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Never did the country look so lovely。 The woods were in their
gayest autumn dress； the brown fields were bathed in a purple haze；
the air was sweet and fresh with a suspicion of the coming frosts
of winter。 But in spite of all the road seemed long； and it was as
if hours had gone before our eyes fell upon the white manse
standing among the golden leaves。
'Let them go；' I cried； as Graeme paused to take in the view； and
down the sloping dusty road we flew on the dead run。
'Reminds one a little of Abe's curves；' said Graeme； as we drew up
at the gate。 But I answered him not； for I was introducing to each
other the two best women in the world。 As I was about to rush into
the house； Graeme seized me by the collar； saying
'Hold on； Connor！ you forget your place； you're next。'
'Why； certainly；' I cried； thankfully enough； 'what an ass I am！'
'Quite true；' said Graeme solemnly。
'Where is he？' I asked。
'At this present moment？' he asked； in a shocked voice。 'Why；
Connor； you surprise me。'
'Oh； I see！'
'Yes；' he went on gravely； 'you may trust my mother to be
discreetly attending to her domestic duties； she is a great woman；
my mother。'
I had no doubt of it； for at that moment she came out to us with
little Marjorie in her arms。
'You have shown Mrs。 Mavor to her room； mother； I hope；' said
Graeme； but she only smiled and said
'Run away with your horses； you silly boy；' at which he solemnly
shook his head。 'Ah； mother； you are deepwho would have thought
it of you？'
That evening the manse overflowed with joy； and the days that
followed were like dreams set to sweet music。
But for sheer wild delight； nothing in my memory can quite come up
to the demonstration organised by Graeme； with assistance from
Nixon； Shaw； Sandy； Abe； Geordie； and Baptiste； in honour of the
arrival in camp of Mr。 and Mrs。 Craig。 And； in my opinion； it
added something to the occasion； that after all the cheers for Mr。
and Mrs。 Craig had died away； and after all the hats had come down；
Baptiste； who had never taken his eyes from that radiant face；
should suddenly have swept the crowd into a perfect storm of cheers
by excitedly seizing his tuque； and calling out in his shrill
voice
'By gar！ Tree cheer for Mrs。 Mavor。'
And for many a day the men of Black Rock would easily fall into the
old and well…loved name； but up and down the line of construction；
in all the camps beyond the Great Divide； the new name became as
dear as the old had ever been in Black Rock。
Those old wild days are long since gone into the dim distance of
the past。 They will not come again； for we have fallen into quiet
times； but often in my quietest hours I feel my heart pause in its
beat to hear again that strong； clear voice； like the sound of a
trumpet； bidding us to be men； and I think of them allGraeme；
their chief； Sandy； Baptiste； Geordie； Abe； the Campbells； Nixon；
Shaw； all stronger； better for their knowing of him； and then I
think of Billy asleep under the pines； and of old man Nelson with
the long grass waving over him in the quiet churchyard； and all my
nonsense leaves me； and I bless the Lord for all His benefits； but
chiefly for the day I met the missionary of Black Rock in the
lumber…camp among the Selkirks。
End