Along the Shore: Tales by the Sea is a collection of 16 stories re-discovered by Rea Wilmshurst and published in 1989. It contains 16 stories (with the original publication dates listed below, as in the book) Short summaries of some of the tales can be read here:
"The
Magical Bond of the Sea" (1903)
"The Life-Book of
Uncle Jesse" (1909)
"Mackereling Out
in the Gulf" (1905)
"Fair Exchange and
No Robbery" (1907)
"Natty of Blue Point" (1904)
"The Light on the
Big Dipper" (1906)
"An Adventure on
Island Rock" (1906)
"How Don Was Saved" (1904)
"A Soul that Was
Not at Home" (1909)
"Four Winds" (1908)
"A Sandshore Wooing" (1903)
"The Unhappiness
of Miss Farquhar" (1903)
"A Strayed Allegiance" (1897)
"The Waking of Helen" (1901)
"Young Si" (1901)
"A House Divided
Against Itself" (1930)
Short summaries of the stories:
"The
Magical Bond of the Sea" (Springfield Republican,
September 20, 1903)
Nora Shelley has an offer to leave her family and life at Racicot Harbour to
live with the Camerons, a rich, childless family. She chooses to leave
behind her past, the sea and a man (Rob Fletcher) who loves her. Will
she regret her decision?
"The Life-Book of Uncle Jesse" (Housekeeper, August
1909)
Mary reminisces of the two summers she and her mother spent at Golden Gate. She
describes Uncle Jesse's adventures and his "lost Margaret" and stories
jotted in his life-book. His final wish is to see his story written as
a real book. This story is later woven into LMM's Anne's House of
Dreams, where "Uncle Jesse" becomes "Uncle Jim," and
Mary's role is taken by Anne Shirley.
"Mackereling
Out in the Gulf" (Springfield Republican, October 8,1905)
Benjamin Selby, the best mackerel fisherman on the island, has been in love
with Mary Stella for years. When Frank Braithwaite arrives, proving to
be competition, Selby backs away. Then he is left in the position of
saving his rival's life, but what will he choose to do?
"Fair
Exchange and No Robbery" (Springfield Republican, September
15,1907)
Katherine Rangley and Edith Wilmer are good friends and roommates. Both
are involved with young men that are ill-suited for them. When they realize
this over their holiday, both find resolve to deny their attraction for another
man, but can they really make such sacrifices, even for each other?
"Natty
of Blue Point" (Forward, August 13, 1904)
Natty Miller and his siblings grew up at the Blue Point lighthouse. Now
after his father's (the lighthouse keeper's) death, the family believes they
have to leave their home shortly. When 14 year old Natty hears cries
for help on the water, what can he do?
"The
Light on the Big Dipper" (Churchman, March 17, 1906)
Twelve year old Mary Margaret is left alone on Little Dipper Island in charge
of her young sister when her mother learns her only sister is very ill. When
she realizes her Uncle George, the lightkeeper, at Big Dipper has not lit the
lamps of the lighthouse, she knows she must do something to avert disaster,
but what can she do?
"An
Adventure on Island Rock" (Boys' World, December 1,
1906)
Ernest Hughes lives is an orphan. The family he lives with plans to sell
Laddie, Ernest's dog, and only friend, leaving Ernest heartbroken. When
Ned, the family's nephew can't escape from Island Rock, can Ernest think of
a way to save him?
"How
Don Was Saved" (Boys' World, June 18, 1904)
When the Amy Reade strikes rocks in the harbour and begins to sink, everyone
fears that the crew will be lost. Can Curtis and his accused dog Don,
find a way to help?
"A
Soul that Was Not at Home" (Springfield Republican,
March 21, 1909)
Miss Trevor meets a young orphan named Paul, who has a great imagination. His
friends are the rock people, and creations of his mind. Miss Trevor thinks
his genius should not go to waste and invites him to live with her in the city. Can
he leave Stephen, who raised him, and his creations behind? Paul has
striking similarities to Paul Irving in Anne of Avonlea.
"Four
Winds" (Housewife, October and November 1908)
Alan Douglas is the Rexton town minister. He's surprised to meet Lynde
Oliver, daughter of Captain Anthony Oliver, who do not attend his church. He
befriends the family, though they won't attend church and does not pressure
them to go. Alan sees a different light of the Captain, and then the
Captain and his daughter become remote. He's at a loss to understand
why, and because he's fallen in love with Lynde, Alan does not know what to
do. Then he learns the family's secret. This is a unique story
with quite a few twists and turns.
"A
Sandshore Wooing" (Designer, August 1903)
Marguerite Forrester is an orphan who lives with her Aunt Martha. While
spending the summer on the shore, Marguerite amuses herself by watching a young
man through a spyglass. She's aghast when she sees him looking back,
and they fall in love in an unusual way. The story is written in journal
entries.
"The
Unhappiness of Miss Farquhar" (Springfield Republican,
July 12, 1903)
Frances Farquhar is a beautiful girl who was jilted, and believes her heart
to be broken. She goes to stay with her Aunt Elanor, where she knows
she will not be the subject of gossip and will not have to feign happiness. Her
Aunt asks her to visit Corona Sherwood, who was recovering slowly from a fever
and Frances sees that there are others in the world to be pitied besides herself. She
puts herself to work helping others and finds that she is no longer unhappy
at all.
"A Strayed Allegiance" (Arthur's Home Magazine, July
1897)
Marian Lesley and Esterbrook Elliot grew up together and their families always
expected them to marry. When Esterbrook meets Magdalen Crawford; however,
his allegiance to Marian falters.
"The
Waking of Helen" (Waverly Magazine, August 31, 1901)
Robert Reeves is an artist who comes to stay at the shore. He asks Helen
Fraser to be his model for his paintings. She falls in love with him,
but does he deserve her devotion?
"Young
Si" (Waverly Magazine, August 3, 1901)
Ethel Lennox comes to board with the Bentley family at the shore for the summer. She's
a teacher and an artist, who wants to relax away from the city and capture
the character of mackerel fisherman in her artwork. When she meets a
hardworking fisherman named Young Si, both are stunned. What past do
these two share together?
"A
House Divided Against Itself" (Canadian Home Journal,
March 1930)
Big George and Little George have lived together for years. When they
quarrel, Big George leaves, and though both miss the other, neither will apologize. This
story is repeated in LMM's A Tangled Web with
the story of Big and Little Sam.
Last Updated 03.08.07
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