About a month ago, workmen at the Creamery, the museum of the Skaneateles Historical Society, found a duck sitting on eggs in a dark corner, hidden by construction materials from the new expansion. It was not the quietest of spots for a nest, but the workmen made every effort not to disturb the mother-to-be while they created a new home for historic boats.

Yesterday, Laurie Winship, director of the Creamery, and David Bates, an Historical Society board member, found that three ducklings had hatched and that the mother was trying to get them down to the creek behind the museum.

But there was a step up that the ducklings could not negotiate. And so Winship and Bates, both members of our St. James’ congregation, did the right thing by the ducklings; they found a box, lifted the little ones into it and, allowing the nervous mother always to see what they were doing, carried them outdoors.

Outside, they sat the box down and ushered the ducklings back into their mother’s care. The father duck was waiting at the water’s edge, where he had been keeping vigil for the past month, and in a moment the family of five was together, and paddled off.

I am sure that Heaven Points have been lavished upon Mr. Toppie, husband of our Assistant Rector, and upon Laurie Winship, an alto in the choir.