It was so unlike the religion of the elders and all the good people in the congregation.

It was a great puzzle to Ranald, as to many others, both before and since his time.
After tea was over the great business of the evening came on.

Ranald announced that the taffy was ready, and Don, as master of ceremonies, immediately cried out: "The gentlemen will provide the ladies with plates." "Plates!" echoed the boys, with a laugh of derision.
"Plates," repeated Don, stepping back to a great snowbank, near a balsam clump, and returning with a piece of "crust." At once there was a scurry to the snowbank, and soon every one had a snow plate ready.

Then Ranald and Don slid the little kettle along the pole off the fire, and with tin dippers began to pour the hot syrup upon the snow plates, where it immediately hardened into taffy.

Then the pulling began.