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； 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。 Then the buds break for very joy；
and timid green things push up through the leaf…mold； and from the
swamps the little frogs begin to pipe； at first in solo； but soon
in exultant chorus； till the whole moist night is vocal； and then
every one knows that the sugar time is over； and troughs and spiles
are gathered up； and with sap…barrels and kettles； are stored in
the back shed for another year。
But no rain came before the night fixed for the sugaring…off。 It
was a perfect sugar day； warm； bright； and still； following a night
of sharp frost。 The long sunny afternoon was deepening into
twilight when the Camerons drove up to the sugar…camp in their big
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
there a hillside facing the east lay in shadow that grew black
where the balsams and cedars stood in clumps。 But everywhere else
the light fell sweet and silent about the bare trunks； filling the
long avenues under the arching maple limbs with a yellow haze。
In front of the shanty the kettles hung over the fire on a long
pole which stood in an upright crutch at either end。 Under the big
kettle the fire was roaring high； for the fresh sap needed much
boiling before the syrup and taffy could come。 But under the
little kettle the fire burned low； for that must not be hurried。
Over the fire and the kettles Ranald presided； black； grimy； and
silent； and to Don fell the duty of doing the honors of the camp；
and right worthily did he do his part。 He greeted his mother with
reverence； cuffed his young brother； kissed his little sister
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 Dan；〃
redheaded； freckled； and irrepressible； the McGregors； and a dozen
or more of the wildest youngsters that could be found in all the
Indian Lands。 Depositing their baskets in the shanty； for they had
no thought of fasting； they crowded about the fire。
〃Attention！〃 cried Don； who had a 〃gift of the gab；〃 as his mother
said。 〃Ladies and gentlemen； the program for this evening is as
follows： games； tea； and taffy； in the order mentioned。 In the
first； all MUST take part； in the second； all MAY take part； but in
the third； none NEED take part。〃
After the laughter and the chorus of 〃Ohs〃 had subsided； Don
proceeded： 〃The captains for the evening are； Elizabeth Campbell；
better known as 'Betsy Dan；' and John Finlayson； familiar to us all
as 'Johnnie the Widow；' two young people of excellent character；
and I believe； slightly known to each other。〃
Again a shout went up from the company； but Betsy Dan； who cared
not at all for Don's banter； contented herself with pushing out her
lower lip at him with scorn； in that indescribable manner natural
to girls； but to boys impossible。
Then the choosing began。 Betsy Dan； claiming first choice by
virtue of her sex； immediately called out； 〃Ranald Macdonald。〃
But Ranald shook his head。 〃I cannot leave the fire；〃 he said；
blushing； 〃take Don there。〃
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。〃
〃Marget Aird！〃 cried Betsy； spying Marget and her brothers coming
down the road。 〃Come along； Marget； you are on my sideon Don's
side； I mean。〃 At which poor Marget； a tall； fair girl； with sweet
face and shy manner； blushed furiously； but； after greeting the
minister's wife and the rest of the older people； she took her
place beside Don。
The choosing went on till every one present was taken； not even
Aunt Kirsty being allowed to remain neutral in the coming games。
For an hour the sports went on。 Racing； jumping； bear； London
bridge； crack the whip； and lastly； forfeits。
Meantime Ranald superintended the sap…boiling； keeping on the
opposite side of the fire from the ladies； and answering in
monosyllables any questions 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 to Ranald； said： 〃Now；
Ranald； I came to learn all about sugar…making； and while the
others are making tea； I want you to teach me how to make sugar。〃
Ranald gladly agreed to show her all he knew。 He had been feeling
awkward and miserable in the noisy crowd； but especially in the
presence of Maimie。 He had not forgotten the smile of amusement
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 arise
within him； and he was driven into wretched silence and self…
abasement。 It was； therefore； with peculiar gratitude that he
turned to Mrs。 Murray as to one who both understood and trusted
him。
〃I thank you for the books； Mrs。 Murray；〃 he began； in a low；
hurried voice。 〃They are just wonderful。 That Rob Roy and
Ivanhoe； oh！ they are the grand books。〃 His face was fairly
blazing with enthusiasm。 〃I never knew there were such books at
all。〃
〃I am very glad you like them； Ranald；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； in tones
of warm sympathy； 〃and I shall give you as many as you like。〃
〃I cannot thank you enough。 I have not the words；〃 said the boy；
looking as if he might fall down at her feet。 Mrs。 Murray was
greatly touched both by his enthusiasm and his gratitude。
〃It is a great pleasure to me； Ranald； that you like them；〃 she
said； earnestly。 〃I want you to love good books and good men and
noble deeds。〃
Ranald stood listening in silence。
〃Then some day you will be a good and great man yourself；〃 she
added； 〃and you will do some noble work。〃
The boy stood looking far away into the woods； his black eyes
filled with a mysterious fire。 Suddenly he threw back his head and
said； as if he had forgotten Mrs。 Murray's presence； 〃Yes； some day
I will be a great man。 I know it well。〃
〃And good；〃 softly added Mrs。 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。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； with determination。
〃Well； here it is。〃
He seized a bucket； went to another tree； emptied the sap from the
trough into the bucket； and thence into the barrel； and from the
barrel into the big kettle。
〃Then from the big kettle into the little one；〃 he said； catching
up a big dipper tied to a long pole； and transferring the boiling
sap as he spoke from one kettle to another。
〃But how can you tell when it is ready？〃 asked Mrs。 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？〃
〃Then；〃 he said； 〃you must quickly knock the fire from under it；
and pour it into the pans； stirring it till it gets nearly cool。〃
〃And why do you stir it？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； to keep it from getting too hard。〃
〃Now I have learned something I never knew before；〃 said the
minister's wife； delightedly； 〃and I am very grateful to you。
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 togoing 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。 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 canit
will not hurt herand leave the young lady alone。〃
〃It's just horrid of them； auntie；〃 said Maimie； indignantly； as
the others