Music Welcome to snoozecast. The podcast is on to help you fall asleep. Find a sense snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share it with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Chosen Lifework. Tonight, we'll read the twenty first chapter of Anne of Green Gables, a classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled A New Departure in Flavorings. In the previous chapter, Anne is captivated by the beauty of spring, especially the May Flowers, and enjoys a day gathering them with her classmates. Later, Anne's vivid imagination causes her to fear the haunted wood, a name she made up herself.

But Marilla forces her to confront her fear by walking through it alone at night, terrified, but unharmed, and completes the walk and vows to appreciate the ordinary, rather than romanticizing spooky happenings. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now take a few deep breaths. Dear me, there is nothing but meetings and partings in this world, as Mrs. Lind says, remarked Anne, putting her slate and books down on the kitchen table on the last day of June and wiping her red eyes with a very damp hanker chief. Wasn't it fortunate, Marilla, that I took an extra hanker chief to school today. I knew that it would be needed. I never thought that you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two hangar chiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla. I don't think I was crying because I was really so very fond of him.

Reflected Anne, I just cried because all the others did. It was Ruby Gillis started it. Ruby Gillis has always declared that she hated Mr. Phillips. But just as soon as he got up to to make his farewell speech. She burst into tears.

Then all the girls began to cry, one after the other. I tried to hold out, Marilla. I tried to remember the time Mr. Phillips made me sit with Gil, with a boy, and the time he spelled my name without an E on the blackboard, and how he said I was the worst donece he ever saw, geometry, and laughed at my spelling. And all the times he had been so horrid and sarcastic. But somehow I couldn't, Marilla, and I just had to cry too. Jane Andrews has been talking for a month about how glad she'd be when Mr. Phillips went away, and she declared she'd never shed a tear. Well, she was worse than any of us and had to borrow a hankerchief from her brother. Of course the boys didn't cry, because she hadn't brought one of her own, not expecting to need it. Oh, Marilla, it was hard-wrenching. Mr. Phillips made such a beautiful farewell speech beginning. The time has come for us to part. It was very affecting, and he had tears in his eyes to Marilla. Oh, I felt dreadfully sorry and remorseful for all the times I'd talked in school and drawn pictures of him on my slate, and made fun of him and Percy. I can tell you, I I'd been a model, like many Andrews. She hadn't anything on her conscience. The girls cried all the way home from school. Carey Sloan kept saying every few minutes, the time has come for us to part, and that would start us off again whenever we were in any danger of cheering up. I do feel dreadfully sad, Marilla, but one can't feel quite in the depths of despair with two months' vacation before them, can they, Marilla? And besides, we met the new minister and his wife coming from the station. For all I was feeling so bad about Mr. Phillips

going away, I couldn't help taking a little interest in a new minister. Could I? His wife is very pretty. Not exactly regally lovely, of course. It wouldn't do, I suppose. a minister to have such a regally lovely wife, because it might set a bad example. Mrs. Lind says the minister's wife over at Newbridge sets a very bad example because she dresses so fashionably. Our new minister's wife was dressed in blue muslin, with lovely puffed sleeves and a hat trimmed with roses.

Jane Andrews said she thought puffed sleeves were too worldly for a minister's wife, but I didn't make any such uncharitable remark, Marilla, because I know what it is to long for puffed sleeves. Besides, she's only been a minister's wife for a little while, so one should make allowances, shouldn't they? They're going to board with Mrs. Lind until the mce's ready. If Marilla, and going down to Mrs. Lind's that evening, was actuated by any motive, save her avowed one of returning the quilting frames she had borrowed the preceding winter. It was an amiable weakness shared by most of the townspeople. Many a thing Mrs. Lind had lent, sometimes never expecting to see it again, came home that night in charge of the borrowers thereof. A new minister, and moreover a minister with a wife, was a lawful object of curiosity in a quiet little country settlement where sensations were few and far between. Old Mr. Bentley, the minister whom Anne had found lacking in imagination, had been pastor for 18 years. He was a widower when he came, and a widower he remained, despite the fact that gossip regularly married him to this, that, or the other one. In the preceding February, he had resigned his charge and departed amid the regrets of his people, most of whom had the affection born of long intercourse for their good old minister, in spite of his shortcomings as an orator. the church had enjoyed a variety of religious dissipation and listening to the many and various candidates and supplies who came Sunday after Sunday to preach on trial. These stood or fell by the judgment of the fathers and mothers in Israel, but a certain small, red-haired girl who sat meekly in the corner of the old Cuthbert Pugh also had her opinions about them, and discussed the same in full with Matthew. Marilla always declining from principle to criticize ministers in any shape or form. I don't think Mrs. Smith would have done Matthew. Was Anne's final summing up? Mrs. Lind says his delivery was so poor. But I think his worst fault was just like Mr. Pently's. He had no imagination. And Mr. Terry had too much. He let it run away with him, just as I did mine in the matter of the haunted wood. Besides, Mrs. Lind says his theology wasn't sound. Mr. Gresham was a very good man and a very religious man, but he told too many funny stories and made the people laugh in church. He was undignified, and you must have some dignity about a minister, mustn't you, Matthew? I thought Mr. Marshall was decidedly attractive, but Mrs. Lind says he isn't married, or even engaged, because she made special inquiries about him, and she says it would never do to have a young unmarried minister because he might marry in the congregation, and that would make trouble. Mrs. Lind is a very far-seeing woman, isn't she, Matthew? I'm very glad they've called Mr. Allen. I liked him because his sermon was interesting, and he prayed as if he meant it, and not just as if he did it because he was in the habit of it. Mrs. Lind says he isn't perfect, but she says she supposes we couldn't expect a perfect minister for $750 a year. And anyhow, his theology is sound because she questioned him thoroughly on all the points of doctrine. And she knows his wife's people, and they are most respectable, and the women are all good housekeepers. Mrs. Lynn says that

