We return today to a story beloved by our listeners, Anne of the Island, written by the accomplished Canadian author, Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Anne Shirley has spent a restorative summer vacation, enjoying the suns and skies, deepening old friendships, and realizing that many life lessons are learned outside of college. However, just as she prepares to return to Redmond College, Anne's cherished ideals are put to the test in Chapter 15, "A Dream Turned Upside Down," when she receives a shocking letter regarding her creative work. The conflict arises when her devoted friend, Diana Barry, is found to be at blame for Anne's humiliation.

This struggle between artistic purity and the practical need to earn "an honest penny" for board and tuition is a tension felt acutely by many writers of the era, and it is a poignant parallel to the author's own life: Lucy Maude Montgomery, who later became the first Canadian woman to join the Royal Society of Arts and Letters, had to work in secret early in her career because her family considered writing a waste of time for a woman.

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CREDITS

• Narrator and Producer: Gizelle Erickson
• Executive Producer: Jon Hagadorn
• Music:
• "Romance" Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
• "Beautiful Acoustical Piano Inspirational" Music by Music_For_Videos from Pixabay

FALL FAMILY HUMOR AT 1001: Honoring Paid Companions

P. G. Wodehouse's short story, "THE BEST SAUCE," focuses on the difficult circumstances of Eve Hendrie, a paid companion who is both disturbed and perpetually hungry due to her employer, Mrs. Rastall-Retford, enforcing a Spartan diet on the household. The narrative details the unexpected arrival of Peter Rayner, a persistent suitor whom Eve claims to dislike, who followed her to the oppressive household after her previous employment ended. The climax occurs during a nervous game of bridge, when Eve, fearing a scolding, secretly hides the ace of clubs in a vegetarian cheese sandwich that a famished Peter immediately consumes, thus ending the game and allowing him to continue his insistent courtship.

Credits:
Narration & Production: Gizelle Erickson
Executive Producer: Jon Hagadorn
Music: Thanks to Sonican, Faith in Love, Music by Dvir Silverstone from Pixabay

I found this gem in a collection called Atlantic Narratives. It was written circa 1915 and tells the story from a little girls point of view as she gets a part in a Christmas Pageant and does her best to make her mom and dad proud. Of coursem the critical Aunt Emma, always overly proud of her 7 year old daughter who is also taking part, can't resist making a snide remark when our narrator forgets to remove her overcoat for her speaking part.

Some famil humory mixed with a hoped-for comeuppance.

Anne returns next Sunday as we move into the ho0lidays with lots of family-themed shows for your enjoyment.