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lifted up the hearts of all with her own in thanksgiving for the
beauty of the woods and sky above them； and all the many gifts that
came to fill their lives with joy。
It was not the first time that Ranald had heard her voice in
prayer； but somehow it sounded different in the open air under the
trees and in the midst of all the jollity of the sugaring…off。
With all other people that Ranald knew religion seemed to be
something apart from common days； common people； and common things；
and seemed； besides； a solemn and terrible experience； but with the
minister's wife； religion was a part of her every…day living； and
seemed to be as easily associated with her pleasure as with
anything else about her。 It was so easy； so simple； so natural；
that Ranald could not help wondering if； after all； it was the
right kind。 It was so unlike the religion of the elders and all
the good people in the congregation。 It was a great puzzle to
Ranald； as to many others； both before and since his time。
After tea was over the great business of the evening came on。
Ranald announced that the taffy was ready； and Don； as master of
ceremonies； immediately cried out： 〃The gentlemen will provide the
ladies with plates。〃
〃Plates！〃 echoed the boys； with a laugh of derision。
〃Plates；〃 repeated Don； stepping back to a great snowbank； near a
balsam clump； and returning with a piece of 〃crust。〃 At once there
was a scurry to the snowbank； and soon every one had a snow plate
ready。 Then Ranald and Don slid the little kettle along the pole
off the fire； and with tin dippers began to pour the hot syrup upon
the snow plates； where it immediately hardened into taffy。 Then
the pulling began。 What fun there was； what larks； what shrieks；
what romping and tumbling； till all were heartily tired； both of
the taffy and the fun。
Then followed the sugar…molding。 The little kettle was set back on
the fire and kept carefully stirred； while tin dishes of all sorts；
shapes； and sizesmilk…pans； pattie…pans； mugs； and cupswell
greased with pork rind； were set out in order； imbedded in snow。
The last act of all was the making of 〃hens' nests。〃 A dozen or so
of hens' eggs； blown empty； and three goose eggs for the grown…ups；
were set in snow nests； and carefully filled from the little
kettle。 In a few minutes the nests were filled with sugar eggs；
and the sugaring…off was over。
There remained still a goose egg provided against any mishap。
〃Who wants the goose egg？〃 cried Don； holding it up。
〃Me！〃 〃me！〃 〃me！〃 coaxed the girls on every side。
〃Will you give it to me； Don； for the minister？〃 said Mrs。 Murray。
〃Oh； yes！〃 cried Maimie； 〃and let me fill it。〃
As she spoke； she seized the dipper； and ran for the kettle。
〃Look out for that fire；〃 cried Don； dropping the egg into its
snowbed。 He was too late。 A little tongue of flame leaped out
from under the kettle； nipped hold of her frock； and in a moment
she was in a blaze。 With a wild scream she sprang back and turned
to fly； but before she had gone more than a single step Ranald；
dashing the crowd right and left； had seized and flung her headlong
into the snow； beating out the flames with his bare hands。 In a
moment all danger was over； and Ranald lifted her up。 Still
screaming； she clung to him； while the women all ran to her。 Her
aunt reached her first。
〃Hush； Maimie； hush； dear。 You are quite safe now。 Let me see
your face。 There now； be quiet； child。 The danger is all over。〃
Still Maimie kept screaming。 She was thoroughly terrified。
〃Listen to me；〃 her aunt said； in an even； firm voice。 〃Do not be
foolish。 Let me look at you。〃
The quiet； firm voice soothed her； and Maimie's screams ceased。
Her aunt examined her face； neck； and arms for any signs of fire；
but could find none。 She was hardly touched； so swift had been her
rescue。 Then Mrs。 Murray； suddenly putting her arms round about
her niece； and holding her tight； cried： 〃Thank God； my darling；
for his great kindness to you and to us all。 Thank God！ thank
God！〃
Her voice broke； but in a moment； recovering herself； she went on；
〃And Ranald； too！ noble fellow！〃
Ranald was standing at the back of the crowd； looking pale；
disturbed； and awkward。 Mrs。 Murray； knowing how hateful to him
would be any demonstrations of feeling； went to him； and quietly
held out her hand； saying： 〃It was bravely done； Ranald。 From my
heart； I thank you。〃
For a moment or two she looked steadily into his face with tears
streaming down her cheeks。 Then putting her hands upon his
