of her friend and neighbor in the exclusiveness of her invitations, brought herself under the same ban as Mrs. Olmstead. Whereupon Mrs. Bancroft, who also had a marriageable daughter, resolved, when the spring days should come, to have a "sugaring-off," and to teach her ambitious neighbors a thing or two about entertainments. Invitations were accordingly sent to all the New Englanders in the settlement, including rich and poor, young and old, and extensive preparations made for the greatest social event of the season. Among those who accepted the invitation were the Aliens, the Sheffields, the Townsends, the Wrights, the Eberts, the Wymans, the Olmsteads, the Chamberlains, the Fessendens, the Honeywells, and the Moores. These with many others gathered round the glowing, crackling fire, above which a huge new potash kettle was suspended by crotched sticks. "It will soon be ready to pour into the smaller kittle," said Ephraim Bancroft, "for it has been boilin' stiddy since mornin'. I only found out this spring that it takes nearly twice as long to boil down the last sap of the season as it does the first, and it is not near so sweet." "Be careful, Ephraim," said Mrs. Bancroft, "you're pilin' on too much wood. It's getting quite syrupy, an' you'll burn it if you're not more careful. Keep the fire low and stiddy." The young people were having a gay time coasting down hill over the 'crust' on Dudley Moore's traineau, while the men and women "hugged" the fire and discussed the all-absorbing subject of the American invasion. The Chief had just returned from Montreal, and had the latest war news, which was received with keenest interest. "It was rumored," he said, "that Wilkinson was coming up Lake Champlain with six thousand men, followed by Hampton with a large force, and De Salaberry and Macdonell posted our men in such advantageous positions, and were so successful in concealing the weakness of our force, that Wilkinson and his men had to beat a hasty retreat. "You have probably heard," he continued, "that Colonel Morrison met Boyd on the St. Lawrence, near Cornwall, on his way to attack Montreal, and drove him back to Plattsburg." "If they get Montreal," said Mr. Fessenden, "the whole of Canada will fall into their hands." "What is the whole fuss about, anyhow?" asked a shrewd little New Englander from one of the back settlements, who had bought a tract of land and was paying for it in work. "It is a long story," replied the Chief, "and a sad one, but I shall try to explain to you in as few words as possible the whole trouble, for there are several here to-night who have strong prejudices against Britain, which should be removed.