Rainbow Valley, Part 1 of 15

Before we get started tonight, I wanted to let you in on a little secret. For the best sleep, there's nothing better than the sleepy bookshelf's premium feed. You'll have had free access to the entire catalogue, so you don't have to listen to things like this. Plus, exclusive bonus stories in between our longer books. Follow the link in the show notes to learn more and start your seven day free trial tonight. Hello, it's Elizabeth, and I'm excited to share with you the newest show from Slamma Studios. It's called Sleepy History, and it's exactly what it sounds like. In intriguing stories, people, mysteries and events from history delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. Explore the legend of El Dorado. See what life was like for the Roman Gladiators. Uncover the myths and mysteries of Stonehenge. You'll find interesting but relaxing episodes like these on Sleepy History, and the same great production quality you've come to know and love from the Sleepy Bookshelf. So check it out, and perhaps you'll have another way to get a good night's rest. Just search Sleepy History in your preferred podcast player. Good evening, and welcome to the Sleepy Bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day, and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth, and it is lovely to have you here with me tonight. This evening we will be beginning Rainbow Valley, which is the next story in the Anne of Green Gable series, in order of publication. If you are unfamiliar with the story so far, you can go back to the previous seasons on the Bookshelf to hear Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avon Lee, Anne of the island, Anne Anne's House of Dreams, and that should keep you very busy indeed. Rainbow Valley is a leap away from Anne herself, however, and follows the community on Prince Edward Island, now Anne has her own children. This is actually Book 7, but as Anne of the Windy Poplar's and Anne of Ingle's side will written and publish so much later, they are not yet available to the public domain. If this is your first visit to the Sleepy Bookshelf, don't worry if you drop off before I finish this part of the story. At the beginning of the next episode, I'll give you a thorough recap. That way you can rest easy without worrying about missing anything important. Do keep in mind that all the books on this show are selected and edited to help you fall asleep. We keep the plotlines, protagonists and antagonists and moments of tension, but we remove anything that might be startling or upsetting to ensure you always get a good night's rest. And that's what makes this the Sleepy Bookshelf. As always, let's just take a moment here to put the day behind us. Inhale and have a nice big stretch. And on your exhale, just relax and allow your limbs to be heavy. Let go of any extra tension you are holding in your muscles. And with every exhale, sink deeper and deeper into your bed. Let's take another deep breath, hold it for a moment and then exhale completely, allowing any lingering thoughts to dissolve into the air. Now all you need to do is listen to the sound of my voice as you make your way into a peaceful sleep. And while you do that, I'll turn to the first pages of Rainbow Valley. Rainbow Valley. Chapter 1. Home Again. It was a clear, apple green evening in May, and four winds harbor was mirroring back the clouds of the golden west between its softly dark shores. The sea moaned eerily on the sand bar, sorrowful, even in spring. At a sly, jovial wind came piping down the red harbor road, along which Miss Cornelius comfortable, matrony figure, was making its way towards the village of Glen St. Mary. Miss Cornelius was rightfully Mrs. Marshall Elliott and had been Mrs. Marshall Elliott for 13 years. But even yet, more people referred to her as Miss Cornelius than as Mrs. Elliott. The old name was dear to her old friends. Only one of them contemptuously dropped it. Susan Baker, the grey and grim and faithful handmaiden of the Blythe family at Ingleside, never lost an opportunity of calling her Mrs. Marshall Elliott with the most killing and pointed emphasis, as if to say, you wanted to be Mrs. and Mrs. U shall be with a vengeance as far as I am concerned. Miss Cornelius was going up to Ingleside to see Doctor and Mrs. Blythe, who were just home from Europe. They had been away for three months, having left in February to attend a famous medical congress in London, and certain things which Miss Cornelius was anxious to discuss had taken place in the Glen during their absence. For one thing, there was a new family in the mance, and such a family. Miss Cornelia shook her head over them several times as she