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would perhaps be better to have no strangers； but just old friends；
you and Don and Hughie and me。〃
Ranald at once caught her meaning； but found himself strangely
unwilling to be extricated from his predicament。
〃I mean；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； frankly； 〃we might enjoy it better
without my niece； and so； perhaps； we could have the sugaring when
I come to bring Hughie home on Friday。 Maimie does not come till
Saturday。〃
Her frankness disarmed Ranald of his reserve。 〃I know well what
you mean；〃 he said； without his usual awkwardness； 〃but I do not
mind now at all having your niece come； and Don is going to have a
party。〃 The quiet； grave tone was that of a man； and Mrs。 Murray
looked at the boy with new eyes。 She did not know that it was her
own frank confidence that had won like confidence from him。
〃How old are you； Ranald？〃 she said； in her wonder。
〃I will be going on eighteen。〃
〃You will soon be a man； Ranald。〃 Ranald remained silent； and she
went on earnestly： 〃A strong； good； brave man； Ranald。〃
The blood rushed to the boy's face with a sudden flood； but still
he stood silent。
〃I'm going to give you Hughie for two days；〃 she continued； in the
same earnest voice； and leaning down over her pony's neck toward
him： 〃I want him to know strong and manly boys。 He is very fond
of you； Ranald。 He thinks you are better than any man in the
world。〃 She paused； her lips parting in a smile that made Ranald's
heart beat quick。 Then she went on with a shy hesitancy： 〃Ranald；
I know the boys sometimes drop words they should not and tell
stories unfit to hear〃； the blood was beginning to show in her
cheek； 〃and I would not like my little boy〃 Her voice broke
suddenly； but recovering quickly she went on in grave； sweet tones：
〃I trust him to you； Ranald； for this time and afterward。 He looks
up to you。 I want him to be a good； brave man； and to keep his
heart pure。〃 Ranald could not speak； but he looked steadily into
Mrs。 Murray's eyes as he took the hand she offered； and she knew he
was pledging himself to her。
〃You'll come for him to…morrow；〃 she said； as she turned away。 By
this time Ranald had found his voice。
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 he replied。 〃And I will take good care of him。〃
Once more Mrs。 Murray found herself looking at Ranald as if seeing
him for the first time。 He had the solemn voice and manner of a
man making oath of allegiance； and she rode away with her heart at
rest concerning her little boy。 With Ranald； at least； he would be
safe。
* * * * *
Those two days had been for Hughie long and weary； but at last the
great day came for him； as all great days will come for those who
can wait。 Ranald appeared at the manse before the breakfast was
well begun； and Hughie； with the unconscious egoism of childhood；
was for rushing off without thought of preparation for himself or
of farewell for those left behind。 Indeed； he was for leaving his
porridge untasted； declaring he 〃wasn't a bit hungry；〃 but his
mother brought him to his senses。
〃No breakfast； no sugar bush to…day； Hughie；〃 she said； 〃we cannot
send men out to the woods that cannot eat breakfast； can we；
Ranald？〃
Hughie at once fell upon his porridge with vigor； while Ranald； who
was much too shy to eat at the minister's table； sat and waited。
After breakfast was over； Jessie was called in for the morning
worship； without which no day was ever begun in the manse。 At
worship in the minister's house every one present took part。 It
was Hughie's special joy to lead the singing of the psalm。 His
voice rose high and clear； even above his mother's； for he loved to
sing； and Ranald's presence inspired him to do his best。 Ranald
had often heard the psalm sung in the church
I to the hills will lift mine eyes；
From whence doth come mine aid；
and the tune was the old； familiar 〃French；〃 but somehow it was all
new to him that day。 The fresh voices and the crisp； prompt
movement of the tune made Ranald feel as if he had never heard the
psalm sung before。 In the reading he took his verse with the
others； stumbling a little； not because the words were too big for
him； but because they seemed to run into one another。 The chapter
for the day contained Paul's injunction to Timothy； urging him to
fidelity and courage as a good soldier of Jesus Christ。
When the reading was done； Mrs。 Murray told them a story of a young
man who had shed his blood upon a Scottish moor because he was too
brave to be untrue to his lord； and then； in a few words； made them
all see that still some conflict was being waged； and that there
was still opportunity for each to display loyal courage and
fidelity。
In the prayer that followed； the first thing that surprised Ranald
was the absence of the set forms and tones of prayer； with which he
was familiar。 It was all so simple and real。 The mother was
telling the great Father in heaven her cares and anxieties； and the
day's needs for them all； sure that he would understand and answer。
Every one was rememberedthe absent head of the family and those
present； the young man worshiping with them； that he might be a
true man and a good soldier of Jesus Christ； and at the close； the
little lad going away this morning； that he might be kept from all
harm and from all evil thoughts and deeds。 The simple beauty of
the words； the music in the voice； and the tender； trustful feeling
that breathed through the prayer awakened in Ranald's heart
emotions and longings he had never known before； and he rose from
his knees feeling how wicked and how cruel a thing it would be to
cause one of these little ones to stumble。
After the worship was over； Hughie seized his Scotch bonnet and
rushed for the jumper； and in a few minutes his mother had all the
space not taken up by him and Ranald packed with blankets and
baskets。
〃Jessie thinks that even great shanty…men like you and Don and
Hughie will not object to something better than bread and pork。〃
〃Indeed； we will not；〃 said Ranald； heartily。
Then Hughie suddenly remembered that he was actually leaving home；
and climbing out of the jumper； he rushed at his mother。
〃Oh； mother； good by！〃 he cried。
His mother stooped and put her arms about him。 〃Good by； my
darling；〃 she said； in a low voice； 〃I trust you to be a good boy；
and； Hughie； don't forget your prayers。〃
Then came to Hughie； for the first time； the thought that had been
in the mother's heart all the morning； that when night came he
would lie down to sleep； for the first time in his life； without
the nightly story and her good…night kiss。
〃Mother；〃 whispered the little lad； holding her tight about the
neck； 〃won't you come； too？ I don't think I like to go away。〃
He could have said no more comforting word； and the mother； whose
heart had been sore enough with her first parting from her boy； was
more than glad to find that the pain was not all on her side； so
she kissed him again； and said； in a cheery voice： 〃Now have a
good time。 Don't trouble Ranald too much； and bring me back some
sugar。〃 Her last word braced the lad as nothing else could。