Bedtime Story: Bertie's New Year

Tonight we're going to embark on a journey of relaxation as we prepare both mind and body for a restful snooze. I will be reading a delightful short story by Canada’s most treasured authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery. She’s the author of the beloved “Anne of Green Gables” series and her work encapsulates her talent for creating vivid imagery while evoking a sense of nostalgia. As we welcome a brand new year, I’ve chosen to read Bertie’s New Year and I hope you enjoy it!

Happy New Year my sleepy listeners! And may you have the sweetest dreams the whole year through! Cheers to you all!

Your friend,
Joanne

Attributions

*All music used in this episode is via Epidemic Sound
1. Intro music: 'Lane of Tranquility' by Dawn Dawn Dawn
2. Settling in: 'Drift Up' by Amber Glow
3. Story music: 'Moon Over the Sea' by Sayuri Hayashi Egnell

Story 'Bertie's New Year' (by Lucy Maud Montgomery) resides in the public domain

Transcript

Tonight,

We're going to embark on a journey of relaxation as we prepare both body and mind for a restful snooze.

I'll be reading for you a delightful short story by Canada's most treasured authors,

Lucy Maud Montgomery,

The author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series.

Her work encapsulates her talent for creating vivid imagery while evoking a sense of nostalgia.

So I've chosen to read for you Bertie's New Year and I hope you enjoy it.

Before we begin,

Take a moment to settle into your cozy bed so you can feel comfortable as you begin to unwind and let go of the stressors of the day.

And going at your own pace and rhythm,

Begin by taking a few slow deep breaths to give signal to your body and mind that it is safe to relax and let go.

So breathing into a comfortable fullness and then holding the breath for a count of three and then releasing the breath fully on the exhale.

So you can do this a few times at your own pace and comfort level.

Slow deep breathing stimulates the relaxation response and will help calm your mind and body as we prepare for this bedtime story to help you ease into a restful sleep.

And now allow the breath to come back to normal and just continue to relax as you lie here on your comfy bed.

Allow that feeling of relaxation that has been elicited to spread through you,

Helping you let go more and more,

Sinking deeper and deeper down into the softness of your sheets as though your sheets are a soft cloud that cradles your body,

Helping you feel safe,

Secure and supported.

Tension,

Worries and concerns slowly fade away as you let go fully into this moment.

My friend,

There is nothing else to do and nowhere else to be,

So just lie back,

Relax and enjoy the story.

He stood on the sagging doorstep and looked out on the snowy world.

His hands were clasped behind him,

And his thin face wore a thoughtful,

Puzzled look.

The door behind him opened jerkingly,

And a scowling woman came out with a pan of dishwater in her hand.

Ain't you gone yet,

Bert?

She said sharply.

What in the world are you hanging around for?

It's early yet,

Said Bertie,

Cheerfully.

I thought maybe George Fraser would be along,

And I'd get a lift as far as the store.

Well,

I never saw such laziness.

No wonder old Samson won't keep you longer than the holidays,

If you're no smarter than that.

Goodness,

If I don't settle that boy,

As the sound of fretful crying came from the kitchen behind her.

What's wrong with William John,

Asked Bertie.

Why,

He wants to go out coasting with those Robinson boys,

But he can't.

He hasn't got any mittens,

And he would catch his death of cold again.

Her voice seemed to imply that William John had died of cold several times already.

Bertie looked soberly down at his old,

Well-darned mittens.

But it was very cold,

And he would have a great many errands to run.

He shivered,

And looked up at his aunt's hard face as she stood wiping her dishpan with a grim frown which boded no good to the discontented William John.

Then he suddenly pulled off his mittens and held them out.

Here,

He can have mine.

I'll get on without them well enough.

Nonsense,

Said Mrs.

Ross,

But less unkindly.

The fingers would freeze off you.

Don't be a goose.

It's all right,

Persisted Bertie.

I don't need them much,

And William John doesn't hardly ever get out.

He thrust them into her hand,

And ran quickly down the street,

As though he feared that the keen air might make him change his mind in spite of himself.

