Harper's Round Table, January 5, 1897

A warm summer in the quiet village of Pleasant River frames the story, where the narrator—now a grown woman—spends her days in an inviting brown house with a screen‑door that swings open to sunlight and laughter. The house belongs to the Sandersons, whose aunt welcomes each morning with a cheerful “Welcome” rug, while Uncle Abner’s gruff demeanor offers a gentle contrast to the household’s simple charm. Through the narrator’s eyes, the rural landscape—dusty road, maple shade, and fields of hollyhocks—becomes a backdrop for memories that feel both vivid and tender.

The focal point of those early days is the “Little Bishop,” a small, spirited boy named Phil who guides a bulky red cow along the road, his determination matched only by his shy pride. Their playful conversations about the size of cows and the fear they evoke reveal a sweet, earnest friendship that balances the boy’s uneasy relationship with his stern uncle. Together they navigate the rhythms of country life, hinting at the quiet lessons and heartfelt connections that shape their summer.