walked, briskly along. Susan Baker and Anne Shirley, every other day, saw her coming as they sat on the big veranda at Ingleside, enjoying the charm of the cat's light, the sweetness of sleepy robins, whistling among the twilight maples, and the dance of a gusty group of daffodils, blowing against the old mellow red brick wall of the lawn. In the garden, she was sitting on the steps, her hands clasped over her knee, looking in the kind dusk as girlish as a mother of many has a right to be. And the beautiful grey green eyes gazing down the harbor road were as full of unquenchable sparkle and dream as ever. Behind her in the hammock, Rilla Bly was curled up, a fat, rolly, poly little creature of six years, the youngest of the Ingleside children. She had curly red hair and hazel eyes that were now buttoned up after the funny, wrinkled fashion in which Rilla always went to sleep. Shirley, the little brown boy, as he was known in the family who's who, was asleep in Susan's arms. He was brown-haired, brown-eyed, and brown-skinned, with very rosy cheeks, and he was Susan's a special love. After his birth Anne had been very ill for a long time and Susan mothered the baby with a passionate tenderness which none of the other children deers they were to her had ever called out. Dr. Bly had said but for her he would never have lived. I gave him life just as much as you did Mrs. Dr. D. Susan was want to say. He's just as much my baby as he is yours. And indeed it was always too Susan that Shirley ran to be kissed for bumps and rocked to sleep and protected from well-deserved spankings. Anne had conscientiously spanked all the other Blythe children when she thought they needed it for their little souls good. But she would not spank Shirley nor allow his mother to do it. Once Dr. Blythe had spanked him and Susan had been stormy and dignified. That man would spank an angel Mrs. Dr. D. that he would. She had declared bitterly and she would not make the poor doctor a pie for weeks. She had taken Shirley with her to her brother's home during his parents absence while all the other children had gone to Avon Lee and she had three blessed months of him all to herself. Nevertheless Susan was very glad to find herself back at Ingleside with all her darlings around her again. Ingleside was her world and in it she reigned supreme. Even Anne seldom questioned her decisions much to the disgust of Mrs. Rachel Lind of Green Gables who gloomily told Anne whenever she visited four wins that she was letting Susan get to be entirely too much of a boss and would live to ruin it. Here is Cornelia Bryant coming up the harbour road Mrs. Dr. D. said Susan she'll be coming up to one load three months gossip on us. Well I hope so. Sedan hugging her knees. I'm starving for glencent married gossip Susan. I hope Miss Cornelia can tell me everything that has happened while we've been away. Everything who has got born or married or drunk, who has died or gone away, will come, or fought, or lost a cow, or found a bow. So delightful to be home again with all the dear glen folks, and I want to know all about them. Why I remember wondering as I walked through Westminster Abbey, which of her two as special by a militant drew would finally marry. Do you know Susan I have a dreadful suspicion that I love gossip? Well of course Mrs. Dr. D. Admit his Susan, every proper woman looks to hear the news. I'm rather interested in militant drew's case myself. I never had a bow much less too. Now do not mind now for being an old maid does not hurt when you get used to it. Millicence hair always looked to me as if she'd swept it up with a broom. But the men do not seem to mind that. They only see her pretty pick-on mocking little vase Susan. That may very well be Mrs. Dr. D. The good book says that favor is deceitful and beauty is vain but I should not have minded finding that out for myself if it had been so ordained. I have no doubt we will all be beautiful when we are angels but what good would it do I send? Speaking of gossip however, they do say that poor Mrs. Arissa Miller over the harbour tried to run away last week. Susan calm yourself Mrs. Dr. D. She did not do it. But I really do not blame her for trying for her husband as a terrible man. But she was very foolish to think of running away and leaving the way clear for him to marry some other woman. If I had been in our shoes Mrs. Dr. D. I would have gone to work to worry him so that he would try to run away instead of me. Not that I old were people running away under any circumstances Mrs. Dr. D. What is the matter with Harrison Miller anyway? Sadan impatiently. He is always driving someone to extremes. Well some people call it religion and some call it