He had to stop a great many times that day to breathe on his purple hands.

Still,

He did not regret having lent his mittens to William John,

Poor,

Pale,

Sickly little William John who had so few pleasures.

It was sunset when Bertie laid an armful of parcels down on the steps of Dr.

Forbes' handsome house.

His back was turned towards the big bay window at one side,

And he was busy trying to warm his hands,

So he did not see the two small faces looking at him through the frosty panes.

Just look at that poor little boy,

Amy,

Said the taller of the two.

He's almost frozen,

I believe.

Why doesn't Caroline hurry and open the door?

There she goes now,

Said Amy.

Betty,

Couldn't we coax her to let him come in and get warm?

He looks so cold.

And she drew her sister out into the hall,

Where the housekeeper was taking Bertie's parcels.

Caroline,

Whispered Edith timidly,

Please tell that poor little fellow to come in and get warm.

He looks very cold.

He's used to the cold,

Said the housekeeper,

Rather impatiently.

It won't hurt him.

But it's Christmas week,

Said Edith gravely.

And you know,

Caroline,

When Mama was here,

She used to say that we ought to be particularly thoughtful of others who were not so happy or well off as we were at this time.

Perhaps Edith's reference to her mother softened Caroline,

For she turned to Bertie and said cordially enough,

Come in and warm yourself before you go.

It's a cold day.

Bertie shyly followed her to the kitchen.

Sit up to the fire,

Said Caroline,

Placing a chair for him.

While Edith and Amy came round to the other side of the stove and watched him with friendly interest.

What's your name?

Asked Caroline.

Robert Ross,

Ma'am.

Oh,

You're Mrs.

Ross's nephew,

Then,

Said Caroline,

Breaking eggs into her cake bowl and whisking them deftly round.

And you're Samson's errand boy just now?

My goodness,

As the boy spread his blue hands over the fire,

Where are your mittens,

Child?

You're never out without mittens a day like this.

I lent them to William John.

He hadn't any,

Faltered Bertie.

He did not know but that the lady might consider it a grave crime to be mittenless.

No mittens,

Exclaimed Amy in dismay.

Why,

I have three pairs,

And who is William John?

He's my cousin,

Said Bertie,

And he's awfully sickly.

He wanted to go out to play,

And he hadn't any mittens,

So I lent him mine.

I didn't miss them much.

What kind of Christmas did you have?

We didn't have any.

No Christmas,

Said Amy,

Quite overcome.

Oh,

Well,

I suppose you're going to have a good time on New Year's instead?

Bertie shook his head.

No,

I guess not.

We never have it different from other times.

Amy was silent from her sheer amazement.

Edith understood better,

And she changed the subject.

Have you any brothers or sisters,

Bertie?

No,

Returned Bertie,

Cheerfully.

I guess there's enough of us without that.

I must be going now.

I'm very obliged to you.

Edith slipped from the room as he spoke,

And met him again at the door.

She held out a pair of warm-looking mittens.

These are for William John,

She said simply,

So that you can have your own.

They are a pair of mine which are too big for me.

I know Papa will say it is all right.

Goodbye Bertie.

Goodbye,

And thank you,

Stammered Bertie as the door closed.

Then he hastened home to William John.

That evening,

Dr.

Forbes noticed a strange,

Thoughtful look on Edith's face as she sat gazing into the glowing coal fire after dinner.

He laid his hand on her dark curls inquiringly.

What are you musing over?

There was a little boy here today,

Began Edith.

Oh,

Such a dear little boy,

Broke in Amy eagerly from the corner where she was playing with her kitten.

His name was Bertie Ross.

He brought up the parcels,

And we asked him in to get warm.

He had no mittens,

And his hands were almost frozen.

And oh,

Papa,

Just think,

He said he never had any Christmas or New Year at all.

Poor little fellow,

Said the doctor.

I've heard of him.

A pretty hard time he's had of it,

I think.

He was so pretty,

Papa,

And Eddie gave him her blue mittens for William John.

The plot deepens.

Who is William John?

Oh,

A cousin or something,

Didn't he say,

Eddie?

