Daily Book Excerpt: YA/Children’s books:
At the Altar 
The plot-line of this sweet little story has a lot of similarties to “The Hurrying of Ludovic“. Published in 1904 – pre-dating the publication of Anne – this story already shows Lucy Maud’s strengths. She doesn’t try to re-invent the wheel. Her stories (her good ones) have simple plots – and they are character-based. She’s already in her stride here as a writer. Freda and Roger are good friends. The opening scene gives you their relationship in a matter of 2 or 3 exchanges. Roger is kind of a dreamer, likes to come hang out at Freda’s house, which is cozy, and talk about his dreams. Freda is NOT really a dreamer – she’s got a bit more fun in her. But she also is fond of Roger, likes making him hot chocolate, and likes teasing him about his dreams. Until one day …. Roger comes to her and declares that he has seen “his ideal”. Meaning: woman. Freda doesn’t respond – but also – for the first time – she doesn’t tease. She just goes kind of quiet. Roger begins to rave about this woman he saw, a new woman in town … with the face of a Madonna, with golden hair, eyes blue as the sky, whatever …. he goes on and on and on. Freda just listens. Freda is rosy and plump and twinkley. She is NOT his ideal. But Freda holds her counsel. Roger starts to pursue “his ideal” – and he comes over to Freda’s to give her updates. The man is quite clueless. You never know what’s going on in Freda’s head, though – because the story is told from Roger’s point of view. We, the reader, can definitely see what’s going on with her – because of how Lucy Maud writes about her behavior … but still, it’s Roger’s journey, not Freda’s.
So one day, Roger moseys on over to Freda’s, to jabber on, yet again, about “his ideal”.
Only to find ….
Excerpt from At the Altar
One day when Roger came he found six feet of young man reposing at ease in his particular chair. Freda was sipping chocolate in her corner and looking over the rim of her cup at the intruder just as she had been wont to look at Roger. She had on a new dark red gown and looked vivid and rose-hued.
She introduced the stranger as Mr. Grayson and called him Tim. They seemed to be excellent friends. Roger sat bolt upright on the edge of a fragile, gilded chair which Freda kept to hide a shabby spot in the carpet, and glared at Tim until the latter said goodbye and lounged out.
“You’ll be over tomorrow?” said Freda.
“Can’t I come this evening?” he pleaded.
Freda nodded. “Yes – and we’ll make taffy. You used to make such delicious stuff, Tim.”
“Who is that fellow, Freda?” Roger inquired crossly, as soon as the door closed.
Freda began to make a fresh pot of chocolate. She smiled dreamiliy as if thinking of something pleasant.
“Why, that was Tim Grayson – dear old Tim. He used to live next door to us when we were children. And we were such chums – always together, making mud pies, and getting into scrapes. He is just the same old Tim, and he is home from the west for a long visit. I was so glad to see him again.”
“So it would appear,” said Roger grumpily. “Well, now that ‘dear old Tim’ is gone, I suppose I can have my own chair, can I? And do give me some chocolate. I didn’t know you made taffy.”
“Oh, I don’t. It’s Tim. He can do everything. He used to make it long ago, and I washed up after him and helped him eat it. How is the pursuit of the Ideal coming on, Roger-boy?”
Roger did not feel as if he wanted to talk about the Ideal. He noticed how vivid Freda’s smile was and how lovable were the curves of her neck where the dusky curls were caught up from it. He had also an inner vision of Freda making taffy with Tim and he did not approve of it.
He refused to talk about the Ideal. On his way back to town he found himself thinking that Freda had the most charming, glad little laugh of any girl he knew. He suddenly remembered that he had never heard the Ideal laugh. She smiled placidly – he had raved to Freda about that smile – but she did not laugh. Roger began to wonder what an ideal without any sense of humour would be like when translated into the real.
He went to Lowlands the next afternoon and found Tim there – in his chair again. He detested the fellow but he could not deny that he was good-looking and had charming manners. Freda was very nice to Tim. On his way back to town Roger decided that Tim was in love with Freda. He was furious at the idea. The presumption of the man!
