"
As twilight deepened into evening the members of the family all assembled
in the grandmother's room, and a home-like feeling came over Elsie as she
saw Mr. McDonald open the big Bible that rested on a small table near the
grandmother's chair, and read, in his rich Scotch accents, the evening
psalms. Then they quietly knelt, all except the grandmother, who, rising
slowly to her feet and leaning on her staff, offered up the evening prayer.
It made Dexie think of the patriarchs of old, who blessed their families
"leaning on their staffs for very age." Then the family said good-night to
the grandmother, and the polished candlesticks that decorated the mantle
shelf were taken down by the farmer's wife and a lighted candle set in
each; these were then handed to the different members of the family, who
passed out of the room in single file, very much after the manner of a
diminutive torch-light procession.
The family were supposed to retire to their own rooms at once, as "early to
bed" was the rule of the farmhouse, but the laughing group of girls all
assembled in one room for a friendly chat before retiring.
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