Anyway,

He's sick,

And he wanted to go coasting,

And Bertie gave him his mittens.

And I suppose he never had any Christmas either.

There are plenty who haven't,

Said the doctor,

Taking up his paper with a sigh.

Well,

Girlies,

You seem interested in this little fellow,

So,

If you like,

You may invite him and his cousin to take dinner with you on New Year's night.

Oh,

Papa,

Said Edith,

Her eyes shining like stars.

The doctor laughed.

Write him a nice little note of invitation.

You're the lady of the house,

You know,

And I'll see that he gets it tomorrow.

And this was how it came to pass that Bertie received the next day his first invitation to dine out.

He read the little note through three times in order fully to take in its contents,

And then went around the rest of the day in deep abstraction,

As though he was trying to decide some very important question.

It was with the same expression that he opened the door at home in the evening.

His aunt was stirring some oatmeal mush on the stove.

Is that you,

Bert?

She spoke sharply.

She always spoke sharply,

Even when not intending it.

It had grown to be a habit.

Yes,

Um,

Said Bertie,

Meekly,

As he hung up his cap.

I suppose you've only got one day more at the store,

Said Mrs.

Ross.

Samson didn't say anything about keeping you longer,

Did he?

No,

He said he couldn't.

I asked him.

Well,

I didn't expect he would.

You'll have a holiday on New Year's anyhow.

Whether you'll have anything to eat or not is a different question.

I've an invitation to dinner,

Said Bertie,

Timidly.

Me and William John.

It's from Dr.

Forbes' little girls,

The ones that gave me the mittens.

He handed her the little note,

And Mrs.

Ross stooped down and read it by the fitful gleam of light which came from the cracked stove.

Well,

You can please yourself,

She said as she handed it back.

But William John couldn't go if he had ten invitations.

He caught cold coasting yesterday.

I told him he would,

But he was bound to go,

And now he's laid up for a week.

Listen to him barking in the bedroom there.

Well,

Then I won't go either,

Said Bertie,

With a sigh.

It might be of relief,

Or it might be of disappointment.

I wouldn't go there all alone.

You're a goose,

Said his aunt.

They won't eat you.

But as I said,

Please yourself.

Anyhow,

Hold your tongue about it to William John,

Or you'll have him crying and bawling to go too.

The caution came too late.

William John had already heard it,

And when his mother went in to rub his chest with liniment,

She found him with the ragged quilt over his head crying.

Come William John,

I want to rub you.

I don't want to be rubbed.

Go away,

Sobbed William John.

I heard you out there.

You needn't think I didn't.

Bertie's going to Dr.

Forbes' to dinner,

And I can't go.

Well,

You've only yourself to thank for it,

Returned his mother.

If you hadn't persisted in going out coasting yesterday when I wanted you to stay in,

You'd have been able to go to Dr.

Forbes'.

Little boys who won't do as they're told always get into trouble.

Stop crying now.

I dare say,

If Bertie goes,

They'll send you some candy or something.

But William John refused to be comforted.

He cried himself to sleep that night.

And when Bertie went in to see him next morning,

He found him sitting up in bed with his eyes red and swollen and the faded quilt drawn up around his pinched face.

Well,

William John,

How are you?

I ain't any better,

Replied William John mournfully.

I suppose you'll have a great time tomorrow night,

Bertie.

Oh,

I'm not going since you can't,

Said Bertie cheerily.

He thought this would comfort William John,

But it had exactly the opposite effect.

William John had cried until he could cry no more,

But he turned around and sobbed.

There now,

He said in tearless despair.

That's just what I expected.

I did suppose if I couldn't go,

You would and tell me about it.

You're mean as mean can be.

Come now,

William John,

Don't be so cross.

I thought you'd rather have me home,

But I'll go if you want me to.

Honest now?

Yes,

Honest.

I'll go anywhere to please you.

I must be off to store now.

Goodbye.

Thus committed,

Bertie took his courage in both hands and went.

The next evening at dusk found him standing at Dr.

Forbes's door with a very violently beating heart.

He was carefully dressed in his well-worn best suit and a neat white collar.