cussedness beggining pardon Mrs. Dr. D. for using such a word. It seems they cannot make out which is in Arissa's case. There are days when he grows at everybody because he thinks he is all ordained to a eternal punishment. And then there are days where he says he does not care and goes and gets drunk. My own opinion is he is not sound in his intellect. For none of that branch of the millers were. His grandfather went out of his mind. I hope I shall never go insane Mrs. Dr. D. and I do not think I will because it is not the habit of the bakers. Oh as for Mrs. Miller I do not know whether she really deserves pity or not. There are some who say she just married Harrison to spite Richard Taylor which seems to me a very peculiar reason for getting married. But then of course I am no judge of things matrimonial with his ought to do. And there is Cornelia Bryant at the gate so I will just put this blessed brown baby on his bed and get my knitting. Chapter 2 Shea Gossip Where are the other children? Asked Miss Cornelia when the first greetings, cordial on her side, rapturous on hands, and dignified on Susan's were over. Shearly is in bed and German Walter and the twins are down at their beloved rainbow valley. Sedan. They just came home this afternoon you know and they could hardly wait until supper was over before rushing down to the valley. They love it above every spot on earth. Even the maple grove does not rival it in their affections. I am afraid they love it too well. Said Susan Gloomily. Little Jim said he would rather go to rainbow valley than to heaven when he died and that was not a proper remark. I suppose they had a great time in Avonleem. Said Miss Cornelia. Oh enormous. My real adults spoiled them terribly. Jim in particular can do no wrong in her eyes. Miss Cuthbert must be an old lady now. Said Miss Cornelia getting out her knitting so that she could hold her own with Susan. Miss Cornelia held that the woman whose hands were employed always had the advantage over the woman whose hands were not. Alma Rillar is 85. Sedan with a sigh. Her hair is snow white. But strange to say her eyesight is better than it was when she was 60. Well dearie I'm real glad you're all back. I've been dreadful loamsome. But we haven't been dull in the glen believe me. There hasn't been such an exciting spring in my time as far as church matters go. We've got settled with the minister at last and dearie. The reference John Knox Meredith misses Dr. D. said Susan resolved not to let Miss Cornelia tell all the news. Is he nice? Asked Anne interestingly. Miss Cornelia sighed and Susan groaned. Oh yes he's nice enough if that were all. Said the former. He's very nice and very learned and very spiritual. Oh but oh and dearie has no common sense. How was it you called in then? Well there is no doubt he's by far the best preacher we've ever had in Glensant Mary Church. Said Miss Cornelia, veering attack or two. I suppose it is because he's so moody and absent minded that he never got a town call. His trial sermon was simply wonderful believe me. Everyone went mad about it and his looks. He's very commonly misses Dr. D. and when all is said and down I do like to see a well looking man in the pulpit. Broken Susan thinking it was time she asserted herself again. Besides said Miss Cornelia. We were anxious to get settled and Mr. Meredith was the first candidate we were all agreed on. Somebody had some objection to all the others. There was some talk of calling Mr. Falson. He was a good preacher too but somehow didn't care for his appearance. He was too dark and sleek. We looked exactly like a quite black Tom Katner he did Mrs. Dr. D. Said Susan. I never could abide such a man in the pulpit every Sunday. Well then Mr. Rogers came and he was like a chip in porridge. Neither harm nor good. Resumed Miss Cornelia. But if he had preached like Peter and Paul it would have profited him nothing for that was the day old Kayla Bramsey's sheep, strayed into church and gave a loud bar just as he announced his text. Everybody laughed and Paul Rogers had no chance after that. Some thought we ought to call Mr. Stewart because he was so well educated. He could read the new testament in five languages. But I do not think he was any sure with them there for men of getting into heaven because of that. Interjected Susan. Well most of us didn't like his delivery. Said Miss Cornelia, ignoring Susan. He talked in grunts so to speak. And Mr. Arnet couldn't preach at all and he picked about the worst candidate in text there is in the Bible. Curse you mirrored. When every court stepped for an idea he would bang the Bible and shout very bitterly, curse ye mirrored. Paul Morose got fatterly curse that day who