Запретный лес

           Thebigloose-limbedfigureofAmos,stridingdownthetwilitslopeswithhisbagoftoolsslungonhisshoulder,wasapleasantsighttoeyesthathungeredforafriend.ForwiththesmithDavidhadadvancedfarinfriendlinesssincetheirpartnershipinthewintersnowstorm.Themanwasofahighspiritandacompletehonesty,andhisprofessionswerewellbehindhispractice.Roughoftongueandaptinaquarrel,hehadawarmthofheartthatdidnotfaileventhosehedespised.Hewasnopurveyorofedifyingspeech,butthemilkofhumankindnessranstronginhim.Itwasasayinginthevillagethattherewas"maircomfortinanaithfromAmosthanaprayerfromPeterPennecuik."

           Butonthisoccasionthesmith’sstraightforwardfriendlinessseemedtohavedesertedhim.WhenDavidappearedbeforehimhelookedasifhewouldfainhaveavoidedthemeeting.Hiseyesweretroubled,andheincreasedthepaceofhiswalkwhentheministerfellintostepbesidehim.

           "How’sthewife?"Davidasked.

           "Fine,sir.Herkist’sstronger,andI’mhopin’thesimmerwillpitcolourintilhercheek."Butashespokehiseyeswereonadistanthill.

           "Iwantawordwithyou,Amos.YouandIare,Ibelieve,truefriends,andIcanspeaktoyouastoabrother.Ihavebecomeawareofahorridevilinthisparish.ThereisthatintheWoodwhichtemptsmenandwomentoabominations.WiththeseeyesofmineIsawitonBeltane’sEve."

           Therewasnoanswer.

           "Youwereinthekirkyesterday,Amos,andyouheardmysermon.ThedecisionisonWoodileetochoosewhomtheywillserve.