So when the Good Samaritan had attended to all on the Jericho Road
there was not much time left, and the church bells were ringing when
they drove under the green tunnel of Elm Street; the Anglican, high,
resonant and silvery, the Presbyterian, with a slow, deep boom, and
between the two, and harmonising with both, the mellow, even roll of
the Methodist bell. The call of the bells was being given a generous
obedience, for already the streets were crowded with people. From the
hills to the north and the west, from the level plain to the south they
came, on foot, and in buggies. Even the people who lived across the
lake or away down the shore were there, some having crossed the water
in boats or launches. This means of conveyance, however, was regarded
with some disfavour, as it too perilously resembled Sunday boating.
The matter had even been brought up in the session by Mr. McPherson,
who declared he objected to it, for there was no good reason why
Christian people could not walk on the earth the Almighty had provided
for them, on the Sabbath day.
Roderick put away the horse into the shed, smiling tenderly when he
found his father waiting at the gate for him. He wanted to walk around
to the church door with his boy, so that they might meet his friends
together. They were received in a manner worthy of the occasion, for
the four elders who were ushering all left their posts and came forward
to greet Angus McRae, knowing something of what a great day in his life
this Sabbath was. J. P. Thornton and Jock McPherson ushered on one
side of the church, Lawyer Ed and Captain McTavish on the other, a very
fitting arrangement, which mingled the old and the new schools. Only
Lawyer Ed could never be kept in his own place, but ran all over the
church and ushered wheresoever he pleased.