The Man From Glengarry

fields and through the woods; the time, too, of sunny noons and chilly nights. Winter is still near, but he has lost most of his grip, and all his terror. F

hadows steal down the forest aisles, the jubilant voices die down and a chill fear creeps over all the gleeful, swelling buds that they have been too sure and too happy; and all the more if, from the northeast, there sweeps down, as often happens, a stinging storm of sleet and snow, winter's last savage slap. But what matters that? 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, th

sleigh, bringing with them the manse party. Ranald and Don, with Aunt Kirsty, were there to receive them. It was one of those rare evenings of the early Canadian spring. The bare woods were filled with the tangled rays of light from the setting sun. Here and

ither end. Under the big kettle the fire was roaring high, for the fresh sap needed much boiling before th

er Jennie, tossing her high, and welcomed with warm heartiness Mrs. Murray and her niece. The Airds had not yet come, but all the rest were there. The Finlaysons and the McKerachers, Dan Campbell's boys, and their sister Betsy, whom every one called "Betsy

e program for this evening is as follows: games, tea, and taffy, in the order mentioned. In the fi

are, Elizabeth Campbell, better known as 'Betsy Dan,' and John Finlayson, familiar to us all as 'Joh

or Don's banter, contented herself with pushing out her lower lip at him with

ing first choice by virtue of her sex, im

cannot leave the fire," he sai

he fire will do quite well." Betsy, as indeed did most of the school-g

Don said, "It is too bad, Bet

ughed Betsy; "you will

the Widow's choice

t her aunt, who said, "Yes, g

my side-on Don's side, I mean." At which poor Marget, a tall, fair girl, with sweet face and shy manner, blushed

ing allowed to remain neutral in the coming games. For an hour the sports went

s addressed to him. But when it was time to make the tea, Mrs. Cameron and Kirsty insisted on taking charge of this, and Mrs. Murray, coming round t

t with which she had greeted him at the manse, and his wounded pride longed for an opportunity to pour upon her the vials of his contempt. But somehow, in her presence, contempt would not aris

are just wonderful. That Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, oh! they are the grand books." His fa

id Mrs. Murray, in tones of warm sympathy,

oy, looking as if he might fall down at her feet. Mrs. Murray

like them," she said, earnestly. "I want you t

d listening

and great man yourself," she added

sterious fire. Suddenly he threw back his head and said, as if he had forgotte

softly added

if in a dream. Then, recalling himself,

lied. "No man is great who is not good

rom a tree near by he lifted a trough o

thing you do with

very trough t

ed Ranald. "You mu

she replied, wi

here

sap from the trough into the bucket, and thence into

atching up a big dipper tied to a long pole, and transferr

ll when it is ready

is very sweet it must go

d t

o know all the details de

ou will lose all your day's work, and your

you tell when

till you think you have the syrup, and then for

rray, "when it is re

e fire from under it, and pour it into the

you stir it?

it from getti

said the minister's wife, delightedly, "and I am ver

tle I can do for y

going to ask you to do," she

ting and laughter of the games, and Maimie came flying down

e's going to-going to-" she

, Mrs. Murray,

l not much hurt you, anyway. They that kis

on, unwilling to be jeered at by the other

ot understand our ways," sai

Marget there, if you can-it will not h

," said Maimie, indignantly, as t

will never do worse than kiss a laddie in a g

mie ign

orrid, aunti

play the game with never a thought of impropriety and with no shock

somehow began to feel as if it were not so terrible after all, and to think that perhaps these girls might play the game and still be nice enough. But she had no thought of going back to them

ing up to the fire between her aunt

ulling back her skirt, that had blown dangerously

struggling for the mastery. Was this the awkward boy

plained to Mrs. Murray, "the

tick and retired to the other side of the f

such a bear,"

ald says is quite true. You cannot be

ending to the fire and the kettles, however, with a new respect. He certainly had no fear of the fire, but moved about it and handled it with the utmost sang-froid. He had a certain grace, too, in his movements that caught h

that made Maimie wonder why she had ever been afraid of him. "I will tell Don," he added,

here was a rush and scramble, and in a few moments the great heaps of green balsam boughs arranged aro

ty bulging with cakes; the tea was bubbling in the big tin tea-pail, and everything was ready for the feast.

Ranald," cried Don, s

Don," said Ranal

s the

s turned toward her, she said, in a gentle, sweet voice, "I think we ought to giv

and in a few, simple words lifted up the hearts of all with her own in thanksgiving for the beau

mmon 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 e

nounced that the taffy was ready, and Don, as master of ceremonies, imm

the boys, with a

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 immedi

refully stirred, while tin dishes of all sorts, shapes, and sizes-milk-pans, pattie-pan

nd three goose eggs for the grown-ups, were set in snow nests, and carefully filled from the lit

a goose egg provide

ose egg?" cried D

" coaxed the gir

e, Don, for the minist

d Maimie, "and

ized the dipper, and

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 sno

safe now. Let me see your face. There now

creaming. She was t

in an even, firm voice. "Do not

ut could find none. She was hardly touched, so swift had been her rescue. Then Mrs. Murray, suddenly putting her arms round about h

recovering herself, she went on,

rray, knowing how hateful to him would be any demonstrations of feeling, went to him, and q

ace with tears streaming down her cheeks. Then put

ead mother's sak

, seemed suddenly to awake, and running swiftly toward Ranald, she pu

do or say. Then Maimie suddenly dropped his hands, and throwing he

Maimie," said Don, in a grieved voi

all, said: "Dear children, God has been very goo

ng to Him whose keeping never fails by day or night. And then, with hearts

looked back, and seeing Ranald standing by the fire, she w

ng a new danger for them both, g