every was Mrs. Dogtadir. Said Susan. The minister who is candidate can't be too careful what text he chooses. Said Miss Cornelia solemnly. I believe Mr. Pearson would have got the call if he had picked a different text. But when he announced I will lift my eyes to the hills. He was done for. Everyone grinned for everyone knew that those two hill girls from the harbor had been setting their caps for every single minister who came into the glen for the last 15 years. And Mr. Newman had two larger family. He stayed with my brother in Lord James Cloud. Said Susan. How many children have you got I asked him? Nine boys and a sister for each of them he said 18 said I. Dear me what a family and then he laughed and laughed. But do not know why Mrs. Dogtadir and I'm certain 18 children will be too many for any man's. He had only 10 children Susan. Explained Miss Cornelia with contemptuous patience. And 10 good children would not be much the worse for the man's and congregation than the four who were there now. Though I wouldn't say and dearly that they are so bad either. I like them. Everybody likes them. It's impossible to help liking them. They would be real nice little souls if there was anyone to look after their manners and teach them what is right and proper. For instance at school the teacher says they are mortal children but at home they simply run wild. Well what about Mrs. Meredith? Ask Van. There's no Mrs. Meredith. That is just the trouble. Mr. Meredith is a widower. His wife died four years ago. If we hadn't known that I don't suppose we would have called him for a widower is even worse in a congregation than a single man. But he was heard to speak of his children and we all supposed there was a mother too. And when they came there was nobody but old aunt Martha as they called her. She's a cousin of Mr. Meredith's mother I believe and he took her in to save her from the poor house. She's 75 years old half blind and very deaf and very cranky and a very poor cook Mrs. Doctor Day. The worst possible manager for a man's. Said Miss Cornelia bitterly. Mr. Meredith won't get any other housekeeper because he says it would hurt Aunt Martha's feelings and dearly believe me the state of that man is something terrible. Everything is thick with dust and nothing is ever in its place and we had painted it and painted it also nice before they came. There are four children you say asked Anne beginning to mother them already in her heart. Yes they run up just like the steps of a stair Gerald's the oldest is 12 and they call him Jerry he's a clever boy. Faith is 11 she's a regular tomboy but pretty is a picture I must say. She looks like an angel but she's an only tariff of Mr. Mrs. Doctor Day. Said Susan solemnly. I was at the man's spawn night last week and Mrs. James Melissa was there too. She bought them up a dozen eggs and a little pale of milk and very little pale Mrs. Doctor Day. Faith took them and whisked down the cellar with them. Near the bottom of the stairs she caught her toe and fell the rest of the way milk eggs and all. You can imagine a result Mrs. Doctor Day that child came up laughing. I don't know where there are myself for a customer she said and Mrs. James Melissa was very angry. She said she would never take another thing to the man's if it was to be wasted and destroyed in that fashion. Maria Melissa never hurt herself taking things to the man's sniffed Miss Cornelia. She just took them that night as an excuse for curiosity but poor Faith is always getting into scrapes. She's so heedless and impulsive just like me. I'm going to like your faith said Anne decidedly. She is full of spunk and I do like spunk Mrs. Doctor Day admitted Susan. There's something taking about her conceded Miss Cornelia. You never see her but she's always laughing and somehow it makes you want to laugh too. She can't even keep a straight face in church. Una is ten. She's a sweet little thing not pretty but sweet and Thomas Carlisle is nine. They call him Carl and he has a regular mania for collecting toads and bugs and frogs and bringing them into the house. Master Posey was responsible for the dead rat that was lying on a chair in the pile of the afternoon Mrs. Grant called. It gave her a turn said Susan and I do not wonder for Mance parlors a no place for dead rats. To be sure it may have been the cat who left it there. He is as full of the old niggas he can be stuffed Mrs. Doctor Day. A man's catch that least look respectable in my opinion whatever he really is. But I never saw such a rakeish looking beast. And he walks along the ridge pole of the man's almost every sunset Mrs. Doctor Day waves his tail and he's not becoming. The worst of it is they are never decently