Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1905 to 1906

L. M. Montgomery, Lucy Maud Montgomery

• Publisher: Read & Co. Classics
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781473316980
• eBook ISBN: 9781473373969

Discover the enchanting world of L. M. Montgomery in this collection of her short stories, published between 1905 and 1906. These timeless tales capture the magic of childhood and the joys and challenges of growing up.

Set in the nostalgic backdrop of Prince Edward Island, these beloved stories introduce readers to new characters and adventures, all imbued with the warmth and charm that have made Montgomery's works best sellers for generations. One of the most cherished Canadian authors, Montgomery brings to life themes of love, loss, growing up, and friendship. Each tale is a sentimental journey, perfect for anyone who enjoys the classic storytelling of Anne Shirley and her friends in the Anne of Green Gables series.

First published between 1905 and 1906, this short story collection is a testament to the enduring legacy of one of literature's most beloved authors, offering a treasure trove of tales that will be cherished for generations to come.

When Jack and Jill Took a Hand

Jack’s Side of It

Jill says I have to begin this story because it was me—I mean it was I—who made all the trouble in the first place. That is so like Jill. She is such a good hand at forgetting. Why, it was she who suggested the plot to me. I should never have thought of it myself—not that Jill is any smarter than I am, either, but girls are such creatures for planning up mischief and leading other folks into it and then laying the blame on them when things go wrong. How could I tell Dick would act so like a mule? I thought grown-up folks had more sense. Aunt Tommy was down on me for weeks, while she thought Jill a regular heroine. But there! Girls don’t know anything about being fair, and I am determined I will never have anything more to do with them and their love affairs as long as I live. Jill says I will change my mind when I grow up, but I won’t.

Still, Jill is a pretty good sort of girl. I have to scold her sometimes, but if any other chap tried to I would punch his head for him.

I suppose it is time I explained who Dick and Aunt Tommy are. Dick is our minister. He hasn’t been it very long. He only came a year ago. I shall never forget how surprised Jill and I were that first Sunday we went to church and saw him. We had always thought that ministers had to be old. All the ministers we knew were. Mr. Grinnell, the one before Dick came, must have been as old as Methuselah. But Dick was young—and good-looking. Jill said she thought it a positive sin for a minister to be so good-looking, it didn’t seem Christian; but that was just because all the ministers we knew happened to be homely so that it didn’t appear natural.

Dick was tall and pale and looked as if he had heaps of brains. He had thick curly brown hair and big dark blue eyes—Jill said his eyes were like an archangel’s, but how could she tell? She never saw an archangel. I liked his nose. It was so straight and finished-looking. Mr. Grinnell had the worst-looking nose you ever saw. Jill and I used to make poetry about it in church to keep from falling asleep when he preached such awful long sermons.

Dick preached great sermons. They were so nice and short. It was such fun to hear him thump the pulpit when he got excited; and when he got more excited still he would lean over the pulpit, his face all white, and talk so low and solemn that it would just send the most gorgeous thrills through you.

Dick came to Owlwood—that’s our place; I hate these explanations—quite a lot, even before Aunt Tommy came. He and Father were chums; they had been in college together and Father said Dick was the best football player he ever knew. Jill and I soon got acquainted with him and this was another uncanny thing. We had never thought it possible to get acquainted with a minister. Jill said she didn’t think it proper for a real live minister to be so chummy. But then Jill was a little jealous because Dick and I, being both men; were better friends than he and she could be. He taught me to skate that winter and fence with canes and do long division. I could never understand long division before Dick came, although I was away on in fractions.

Jill has just been in and says I ought to explain that Dick’s name wasn’t Dick. I do wish Jill would mind her own business. Of course it wasn’t. His real name was the Reverend Stephen Richmond, but Jill and I always called him Dick behind his back; it seemed so jolly and venturesome, somehow, to speak of a minister like that. Only we had to be careful not to let Father and Mother hear us. Mother wouldn’t even let Father call Dick “Stephen”; she said it would set a bad example of familiarity to the children. Mother is an old darling. She won’t believe we’re half as bad as we are.

Well, early in May comes Aunt Tommy. I must explain who Aunt Tommy is or Jill will be at me again. She is Father’s youngest sister and her real name is Bertha Gordon, but Father has always called her Tommy and she likes it.

Jill and I had never seen Aunt Tommy before, but we took to her from the start because she was so pretty and because she talked to us just as if we were grown up. She called Jill Elizabeth, and Jill would adore a Hottentot who called her Elizabeth.

Aunt Tommy is the prettiest girl I ever saw. If Jill is half as good-looking when she gets to be twenty—she’s only ten now, same age as I am, we’re twins—I shall be proud of her for a sister.

Aunt Tommy is all white and dimpled. She has curly red hair and big jolly brown eyes and scrumptious freckles. I do like freckles in a girl, although Jill goes wild if she thinks she has one on her nose. When we talked of writing this story Jill said I wasn’t to say that Aunt Tommy had freckles because it wouldn’t sound romantic. But I don’t care. She has freckles and I think they are all right.

We went to church with Aunt Tommy the first Sunday after she came, one on each side of her. Aunt Tommy is the only girl in the world I’d walk hand in hand with before people. She looked fine that day. She had on a gorgeous dress, all frills and ruffles, and a big white floppy hat. I was proud of her for an aunt, I can tell you, and I was anxious for Dick to see her. When he came up to speak to me and Jill after church came out I said, “Aunt Tommy, this is Mr. Richmond,” just like the grown-up people say. Aunt Tommy and Dick shook hands and Dick got as red as anything. It was funny to see him.

The very next evening he came down to Owlwood. We hadn’t expected him until Tuesday, for he never came Monday night before. That is Father’s night for going to a lodge meeting. Mother was away this time too. I met Dick on the porch and took him into the parlour, thinking what a bully talk we could have all alone together, without Jill bothering around. But in a minute Aunt Tommy came in and she and Dick began to talk, and I just couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I got so disgusted I started out, but I don’t believe they ever noticed I was gone. I liked Aunt Tommy very well, but I didn’t think she had any business to monopolize Dick like that when he and I were such old chums.

Outside I came across Jill. She was sitting all alone in the dark, curled up on the edge of the verandah just where she could see into the parlour through the big glass door. I sat down beside her, for I wanted sympathy.

“Dick’s in there talking to Aunt Tommy,” I said. “I don’t see what makes him want to talk to her.”

“What a goose you ...

Table of contents

• Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1905 to 1906
• Lucy Maud Montgomery
• A Correspondence and A Climax
• An Adventure on Island Rock
• At Five O’Clock in the Morning
• Aunt Susanna’s Birthday Celebration
• Bertie’s New Year
• Between the Hill and the Valley
• Clorinda’s Gifts
• Cyrilla’s Inspiration
• Dorinda’s Desperate Deed
• Her Own People
• Ida’s New Year Cake
• In the Old Valley
• Jane Lavinia
• Mackereling Out in the Gulf
• Millicent’s Double
• The Blue North Room
• The Christmas Surprise at Enderly Road
• The Dissipation of Miss Ponsonby
• The Falsoms’ Christmas Dinner
• The Fraser Scholarship
• The Girl at the Gate
• The Light on the Big Dipper
• The Prodigal Brother
• The Redemption of John Churchill
• The Schoolmaster’s Letters
• The Story of Uncle Dick
• The Understanding of Sister Sara
• The Unforgotten One
• The Wooing of Bessy
• Their Girl Josie
• When Jack and Jill Took a Hand