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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。
〃Oh； mother； I'll bring you heaps！〃 he cried； and with the vision
of what he would bring home again shining vividly before his eyes；
he got through the parting without tears； and was soon speeding
down the lane beside Ranald； in the jumper。
The mother stood and watched the little figure holding tight to
Ranald with one hand； and with the other waving frantically his
bonnet by the tails； till at last the bush hid him from her sight。
Then she turned back again to the house that seemed so empty； with
her hand pressed hard against her side and her lip quivering as
with sharp pain。
〃How foolish！〃 she said； impatiently to herself； 〃he will be home
in two days。〃 But in spite of herself she went again to the door；
and looked long at the spot where the bush swallowed up the road。
Then she went upstairs and shut her door； and when she came down
again there was that in her face that told that her heart had had
its first touch of the sword that； sooner or later； must pierce all
mothers' hearts。
CHAPTER VII
MAIMIE
Before Hughie came back from the sugar camp； the minister had
returned from the presbytery； bringing with him his wife's niece；
Maimie St。 Clair； who had come from her home in a Western city to
meet him。 Her father； Eugene St。 Clair； was president of Raymond
and St。 Clair Lumber Company。 Nineteen years before this time he
had married Mrs。 Murray's eldest sister； and established his home
with every prospect of a prosperous and happy life； but after three
short； bright years of almost perfect joy； his young wife； his
heart's idol； after two days' illness； fluttered out from her
beautiful home； leaving with her broken…hearted husband her little
boy and a baby girl two weeks old。 Then Eugene St。 Clair besought
his sister to come out from England and preside over his home and
care for his children； and that he might forget his grief； he gave
himself； heart and mind； to his business。 Wealth came to him； and
under his sister's rule his home became a place of cultured
elegance and a center of fashionable pleasure。
Miss Frances St。 Clair was a woman of the world； proud of her
family…tree； whose root disappeared in the depths of past centuries；
and devoted to the pursuit and cultivation of those graces and
manners that are supposed to distinguish people of birth and
breeding from the common sort。 Indeed； from common men and things
she shrank almost with horror。 The entrance of 〃trade〃 into the
social sphere of her life she would regard as an impertinent
intrusion。 It was as much as she could bear to allow the approach
of 〃commerce；〃 which her brother represented。 She supposed； of
course； there must be people to carry on the trades and industries
of the countryvery worthy people； toobut these were people one
could not be expected to know。 Miss St。 Clair thanked heaven that
she had had the advantages of an English education and up…bringing；
and she lamented the stubborn democratic opinions of her brother；
who insisted that Harry should attend the public school。 She was
not surprised； therefore； though greatly grieved； that Harry chose
his friends in school with a fine disregard of 〃their people。〃 It
was with surprise amounting to pain that she found herself one day
introduced by her nephew to Billie Barclay； who turned out to be the
son of Harry's favorite confectioner。 To his aunt's remonstrance it
seemed to Harry a sufficient reply that Billy was a 〃brick〃 and a
shining 〃quarter〃 on the school Rugby team。
〃But； Harry； think of his people！〃 urged his aunt。
〃Oh； rot！〃 replied her irreverent nephew； 〃I don't play with his
people。〃
〃Yes； but Harry； you don't expect to make him your friend？〃
〃But he is my friend； and I don't care what his people are。
Besides； I think his governor is a fine old boy； and I know he
gives us jolly good taffy。〃
〃But； Harry；〃 answered his aunt； in despair； 〃you are positively
dreadful。 Why can't you make friends in your own set？ There is
Hubert Evans and the Langford boys。〃
〃Evans！〃 snorted Harry； with contempt； 〃beastly snob； and the
Langfords are regular Mollies！〃 Whereupon Miss St。 Clair gave up
her nephew as impossible。 But Billie did not repeat his visit to
his friend Harry's home。 Miss Frances St。 Clair had a way of
looking through her pince…nez that even a boy could understand and
would seek to avoid。
With Maimie； Miss St。 Clair achieved better results。 She was a
gentle girl； with an affectionate； yielding disposition； tending
towards indolence and self…indulgence。 Her aunt's chief concern
about her was that she should be frocked and mannered as became her
position。 Her education was committed to a very select young
ladies' school； where only the daughters of the first families ever
entered。 What or how they were taught； her aunt never inquired。
She felt quite sure that the lady principal would resent； as indeed
she ought； any such inquiry。 Hence Maimie came to have a smattering
of the English poets； could talk in conversation…book French； and
could dash off most of the no