Ralph Connor

“ But Betsy demurred. "I don't want Don," she cried. "Come on, Ranald; the fire will do quite well." Betsy, as indeed did most of the school-girls, adored Ranald in her secret heart, though she scorned to show it.
But Ranald still refused, till Don said, "It is too bad, Betsy, but you'll have to take me."
"Oh, come on, then!" laughed Betsy; "you will be better than nobody."
Then it was Johnnie the Widow's choice: "Maimie St. Clair."
Maimie hesitated and looked at her aunt, who said, "Yes, go, my dear, if you would like." ”

“ The very next day, when the bright, warm rays trickle down through the interlacing branches, bathing the buds and twigs and limbs and trunks and flooding all the woods, the world grows surer of its new joy. And so, in alternating hope and fear, the days and nights go by, till an evening falls when the air is languid and a soft rain comes up from the south, falling all night long over the buds and trees like warm, loving fingers. ”

“ We must help each other, Ranald."
"Indeed, it is little I can do for you," he said, shyly.
"You do not know how much I am going to ask you to do," she said, lightly. "Wait and see."
At that moment a series of shrieks rose high above the shouting and laughter of the games, and Maimie came flying down toward the camp, pursued by Don, with the others following.
"Oh, auntie!" she panted, he's going to—going to—" she paused, with cheeks burning.
"It's forfeits, Mrs. Murray," explained Don.
"Hoot, lassie," said Mrs. Cameron; "it will not much hurt you, anyway. ”

“ 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?" ”

“ They that kiss in the light will not kiss in the dark."
"She played, and lost her forfeit," said Don, unwilling to be jeered at by the others for faint-heartedness. "She ought to pay."
"I'm afraid, Don, she does not understand our ways," said Mrs. Murray, apologetically.
"Be off, Don," said his mother. "Kiss Marget there, if you can—it will not hurt her—and leave the young lady alone."
"It's just horrid of them, auntie," said Maimie, indignantly, as the others went back to their games. ”

“ Murray.
"Only by tasting. When it is very sweet it must go into the little kettle."
"And then?"
Her eager determination to know all the details delighted him beyond measure.
"Then you must be very careful indeed, or you will lose all your day's work, and your sugar besides, for it is very easy to burn."
"But how can you tell when it is ready?"
"Oh, you must just keep tasting every few minutes till you think you have the syrup, and then for the sugar you must just boil it a little longer."
"Well," said Mrs. Murray, "when it is ready what do you do?" ”

“ Murray.
He turned and looked at her a moment as if in a dream. Then, recalling himself, he answered, "I suppose that is the best."
"Yes, it is the best, Ranald," she replied. "No man is great who is not good. But come now and give me my lesson."
Ranald stepped out into the bush, and from a tree near by he lifted a trough of sap and emptied it into the big kettle.
"That's the first thing you do with the sap," he said.
"How? Carry every trough to the kettle?"
"Oh, I see," laughed Ranald. "You must have every step." ”

“ Murray, "the wind blows out the flames."
As he spoke he handed Maimie his toasting stick and retired to the other side of the fire, and began to attend to the boiling sap.
"He needn't be such a bear," pouted Maimie.
"My dear," replied her aunt, "what Ranald says is quite true. You cannot be too careful in moving about the fire." ”