shoulders； she said； softly：
〃For her dear； dead mother's sake； I thank you。〃
Then Maimie； who had been standing in a kind of stupor all this
while； seemed suddenly to awake； and running swiftly toward Ranald；
she put out both hands； crying： 〃Oh； Ranald； I can never thank you
enough！〃
He took her hands in an agony of embarrassment； not knowing what to
do or say。 Then Maimie suddenly dropped his hands； and throwing
her arms about his neck； kissed him； and ran back to her aunt's
side。
〃I thought you didn't play forfeits； Maimie；〃 said Don； in a
grieved voice。 And every one was glad to laugh。
Then the minister's wife； looking round upon them all； said： 〃Dear
children； God has been very good to us； and I think we ought to
give him thanks。〃
And standing there by the fire； they bowed their heads in a new
thanksgiving to Him whose keeping never fails by day or night。 And
then； with hearts and voices subdued； and with quiet good nights；
they went their ways home。
But as the Cameron sleigh drove off with its load； Maimie looked
back； and seeing Ranald standing by the fire； she whispered to her
aunt： 〃Oh； auntie！ Isn't he just splendid？〃
But her aunt made no reply； seeing a new danger for them both；
greater than that they had escaped。
CHAPTER IX
A SABBATH DAY'S WORK
The Sabbath that followed the sugaring…off was to Maimie the most
remarkable Sabbath of her life up to that day。 It was totally
unlike the Sabbath of her home； which； after the formal 〃church
parade；〃 as Harry called it； in the morning； her father spent in
lounging with his magazine and pipe； her aunt in sleeping or in
social gossip with such friends as might drop in； and Harry and
Maimie as best they could。
The Sabbath in the minister's house； as in the homes of his people；
was a day so set apart from other days that it had to be approached。
The Saturday afternoon and evening caught something of its
atmosphere。 No frivolity； indeed no light amusement； was proper
on the evening that put a period to the worldly occupations and
engagements of the week。 That evening was one of preparation。 The
house； and especially the kitchen； was thoroughly 〃redd up。〃 Wood；
water； and kindlings were brought in； clothes were brushed； boots
greased or polished； dinner prepared； and in every way possible the
whole house； its dwellers； and its belongings； made ready for the
morrow。 So； when the Sabbath morning dawned； people awoke with a
feeling that old things had passed away and that the whole world was
new。 The sun shone with a radiance not known on other days。 He was
shining upon holy things； and lighting men and women to holy duties。
Through all the farms the fields lay bathed in his genial glow； at
rest； and the very trees stood in silent worship of the bending
heavens。 Up from stable and from kitchen came no sounds of work。
The horses knew that no wheel would turn that day in labor； and the
dogs lay sleeping in sunny nooks； knowing as well as any that there
was to be no hunting or roaming for them that day； unless they chose
to go on a free hunt； which none but light…headed puppies or
dissipated and reprobate dogs would care to do。
Over all things rest brooded； and out of the rest grew holy
thoughts and hopes。 It was a day of beginnings。 For the past；
broken and stained； there was a new offer of oblivion and healing；
and the heart was summoned to look forward to new life and to hope
for better things； and to drink in all those soothing； healing
influences that memory and faith combine to give； so that when the
day was done； weary and discouraged men and women began to feel
that； perhaps after all they might be able to endure and even to
hope for victory。
The minister rose earlier on Sabbath than on other days； the
responsibility of his office pressing hard upon him。 Breakfast was
more silent than usual； ordinary subjects of conversation being
discouraged。 The minister was preoccupied and impatient of any
interruption of his thoughts。 But his wife came to the table with
a sweeter serenity than usual； and a calm upon her face that told
of hidden strength。 Even Maimie could notice the difference； but
she could only wonder。 The secret of it was hidden from her。 Her
aunt was like no other woman that she knew； and there were many
things about her too deep for Maimie's understanding。
After worship； which was brief but solemn and intense； Lambert
hurried to bring round to the front the big black horse； hitched up
in the carryall； and they all made speed to pack themselves in；
Maimie and her aunt in front； and Hughie on the floor behind with