
MEADOW-GRASS - TALES OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE
By Alice Brown
1895
TO M.G.R.
LOVER OF WOODS AND FIELD AND SEA.
NUMBER FIVE.
FARMER ELI'S VACATION
AFTER ALL.
TOLD IN THE POORHOUSE.
HEMAN'S MA.
The story opens with a gentle walk down an elm‑lined lane toward a tiny red schoolhouse marked “District No. V.” The narrator paints the surrounding meadows, pine shadows and moss‑covered fences in such detail that listeners can hear the rustle of milkweed and feel the cool brush of a spring‑fed river. Childhood is rendered as a collection of makeshift forts, tree‑stump armchairs, and pebble‑lined borders that become whole worlds for the village kids.
Within this quiet setting, the children chase wish‑bugs, trade daring stories about the river’s hidden hole, and scramble to avoid the stern teacher’s after‑school detention. Their games capture both the carefree wonder of youth and the subtle pressure of growing responsibilities, hinting at the tension between nostalgic memory and the inevitable pull of the wider world. The narrative’s tone stays warm and reflective, inviting listeners to linger in the simple pleasures of a bygone New England summer.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (386K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Text file produced by A. Templeton, J. Sutherland, T. Allen and the PG Distributed Proofreaders HTML file produced by David Widger
Release date
2005-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1948
A sharp-eyed chronicler of New England life, this American writer built a career out of vivid local-color fiction, poetry, and plays. Her work was widely read in her day and still offers a rich picture of regional life and character.
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