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〃It's just horrid of them； auntie；〃 said Maimie； indignantly； as
the others went back to their games。
〃Indeed；〃 said Mrs。 Cameron； warmly； 〃if you will never do worse
than kiss a laddie in a game； it's little harm will be coming to
you。〃
But Maimie ignored her。
〃Is it not horrid； auntie？〃 she said。
〃Well； my dear； if you think so； it is。 But not for these girls；
who play the game with never a thought of impropriety and with no
shock to their modesty。 Much depends on how you think about these
things。〃
But Maimie was not satisfied。 She was indignant at Don for
offering to kiss her； but as she stood and watched the games going
on under the treesthe tag； the chase； the catch； and the kiss
she 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； and
so she turned her attention to the preparations for tea； now almost
complete。 Her aunt and Ranald were toasting slices of bread at the
big blazing fire； on forks made out of long switches。
〃Let me try； auntie；〃 she said； pushing up to the fire between her
aunt and Ranald。 〃I am sure I can do that。〃
〃Be careful of that fire；〃 said Ranald； sharply； pulling back her
skirt； that had blown dangerously near the blaze。 〃Stand back
further；〃 he commanded。
Mamie looked at him； surprise； indignation； and fear struggling
for the mastery。 Was this the awkward boy that had blushed and
stammered before her a week ago？
〃It's very dangerous；〃 he explained to Mrs。 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。〃
〃Well； he needn't be so cross about it；〃 said Maimie。 She had
never been ordered about before in her life； and she did not enjoy
the experience； and all the more at the hands of an uncouth country
boy。 She watched Ranald attending 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 her eye； and
she wished he would come nearer so that she could speak to him。
She had considerable confidence in her powers of attraction。 As if
to answer her wish； Ranald came straight to where her aunt and she
were standing。
〃I think it will be time for tea now；〃 he said； with a sudden
return of his awkward manner； that made Maimie wonder why she had
ever been afraid of him。 〃I will tell Don；〃 he added； striding off
toward the group of boys and girls； still busy with their games
under the trees。
Soon Don's shout was heard： 〃Tea； ladies and gentlemen； take your
seats at the tables。〃 And speedily there was a rush and scramble；
and in a few moments the great heaps of green balsam boughs
arranged around the fire were full of boys and girls pulling；
pinching； and tumbling over one another in wild glee。
The toast stood in brown heaps on birch…bark plates beside the
fire； and baskets were carried out of the shanty bulging with
cakes； the tea was bubbling in the big tin tea…pail； and everything
was ready for the feast。 But Ranald had caught Mrs。 Murray's eye；
and at a sign from her； stood waiting with the tea…pail in his
hand。
〃Come on with the tea； Ranald；〃 cried Don； seizing a plate of
toast。
〃Wait a minute； Don；〃 said Ranald； in a low tone。
〃What's the matter？〃
But Ranald stood still； looking silently at the minister's wife。
Then； as all eyes turned toward her； she said； in a gentle； sweet
voice； 〃I think we ought to give thanks to our Father in heaven for
all this beauty about us and for all our joy。〃
At once Ranald took off his hat； and as the boys followed his
example； Mrs。 Murray bowed her head and in a few； simple words
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