
\[Transcriber's Note: The author is not named and has not been located elsewhere. Dialect spelling is copied faithfully.\]
Willowton, a bustling village of seventeen thousand, has always relied on the gentle stream that winds beneath its central bridge. As May stretches on without rain, the water level drops to an alarming low, and the townspeople begin to feel the strain of a drying countryside. In the shade of the Wild Swan hotel, a young, strong‑legged man and his two companions linger, watching a lone trout while the community worries about the looming shortage.
When the desperation grows, the Chapman family and a local dowser step forward, promising a bold search for a new source of water. Their efforts spark lively debate, draw the attention of a newly arrived nurse, and stir the village into action, from the market stalls to the quiet gardens. As tensions rise and rumors swirl, Willowton’s residents discover how cooperation, stubborn hope, and a few unexpected heroes can change the fate of a town thirsty for relief.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (162K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jeff Hunt
Release date
2017-09-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
A little-known Victorian novelist, she wrote fiction rooted in Welsh settings and social concerns. Her surviving work suggests a writer interested in community life, hardship, and the moral choices ordinary people face.
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