A Case of Trespass - Lucy Maud Montgomery - 125 / 365 of reading one short story every day.

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A Case of Trespass


The story is one about honesty and sincerity. Written in Montgomery's traditional pure and crystal clear way with sprinkles of sweetness and depiction of natural beauty, the story of a young Dan and his honest heart will win reader's hearts as it did with her popular Anne novels.

This story is from her collection of Short Stories, 1896 to 1901



Among the tall birches and willows, at Carleton pond, Dan Phillips was fishing for trout. The pond was on the property of a certain new tenant Mr. Walters. Known as a grumpy mister and a hard employer, it was no surprise that the place was without any guests or maiden or kids. This was the general gossip going around the village.

But Dan was not much into gossip. The happy go lucky guy enjoyed the best things provided by the Lord - nature, family and friends. On this particular afternoon, he catches a good amount and then when the sun gets higher, he goes back home. Dan is poor and the family of a widowed mother and a disabled sister, manages on his earnings from odd jobs. But the burdens of life seem light on him as she is always cheery and jolly. While talking to his mother that afternoon, he notices a newspaper ad which mentions a notice by Mr. Walters that 'no trespassers will be entertained on his land and fishing or walking by without permission is punishable. '

Anyone else would have shrugged off the news and used the paper for laying down the fishing rod and angle. But Dan was made of honest soil and truthful nature. His happy face turns to a worrisome look and he decides to go and return the fish back. His mother, as good natured and innocent as him, agrees.


When Dan finally meets Mr.Walters and hesitantly admits his fault, he expects a shouting and a roaring reprimand. The image of the latter was built up with all the assumptions and gossip. But both were in for a pleasant surprise. The old man, though firm and austere, was not as bad as the people made him out to be. Much to the relief of the nervous lad. And Dan was exactly the honest and young man Mr.Walters needed for his place and barn to run.


Not just the value of righteousness but a valuable lesson on the need to stay away from hearsay and muckraking of people, especially without meeting or knowing them.