Chapter XXVII: Mid-Winter

"HERE is the first Sunday in December, Mary!" said Tom, as he went to draw the curtains. "We may as well sit in the firelight till the tea comes in."

"Yes, do let us!" said Nancy with a contented sort of sigh, as she nestled up close to her sister and laid her head on her shoulder.

"It will soon be the shortest day," remarked Mary. "I do love the shortest day!"

"Why?" asked Cecil.

"Because I always feel as if 'the summer had begun,'" smiled Mary.

"In mid-winter?" asked Cecil.

"Yes. When the shortest day comes, I say to myself, 'My summer has begun.' You cannot think how, to rejoice in the lengthening days, seems to shorten the winter!"

"I daresay it does," said Tom reflectively.

"Every bit of hopefulness does one good, you know," Mary went on softly. "You laugh at me for quoting 'Pa Gladden' so often, but he says 'Human nature air always huntin' for the cheerful,' and I have noticed that cheery people bring sunshine."

"I know one thing," said Cecil, "gloomy people are never liked."

"Well, there is no better way of being cheerful than to have a firm hope in God," said Mary. "I was reading the other day one verse with a whole list of names, that David, in exulting thankfulness, calls the Lord his God. Just listen to them, and see if your heart does not grow stronger and braver and more hopeful as I repeat them—"

Mary's little Bible was tucked into her workbasket close handy, and she leant down toward the blaze of the fire to read the very words.

"'The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;
my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust;
my Buckler, and the horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower.'"

"A pretty good list!" said Cecil smiling. "Where is it, Mary?"

"The second verse of the eighteenth Psalm."

"All in one verse?" asked Nancy.

"All in one verse! That is a verse for those who are out in the world, fighting the everyday battles; and there is another for the weak and tired ones, that is just as wonderful—"

"Well, let's have it," said Tom in his blunt hearty fashion, "then we can take our choice."

Mary turned over the leaves rapidly, and her gentle face glowed in the firelight as she read from the 32nd of Isaiah:

"'And a man shall be as an Hiding-place from the wind;
and a Covert from the tempest;
as Rivers of Water in a dry place;
as the Shadow of a Great Rock in a weary land.'"

The little head that rested on Mary's shoulder nestled closer, as Nancy murmured, "That's a nice one for the shortest day; and the other one will do for the New Year!"

THE END