The Books: “Along the Shore – ‘Mackereling Out In the Gulf’” (L.M. Montgomery)

Daily Book Excerpt: YA/Children’s books:

alongtheshore.jpegAlong the Shore – “Mackereling Out In the Gulf” – by L.M. Montgomery

Another seafaring story – this one about fishermen. Although it’s also a romance. Benjamin Selby has always loved Mary Stella – since he was little. They were childhood friends. He has cherished a dream, a hope that someday …. and because of that, she has factored into his plans, and the man he has become. He is trying to be a good enough man to deserve her, etc. You get this within a couple paragraphs. Mary Stella is a sweet girl, and kind to Benjamin. These are all fisher-folk – Benjamin is a big swarthy dude who works out on his boat all day. Anyhoo … suddenly a new guy comes to town – a Frank Braithwaite – and he’s a city person, or … at least he’s not one of THEM. But he’s handsome, nice … and he falls for Mary Stella. He does realize that he has a rival in Benjamin Selby – he understands that … but Mary Stella (you kind of don’t know what’s going on with her. She seems rather insipid, if you ask me) ends up choosing Frank. Benjamin ends up seeing them in a romantic moment along the shore one day … and it is so upsetting to him that it’s practically anguish. This is his whole LIFE! A couple days later, Frank Braithwaite goes out in a boat with two French Canadian boys (who are, as they always are in Lucy Maud’s world, almost minstrel show-y in their behavior) … none of them are really competent sailors. So they’re idiots, basically. And a storm comes up. A horrible storm. People gather on the shore, terrified … looking out to sea for the boats to come back in … and all of them do, except for the one with Frank in it. That boat is struggling mightily – and panic rises along the shore … are they going to drown? So now Benjamin has to make a choice … he could go out and save them, or he could let his hated rival die … and maybe then he could have Mary Stella …

Naturally, Benjamin makes the right choice.

The story itself is kind of simplistic, I guess – there’s not much to it – but I’m excerpting it because of the ending which I think is quite touching and very well done.


Excerpt from Along the Shore – “Mackereling Out In the Gulf” – by L.M. Montgomery

Braithwaite came to the shore next day somewhat pale and shaky. He went straight to Benjamin and held out his hand.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

Benjamin bent lower over his work.

“You needn’t thank me,” he said gruffly. “I wanted to let you drown. But I went out for Mary Stella’s sake. Tell me one thing – I couldn’t bring myself to ask it of anyone else. When are you to be – married?”

“The 12th of September.”

Benjamin did not wince. He turned away and looked out across the sea for a few moments. The last agony of his great renunciation was upon him. Then he turned and held out his hand.

“For her sake,” he said earnestly.

Frank Braithwaite put his slender white hand into the fisherman’s hard brown palm. There were tears in both men’s eyes. They parted in silence.

On the morning of the 12th of September Benjamin Selby went out to the fishing grounds as usual. The catch was good, although the season was almost over. In the afternoon the French Canadians went to sleep. Benjamin intended to row down the shore for salt. He stood by his dory, ready to start, but he seemed to be waiting for something. At last it came: a faint train whistle blew, a puff of white smoke floated across a distant gap in the sandhills.

Mary Stella was gone at last – gone forever from his life. The honest blue eyes looking out over the sea did not falter; bravely he faced his desolate future.

The white gulls soared over the water, little swishing ripples lapped on the sand, and through all the gentle, dreamy noises of the shore came the soft, unceasing murmur of the gulf.

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