222 IRature StuMes in Berfc6bire. 



a congregation made up entirely of the village-folk 

 and the farmers from the outlying country, and feel 

 that fellowship which is broader than sect and deep 

 as the spirit of the common Master. There were no 

 summer boarders now to help fill the little church, 

 so that the preacher could come close to his hearers, 

 and speak the more familiarly on the blessed themes 

 of service and love and duty. This winter worship 

 in scenes so fair, on a day so ideal, was an experi- 

 ence to be most carefully cherished in the memory. 

 The service sanctified the day and the day was a 

 benediction upon the service. 



But the winter holiday was not over. Still 

 another exciting episode was to be added to its list 

 of pleasures. The kindly " master of the horse " at 

 the summer hotel was intent upon hospitable things, 

 and out of his brain was evolved the scheme for a 

 January picnic on the mountains. Every summer 

 visitor to this region is expected to go to the wild 

 glen where the water-brooks plunge down Bashbish 

 Falls into the valley of Green River, on their way to 

 the stately Hudson. To Bashbish we must go on a 

 sleigh-ride. The great, four-seated sleigh was at the 

 door by nine o'clock ; nine muffled figures were 

 stowed in its depths ; and with lunch baskets and 

 luggage we started. The day was threatening. The 

 Dome was shrouded in a cloud, the wind was east, 

 the sky was leaden. But the ardour of the picnick- 

 ers was too strong to be cooled by temperature or 

 prognostics of storm, and the expedition moved on 



