L M Montgomery : Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner

Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Prince Edward Island on November 30, 1874. She achieved international fame in her lifetime, putting Prince Edward Island and Canada on the world literary stage. Best known for her "Anne of Green Gables" books, she was also a prolific writer of short stories and poetry.

This collection features those stories.

This episode is called Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner

Transcript

Welcome to sleep stories with Steph your go-to podcast. That offers you a calm and relaxing transition. Into a great night's sleep. It is time to relax and fully let go. There is nothing you need to be doing now. And know where you need to go. Close your eyes. And feel yourself sink into the support beneath you. And let all the worries of the day go. Drift away. This is your time. And your space. Take a deep breath in through your nose. And let it out with a long sigh. That's it! There is nothing you need to be doing now. And know where you need to go. Happy listening. Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner. Prissy Baker was in Oscar Miller's store New Year's morning buying matches. For New Year's was not kept as a business holiday in Quincy. When her uncle Richard Baker came in. He did not look at her, Nor did she wish him a Happy New Year. She would not have dared. Uncle Richard had not been on speaking terms with her or her father, His only brother, For eight years. He was a big, Ruddy, Prosperous looking man. An uncle to be proud of, Prissy thought wistfully, If only he were like other people's uncles, Or indeed like what he used to be himself. He was the only uncle Prissy had. And when she'd been a little girl, They'd been great friends. But that was before the quarrel, In which she had had no share, To be sure, Although Uncle Richard seemed to include her in his rancour. Richard Baker, So he informed Mr Miller, Was on his way to Navarre with a load of pork. I didn't intend going over until the afternoon. He said, But Joe Hemming sent word yesterday he wouldn't be buying pork after 12, So I have to tote my hogs over at once. I don't care about doing business New Year's morning. Shouldn't think New Year's would be pretty much the same as any other day to you. Said Mr Miller, For Richard Baker was a bachelor with only Mrs Jane Way to keep house for him. Well, I always like a good dinner on New Year's, " said Richard Baker. It's about the only way I can celebrate. Mrs Janeway wanted to spend the day with her son's family over in Oriental, So I was laying out to cook my own dinner. I got everything in the pantry last night, For I got word about the pause. I won't get back from Lumar before about one o'clock, So I reckon I'll have to put up with a cold bite. After her uncle Richard had driven away, Prissy walked thoughtfully home. She had planned to spend a nice lazy holiday with a new book her father had given her at Christmas and a box of candy. She did not even mean to cook a dinner, For her father had to go to town that morning to meet a friend. And would be gone the whole day. There is no one else to cook dinner for. Prissy's mother had died when Prissy was a baby. She was her father's housekeeper and they'd had jolly times together. But as she walked home, She could not help but think of Uncle Richard. He would certainly have cold New Year cheer, Enough to chill the whole coming year. She felt sorry for him and pictured him returning from Navarre cold and hungry to find a fireless house and an uncooked dinner in the pantry. Suddenly, An idea popped into Prissy's head. There she is. She never could, Could she? But he'd never know. There would be plenty of time. Why not? Prissy hurried home, Put her matches away and took a regretful peep at her unopened book. Then locked the door and started up the road to Uncle Richard's house, Half a mile away. She meant to go and cook his dinner for him, Get it all beautifully ready, Then slip away before he came home. He would never suspect her of it. Prissy would not have him suspect for the world. She thought he would be more likely to throw dinner off her cooking out of doors than to eat it. 8 years before this. When Prissy had been nine years old, Richard and Irving Baker had quarrelled over the division of a piece of property. The fault had been mainly on Richard's side, And that very fact made him all the more unrelenting and stubborn. He had never spoken to his brother since, And he had declared that he never would. Prissy and her father felt very badly over that. But Uncle Richard did not seem to feel badly at all. To all appearances, He'd completely forgotten there were such people in the world as his brother and his niece. Prissy had no trouble in breaking into Uncle Richard's house, For the woodshed door was unfastened. She tripped into the hostile kitchen with rosy cheeks and mischief sparkling in her eyes. This was an adventure. This was fun. She would tell her father all about it when he came home that night. And what a laugh they would have! She looked in the stove. There was still a good fire. And in the pantry she found the dinner in its raw state. A fine roast of fresh pork, Potatoes, Cabbage, Turnips and the ingredients of a raisin pudding For Richard Baker was fond of raisin puddings. And he could make them as well as Mrs Janeway could. If that was anything to boast of. In a short time, The kitchen was full of bubblings and hissings and appetizing odors. Prissy enjoyed herself hugely, And the raisin pudding which she rather doubtfully mixed up, Behaved itself beautifully. Uncle Richard said he'd be home by one, Said Prissy to herself as the clock struck twelve. I'll just set the table now, Dish up the dinner and leave it where it will be kept warm until he gets here. Then I'll slip away home. I'd love to see his face when he steps in. I suppose he'll think one of the Jenner girls across the streets cooked his dinner for him. Prissy soon had the table set and she was just peppering the turnips when a gruff voice behind her said, Well, Well, What does this mean? Prissy whirled round as if she'd been shocked. And there stood Uncle Richard in the woodshed door. Poor Prissy. She could not have looked or felt more guilty if Uncle Richard had caught her robbing his desk. She did not drop the turnips for a wonder, But she was too confused to set them down, So she stood there holding them, Her face crimson, Her heart thumping, And a horrible choking in her throat. I came to cook your dinner for you, Uncle Richard. She's damaged. I heard you say in the store Mrs Janeway's gone home and you had no one to cook your New Year's dinner for you. So I thought I'd come and do it. But I meant to slip away before you came home. Paul Prissy felt she would never get to the end of her explanation. Would her uncle be angry? Would he order her from the house? It was very kind of you, " said Uncle Richard dryly. It's a wonder your father lets you come. Father was not at home. But I'm sure he would not have prevented me if he had been. Father has no hard feelings against you, Uncle Richard. Said Uncle Richard. Well, Since you've cooked the dinner, You might as well stop and help me eat it. It smells fine, I must say. Mrs Janeway always burns the pork when she roasts it. Sit down now, Prissy. I'm hungry. They sat down together. Prissy felt quite giddy and breathless and could hardly eat for excitement. But Uncle Richard had evidently brought home a good appetite from Navarre, And he did full justice to his New Year's dinner. He talked to Prissy too, Quite kindly and politely. And when the meal was over he said slowly, I'm much obliged to you, My niece. I don't mind owning you, I'm sorry for my share in the quarrel. I've wanted to speak to you for a long time and be friends with your father again. But I was too ashamed and proud to make the first advance. You can tell him so for me if you like. And if he's willing to let bygones be bygones. Tell him I'd like him to come up here with you tonight when he gets home and spend the evening with me. He will, Come I know, Cried Prissy joyfully. He's felt so badly about not being friendly with you, Uncle Richard. I'm as glad as can be too. Brissie ran impulsively around the table and kissed her uncle. And he looks up at his tall girlish niece with a smile of pleasure. You're a good girl and a kind-hearted one too. Or you'd never have come up here to cook a dinner for a crabbed old uncle who deserved to eat cold dinners for his stubbornness. It made me cross today when folks wished me a Happy New Year. They seemed like they were mocking me when I had a soul belonging to me to make it happy. But now it's brought me happiness already, And I believe it will be a happy new year all the way through. Indeed it will, Laughed Prissy. I'm so happy now I could sing. I believed it was an inspiration. My idea of coming up here to cook your dinner for you, That is. You must promise to come and cook my New Year's dinner for me. Every New Year, We live near enough together. Said Uncle Richard. You've made a delight of it. And in the spirit of the New Year. Prissy promised him just that.