unlike the Sabbath of her home； which； after the formal 〃church
parade；〃 as Harry called it； in the morning； her father spent in
lounging with his magazine and pipe； her aunt in sleeping or in
social gossip with such friends as might drop in； and Harry and
Maimie as best they could。
The Sabbath in the minister's house； as in the homes of his people；
was a day so set apart from other days that it had to be approached。
The Saturday afternoon and evening caught something of its
atmosphere。 No frivolity； indeed no light amusement； was proper
on the evening that put a period to the worldly occupations and
engagements of the week。 That evening was one of preparation。 The
house； and especially the kitchen； was thoroughly 〃redd up。〃 Wood；
water； and kindlings were brought in； clothes were brushed； boots
greased or polished； dinner prepared； and in every way possible the
whole house； its dwellers； and its belongings； made ready for the
morrow。 So； when the Sabbath morning dawned； people awoke with a
feeling that old things had passed away and that the whole world was
new。 The sun shone with a radiance not known on other days。 He was
shining upon holy things； and lighting men and women to holy duties。
Through all the farms the fields lay bathed in his genial glow； at
rest； and the very trees stood in silent worship of the bending
heavens。 Up from stable and from kitchen came no sounds of work。
The horses knew that no wheel would turn that day in labor； and the
dogs lay sleeping in sunny nooks； knowing as well as any that there
was to be no hunting or roaming for them that day； unless they chose
to go on a free hunt； which none but light…headed puppies or
dissipated and reprobate dogs would care to do。
Over all things rest brooded； and out of the rest grew holy
thoughts and hopes。 It was a day of beginnings。 For the past；
broken and stained； there was a new offer of oblivion and healing；
and the heart was summoned to look forward to new life and to hope
for better things； and to drink in all those soothing； healing
influences that memory and faith combine to give； so that when the
day was done； weary and discouraged men and women began to feel
that； perhaps after all they might be able to endure and even to
hope for victory。
The minister rose earlier on Sabbath than on other days； the
responsibility of his office pressing hard upon him。 Breakfast was
more silent than usual； ordinary subjects of conversation being
discouraged。 The minister was preoccupied and impatient of any
interruption of his thoughts。 But his wife came to the table with
a sweeter serenity than usual； and a calm upon her face that told
of hidden strength。 Even Maimie could notice the difference； but
she could only wonder。 The secret of it was hidden from her。 Her
aunt was like no other woman that she knew； and there were many
things about her too deep for Maimie's understanding。
After worship； which was brief but solemn and intense； Lambert
hurried to bring round to the front the big black horse； hitched up
in the carryall； and they all made speed to pack themselves in；
Maimie and her aunt in front； and Hughie on the floor behind with
his legs under the seat； for when once the minister was himself
quite ready； and had got his great meerschaum pipe going； it was
unsafe for any one to delay him a single instant。
The drive to the church was an experience hardly in keeping with
the spirit of the day。 It was more exciting than restful。 Black
was a horse with a single aim； which was to devour the space that
stretched out before him； with a fine disregard of consequence。
The first part of the road up to the church hill and down again to
the swamp was to Black； as to the others； an unmixed joy； for he
was fresh from his oats and eager to go； and his driver was as
eager to let him have his will。
But when the swamp was reached； and the buggy began to leap from
log to log of the corduroy； Black began to chafe in impatience of
the rein which commanded caution。 Indeed； the passage of the swamp
was always more or less of an adventure； the result of which no one
could foretell； and it took all Mrs。 Murray's steadiness of nerve
to repress an exclamation of terror at critical moments。 The
corduroy was Black's abomination。 He longed to dash through and
be done with it； but； however much the minister sympathized with
Black's desire； prudence forbade that his method should be adopted。
So from log to log； and from hole to hole； Black plunged and
stepped with all the care he could be persuaded to exercise； every
lurch of the carryall bringing a scream from Maimie in front and a
delighted chuckle from Hughie behind。 His delight in the adventure
was materially increased by his cousin's terror。
But once the swamp was crossed； and Black found himself on the firm
road that wound over the sand…hills and through the open pine
woods； he tossed his great mane back from his eyes； and getting his
head set off at a pace that foreboded disaster to anything trying
to keep before him； and in a short time drew up at the church
