Dear Kindred Spirits,
Lucy Maud Montgomery must have been steeped in the poetry of Bliss Carman while writing Mistress Pat because another line of his poetry is mentioned, and this time, Pat calls him by name!
Pat and Suzanne have been stranded during a rainstorm and find refuge in a house they think is abandoned. Pat learns that Suzanne never called Silver Bush queer; she called it dear, quaint, and old-fashioned. Thus, their friendship has been renewed. In The Second Year, Chapter 7, Suzanne says:
“I like that phrase . . . breaking bread together . . . don’t you? Who is it speaks of ‘bread of friendship’?”
“Carman,” said Pat, dishing up her bacon.
The Enchanted Traveller by Bliss Carman We travelled empty-handed With hearts all fear above, For we ate the bread of friendship, We drank the wine of love. Through many a wondrous autumn, Through many a magic spring, We hailed the scarlet banners, We heard the blue-bird sing. We looked on life and nature With the eager eyes of youth, And all we asked or cared for Was beauty, joy, and truth. We found no other wisdom, We learned no other way, Than the gladness of the morning, The glory of the day. So all our earthly treasure Shall go with us, my dears, Aboard the Shadow Liner, Across the sea of years.
At the end of their escapade, Pat and Suzanne have a good laugh at the events that transpired.
When they got out of sight of the house Pat stopped the car so that they might have a laugh. When two people have laughed . . . really laughed . . . together they are friends for life.
“Two unchaperoned females spending the night in a house with a drunken man,” gasped Suzanne. “Let’s pray the writer of ‘North Glen Notes’ never finds out!”
You’ll have to read the book if you want to know more about Nathaniel Butterbloom, the drunken man!
With much delight,
Stephanie