dressed. Side Miss Cornelia and since the snow went they go to school barefooted. Now you know Anne Deary that isn't right thing for Mance children especially when the Methodist Ministers Little Girl always wear such nice buttoned boots. I don't do wish they wouldn't play in the old Methodist graveyard. It's very tempting when it's right beside the Mance. Said Anne I've always thought Graviards must be delightful places to play in. Oh no you did not Mrs. Doctor Day. Said loyal Susan determined to protect Anne from herself. You have too much good sense into Cornelia. Why did they ever build that Mance beside the graveyard in the first place? Asked Anne. Their lawn is so small there is no place for them to play except in the graveyard. It was a mistake. Admitted Miss Cornelia. But they've got the lock cheap and no other Mance children ever thought of playing there. Mr. Meredith shouldn't allow it. She has always got his nose buried in a book when he is home. He preheeds and reads or walks about in his study in a daydream. So far he hasn't forgotten to be in church on Sundays but twice he has forgotten about the prayer meeting and one of the elders had to go over to the Mance and remind him. And he forgot about Fanny Cooper's wedding. They rang him up on the phone and then he rushed right over just as he was. Carpet slippers and all. One wouldn't mind if the Methodists didn't laugh so about it. But there's more comfort. They can't criticize his sermons. He wakes up when he is in the pulpit but leave me. And the Methodist Minister can't preach at all so they tell me. I have never hurt him thank goodness. Miss Cornelia's scorn of men had abated somewhat since her marriage but her scorn of Methodists remained untinged of charity. Susan smiled slightly. They do say Mrs. Marshal Elliott that the Methodists and Presbyterians are talking of a uniting. She said, Well, all I hope is that I'll be under the sod if it ever comes to pass. Retorted Miss Cornelia. I shall never have trunk all trade with Methodists. And Mr. Meredith will find that he'd better stay clear of them too. He's entirely too sociable with them. Believe me. Why he went to the Jacob Drew silver wedding supper and got into a nice scrape as a result. Well, what was it? Mrs. Drew asked him to carve the roast goose for Jacob Drew never did nor could carve. Well, Mr. Meredith tackled it and in the process knocked it clean off the platter into Mrs. Reese's lap who was sitting next to him and he just said dreamily, Mrs. Reese will you kindly return me that goose? Mrs. Reese returned it as Mika's Moses but she must have been furious but she had on her new silk dress. The worst of it is she was a Methodist. But I think that is better than if she was a Presbyterian. Interjected Susan. If she had been a Presbyterian she would most likely have left the church and we cannot afford to lose our members. And Mrs. Reese is not liked in her own church because she gives herself such great ears so that the Methodists would be rather pleased that Mr. Meredith spoiled her dress. The point is he made himself ridiculous and I for one do not like to see my minister made ridiculous in the eyes of the Methodists said Miss Cornelia stiffly. If he had had a wife it would not have happened. I do not say if he had a dozen wives are they could have prevented Mrs. Drew from using up a tough old gander for the wedding feast said Susan stubbornly. They say that was her husband's doing said Miss Cornelia. Jacob Drew is a conceited stingy, domineering creature. And they do say he and his wife detest each other which does not seem to me the proper way for married folks to get along but anacos I have had no experience along that line. Said Susan tossing her head. And I am not one to blame everything on the men. Mrs. Drew is mean enough herself. I say the only thing she was ever known to give away was a crock of butter made out of cream a rat had fell into. She contributed it to a church social. Nobody found out about the rat until afterwards. Fortunately all the people the Merediths have offended so far are Methodists. Said Miss Cornelia. That Jerry went to the Methodist prayer meeting one night about a fortnight ago and sat beside the old William Marsh who got up as usual and testified with fearful groans. Do you feel any better now whispered Jerry when William sat down. Poor Jerry meant to be sympathetic but Mr. Marsh thought he was impertinent and as furious with him. Of course Jerry had no business to be in a Methodist prayer meeting at all but they go where they like. I hope there will not offend Mrs. Alec Davis of the Arboret. Said Susan. She's a very touchy woman I understand. She is very well off and pays the most of anyone