gates； his flanks steaming and his great chest white with foam。
〃My！〃 said Maimie； when she had recovered her breath sufficiently
to speak； 〃is that the church？〃 She pointed to a huge wooden
building about whose door a group of men were standing。
〃Huh…huh； that's it；〃 said Hughie； 〃but we will soon be done with
the ugly old thing。〃
The most enthusiastic member of the congregation could scarcely
call the old church beautiful； and to Maimie's eyes it was
positively hideous。 No steeple or tower gave any hint of its
sacred character。 Its weather…beaten clapboard exterior； spotted
with black knots； as if stricken with some disfiguring disease； had
nothing but its row of uncurtained windows to distinguish it from
an ordinary barn。
They entered by the door at the end of the church； and proceeded
down the long aisle that ran the full length of the building； till
they came to a cross aisle that led them to the minister's pew at
the left side of the pulpit； and commanding a view of the whole
congregation。 The main body of the church was seated with long box
pews with hinged doors。 But the gallery that ran round three sides
was fitted with simple benches。 Immediately in front of the pulpit
was a square pew which was set apart for the use of the elders； and
close up to the pulpit； and indeed as part of this structure； was a
precentor's desk。 The pulpit was； to Maimie's eyes； a wonder。 It
was an octagonal box placed high on one side of the church on a
level with the gallery； and reached by a spiral staircase。 Above
it hung the highly ornate and altogether extraordinary sounding…
board and canopy。 There was no sign of paint anywhere； but the
yellow pine； of which seats； gallery； and pulpit were all made； had
deepened with age into a rich brown； not unpleasant to the eye。
The church was full； for the Indian Lands people believed in going
to church； and there was not a house for many miles around but was
represented in the church that day。 There they sat； row upon row
of men； brawny and brown with wind and sun； a notable company；
worthy of their ancestry and worthy of their heritage。 Beside them
sat their wives； brown； too； and weather…beaten； but strong； deep…
bosomed； and with faces of calm content； worthy to be mothers of
their husbands' sons。 The girls and younger children sat with
their parents； modest； shy； and reverent； but the young men； for
the most part； filled the back seats under the gallery。 And a
hardy lot they were； as brown and brawny as their fathers； but
tingling with life to their finger…tips； ready for anything； and
impossible of control except by one whom they feared as well as
reverenced。 And such a man was Alexander Murray； for they knew
well that； lithe and brawny as they were； there was not a man of
them but he could fling out of the door and over the fence if he so
wished； and they knew； too； that he would be prompt to do it if
occasion arose。 Hence they waited for the word of God with all due
reverence and fear。
In the square pew in front of the pulpit sat the elders； hoary；
massive； and venerable。 The Indian Lands Session were worth
seeing。 Great men they were； every one of them； excepting；
perhaps； Kenneth Campbell； 〃Kenny Crubach；〃 as he was called； from
his halting step。 Kenny was neither hoary nor massive nor
venerable。 He was a short； grizzled man with snapping black eyes
and a tongue for clever； biting speech； and while he bore a
stainless character； no one thought of him as an eminently godly
man。 In public prayer he never attained any great length； nor did
he employ that tone of unction deemed suitable in this sacred
exercise。 He seldom 〃spoke to the question；〃 but when he did
people leaned forward to listen； and more especially the rows of
the careless and ungodly under the gallery。 Kenny had not the look
of an elder； and indeed； many wondered how he had ever come to be
chosen for the office。 But the others all had the look of elders；
and carried with them the full respect and affection of the
congregation。 Even the young men under the gallery regarded them
with reverence for their godly character； but for other things as
well； for these old men had been famous in their day； and tales
were still told about the firesides of the people of their prowess
in the woods and on the river。
There was； for instance； Finlay McEwen； or McKeowen； as they all
pronounced it in that country； who； for a wager； had carried a
four…hundred…pound barrel upon each hip across the long bridge over
the Scotch River。 And next him sat Donald Ross； whose very face；
with its halo of white hair； bore benediction with it wherever he
went。 What a man he must have been in his day！ Six feet four
inches he stood in his stocking soles； and with 〃a back like a barn
door；〃 as his son Danny； or 〃Curly；〃 now in the shanty with
Macdonald Bhain； used to say； in affectionate pride。 Then there
was Farquhar McNaughton； big； kindly； and good…natured； a mighty
man with the ax in his time。 〃Kirsty's Farquhar〃 they called him；
for obvious reasons。 And a good thing for Farquhar it was that he