The frosty air had crimsoned his cheeks and his hair was curling round his face.

Caroline opened the door and showed him into the parlor where Edith and Amy were eagerly awaiting him.

Happy New Year,

Bertie,

Cried Amy.

And where's William John?

He couldn't come,

Answered Bertie anxiously.

He was afraid he might not be welcome without William John.

He's real sick.

He caught cold and has to stay in bed.

But he wanted to come awful bad.

Oh,

Dear me,

Poor William John,

Said Amy in a disappointed tone.

But all further remarks were cut short by the entrance of Dr.

Forbes.

How do you do,

He said,

Giving Bertie's hand a hearty shake.

But where is the other little fellow my girls were expecting?

Bertie patiently re-accounted for William John's non-appearance.

It's a bad time for colds,

Said the doctor,

Sitting down and attacking the fire.

I dare say,

Though,

You have to run so fast these days that a cold couldn't catch you.

I suppose you'll soon be leaving Samson's?

He told me he didn't need you after the holiday season was over.

What are you going at next?

Have you anything in view?

Bertie shook his head sorefully.

No,

Sir,

But,

He added more cheerfully,

I guess I'll find something if I hunt around lively.

I almost always do.

He forgot his shyness,

His face flushed hopefully,

And he looked straight at the doctor with his bright,

Earnest eyes.

The doctor poked the fire energetically and looked very wise.

But just then the girls came up and carried Bertie off to display their holiday gifts.

And there was a fur cap and a pair of mittens for him.

He wondered whether he was dreaming.

And here's a picture book for William John,

Said Amy,

And there's a sled out in the kitchen for him.

Oh,

There's the dinner bell.

I'm awfully hungry.

Papa says that it is my normal condition,

But I don't know what that means.

As for that dinner,

Bertie might sometimes have seen such a feast in delightful dreams,

But certainly never out of them.

It was a feast to be dated from.

When the plum pudding came on,

The doctor,

Who had been notably silent,

Leaned back in his chair,

Placed his fingertips together,

And looked critically at Bertie.

So Mr.

Sampson can't keep you.

Bertie's face sobered at once.

He had almost forgotten his responsibilities.

No,

Sir.

He says I'm too small for the heavy work.

Well,

You are rather small,

But no doubt you will grow.

Boys have a strange habit of doing that.

I think you know how to make yourself useful.

I need a boy here to run errands and look after my horse.

If you like,

I'll try you.

You can live here and go to school.

I sometimes hear of places for boys in my rounds.

And the first one that will suit you,

I'll bespeak for you.

How will that do?

Oh,

Sir,

You are too good,

Said Bertie with a choke in his voice.

Well,

That is settled,

Said the doctor genially.

Come on Monday then,

And perhaps we can do something for that other little chap.

William or John or whatever his name is.

Will you have some more pudding,

Bertie?

No thank you,

Said Bertie.

Pudding indeed.

He could not have eaten another mouthful after such wonderful and unexpected good fortune.

After dinner,

They played games and cracked nuts and roasted apples until the clock struck nine.

Then Bertie got up to go.

Off are you,

Said the doctor,

Looking up from his paper.

Well,

I'll expect you on Monday,

Remember.

Yes,

Sir,

Said Bertie happily.

He was not likely to forget.

As he went out,

Amy came through the hall with a red sled.

Here is William John's present.

I've tied all the other things on so that they can't fall off.

Edith was at the door with the parcel.

Here are some nuts and candies for William John,

She said,

And tell him we all wish him a happy new year.

Thank you,

Said Bertie.

I've had a splendid time.

I'll tell William John.

Good night.

He stepped out.

It was frostier than ever.

The snow crackled and snapped.

The stars were keen and bright.

Said to Bertie,

Running down the street with William John's sled thumping merrily behind him,

The world was aglow with rosy hope and promise.

He was quite sure he could never forget this wonderful new year.

Sweet dreams,

My friend.

Sleep well.

Reviews

Just perfect 👌🏼 Joanne. What a lovely tale. 🪷 🤗🐈‍⬛🐆🐨🦘