At the Bay Shore Farm - from the collection of stories of Montgomery of 1904
. The collection of stories of this book are a pleasant read invoking feeling of home, the goodness of friendships and family matters. Written in Montgomery's easy style, they are all endearing to the reader's heart.
Picnic, sisterhood and meeting a dream author.
Three words enough to pique my interest in this short story called At the Bay Shore Farm. The Newburys are all ready to attend the governor's picnic in the coming week. The picnic is the highlight of the day at Claymont. With the small village and its families, the Governor has some exciting activities for the children. The Newbury teens are thrilled and the elder sisters Frances and Cecilia are debating what they would want to do at the picnic.
In comes Mrs. Newbury and delivers a news that their grandmother at a nearby town, Ashland, wants to send her birthday with one of her grandchildren. Utter gloom spreads on the kids' faces. But gradually everyone looks at Cecilia - the understanding and noble Cecilia who is known to give up her wishes for her siblings and friends. However, she is adamant to stay back because she hopes to meet her best friend Dan after a gap of many years. Fran wants to meet her favorite author Sara Beaumont as she is an ardent admirer. Though she had never seen her photograph, (since authors usually didn't share their profiles then.)
And so the joy of picnic wanes away and the argument starts as to who will go to Granny's. The boys conveniently slip away leaving Fran and Cec to sort out. They go to bed without deciding anything.
Next day when Cec wakes up, and finds a note from Fran that she is going to Ashland. Further Fran writes that 'you have monopoly of giving up things and this time I wont allow it.' Showing her kindness unexpectedly made Cec's heart and eyes brim over.
At Bay Shore farm with her granny, Fran has a lovely time at arrival. Totally taken back at Fran's arrival Granny wonders how the mild selfishness in this sister disappeared as she knew that Cecilia was known as the self sacrificing monk! Granny considered the girl's gesture as a double gift along with her coming.
There was a pleasant surprise for Fran at Ashland. A visitor, Mrs. Kennedy, had dropped by to meet Granny and the three women had a lovely afternoon tea. Later Granny sent them off for a walk. Fran, in the course of the conversation in the walk, shared her dreams of being an author and idolizing Mrs. Beaumont. Mrs. Kennedy advised her that the glamor of writers are only attained after a lot of hard work. Thus a beautiful afternoon was spent.
On their return, Granny broke the lovely surprise that Mrs Kennedy was actually Sara Beaumont. Fran's kindness was rewarded and she understood that the universe created by God does bring the bounty out of goodness and blessings.
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