to the salary. I have heard that she says the Merediths are the worst brawl type children she's ever saw. Every word you say convinces me more and more that the Merediths belong to the race that knows Joseph said Mistress Anne decidedly. When all is said and done they do admitted Miss Cornelia and that balances everything. Anyway we've got them now and we must just do the best we can by them and stick up for them to the Methodists. Well I suppose I must be getting down the harbor. Marshall will soon be home. He went over harbor today and wanting his supper man like. I'm sorry I haven't seen the other children. Where's the doctor? Up at the harbor head. We've only been home three days and in that time he has spent three hours in his own bed and eaten two meals in his own house. Well everybody who has been sick for the last six weeks has been waiting for him to come home and we don't blame them. But that over harbor doctor married the undertaker's daughter at Lowbridge people felt very suspicious of him. It didn't look well. You and the doctor must come down soon and tell us all about your trip. As suppose you've had a splendid time. We had agreed Anne. It was the fulfillment of years of dreams. The old world is very lovely and very wonderful. But we have come back very well satisfied with our own land. Canada is the finest country in the world Miss Cornelia. Well nobody ever doubted that. Said Miss Cornelia complacently. And old PEI is the loveliest province in it. And four wins is the loveliest spot in PEI. Now, Anne, looking adoringly out over the sunset splendor of Glen and Harbour and Gulf. She waved her hand at it. I saw nothing more beautiful than that in Europe, Miss Cornelia. Must you go? The children will be sorry to have missed you. They must come and see me soon. Tell them the dough not dry is always full. Oh it's supper they were planning to send on you. They'll go soon. But they must settle down to school again now and the twins are going to take music lessons. Or not from the Methodist ministers wife I hope. Said Miss Cornelia anxiously. No. From Rosemary West. I was up last evening to arrange it with her. What a pretty girl she is. Rosemary holds her own well. She isn't as young as she once was. I thought her very charming. I've never had any real acquaintance with her you know. The house is so out of the way. And I've seldom seen her accept at church. People always have liked Rosemary West though they don't understand her. Said Miss Cornelia. Quite unconscious of the high tribute she was paying to Rosemary's charm. Ellen has always kept her down so to speak. She is tyrannized over her and yet she has always indulged her in a good many ways. Rosemary was engaged once you know. To young Martin Crawford. His ship was wrecked on the Magdalens and all the crew were drowned. Rosemary was just a child, only seventeen. But she was never the same afterwards. She and Ellen have stayed very close at home since their mother's death. They don't often get to their own church at Lowbridge and I understand Ellen doesn't approve of going too often to a Presbyterian church. To the Methodist she never goes. I'll say that much for her. That family of West's has always been stronger Piscopalians. Rosemary and Ellen are pretty well off. Rosemary doesn't really need to give music lessons. She does it because she likes to. They are distantly related to Leslie you know. Other forwards coming to the harbor this summer. No, they're going on a trip to Japan and will probably be away for a year. Owen's new novel is to have a Japanese setting. This will be the first summer that the dear old house of dreams will be empty since we left it. I should think Owen forward might find enough to write about in Canada without dragging his wife and innocent children off to a heathen country like Japan. Grumbled Miss Cornelia. The life book was the best book he's ever written and he got to the material for that right here in four winds. Captain Jim gave him most of that you know and he collected it all over the world. But Owen's books are all delightful I think. Oh they are well enough as far as they go. I make a point to read everyone he writes though I've always held an diary that reading novels is a sinful waste of time. I shall write and tell him my opinion of this Japanese business believe me. I see what Kenneth and Pass is to be converted into pagans. With which unanswerable conundrum Miss Cornelia took her departure. Susan proceeded to put Rilla in bed and Anne sat on the veranda steps under the early stars and dreamed her incorrigible dreams and learned all over again for the hundredth happy time. What's a moon-rised splendor and sheen could be on four winds harbor.