sound doctrine in the man, and good housekeeping in the woman, make an ideal combination for

a minister's family. The new minister and his wife were a young pleasant-faced couple,

still on their honeymoon, and full of all good and beautiful endousisms for their chosen life-work. Avonly opened its heart to them from the start, old and young liked the frank cheerful young man with his high ideals, and the bright gentle little lady who assumed the mistress ship of the mance. With Mrs. Allen and fell promptly and wholeheartedly in love, she had discovered another kindred spirit. Mrs. Allen is perfectly lovely. She announced one Sunday afternoon. She's taken our class and she's a splendid teacher. She said right away.

She didn't think it was fair for the teacher to ask all the questions. And you know, Marilla, that is exactly what I've always thought. She said we could ask her any questions we liked, and I asked her ever so many. I'm good at asking questions, Marilla. I believe you was Morilla's comment.

Nobody else asked any except Ruby Gillis, and she asked if there was to be a Sunday school picnic this summer. I didn't think that was a very proper question to ask because it hadn't any connection with the lesson. The lesson was about Daniel and the lion's den, but Mrs. Allen just smiled and said she thought there would be. Mrs. Allen has a lovely smile. She has such exquisite dimples in her cheeks. I wish I had dimples in my cheeks, Marilla. I'm not half so skinny as I was when I came here, but I have no dimples yet. If I had, perhaps I could influence people for good." Mrs. Allen said, we ought always to try to influence other people for good. She talked so nice about everything. I never knew before that religion was such a cheerful thing. I always thought it was kind of melancholy. But Mrs. Allen isn't. And I'd like to be a Christian if I could be one like her. I wouldn't want to be one like Mr. Superintendent Bell. It's very naughty of you to speak so about Mr. Bell," said Marilla severely. Mr. Bell is a real good man. Oh, of course he's good, agreed, and, but he doesn't seem to get any comfort out of it. If I could be good, I'd dance and sing all day because I was glad of it. I suppose Mrs. Allen is too old to dance in sing, and of course, it wouldn't be dignified in a minister's wife, but I can just feel she's glad she's a Christian, and that she'd be one even if she could get to heaven without it. I suppose we must have Mr. and Mrs. Allen up to tease some day soon." said Marilla reflectively. They've been most everywhere but here. Let me see. Next Wednesday would be a good time to have them, but don't say a word to Matthew about it. For if he knew they were coming, he'd find some excuse to be away that day. He'd got so used to Mr. Bentley. He didn't mind him, but he's going to find it hard to get acquainted with a new minister, and a new minister's wife will frighten him. It will be our secret, assured Anne. But Omarilla, will you let me make a cake for the occasion? I'd love to do something for Mrs. Allen. And you know, I can make a pretty good cake by this time. You can make a layer cake. Promised Marilla. Monday and Tuesday, great preparations went on at Green Gables. Having the minister and his wife to tea was a serious and important undertaking, and Marilla was determined not to be eclipsed by any of the avanely housekeepers. Ann was wild with excitement and delight. She talked it all over with Diana Tuesday night in the twilight, as they sat on the big red stone by the dry its bubble and made rainbows in the water, with little twigs dipped in fur, balsam. Everything is ready, Diana, except my cake, which I'm to make in the morning, and the baking powder biscuits which Marilla will make just before tea time. I assure you, Diana, that Marilla and I have had a busy two days of it. It's such a responsibility having a minister's family to tea. I never went through such an experience before.

You should just see our pantry. It's a sight to behold. We're going to have jelly chicken and cold tongue. We'd have two kinds of jelly, red and yellow, and whipped cream, and lemon pie, and cherry pie and three kinds of cookies and fruit cake and marvellous famous yellow plum preserves that she keeps especially for ministers and pound cake and a layer cake and biscuits as a foreset. new bread and old both in case the minister is despaptic and can't eat new. Mrs. Lind says ministers are despaptic, but I don't think Mr. Allen has been a minister long enough for to have had a bad effect on him. I just grow cold when I think of my layer cake. Oh Diana, what if it shouldn't be good? I dreamed last night that I was chased all around by a goblin with a big layer cake for a head. It will be good alright. A sure Diana, who was a very comfortable sort of friend, I'm sure that piece of the one you made that we had for lunch in idle while two weeks ago was perfectly elegant. Yes, but cakes have such a terrible habit of turning out bad, just when you especially want them to be good. Side-an, setting a particularly well-bossomed twigig a float. However, I suppose I shall just have to trust to Providence and be careful to put in the flower. Oh, look, Diana, what a lovely rainbow. Do you suppose the dryad will come out after we go away and take it for a scarf? You know there's no such thing as a dry ad. Said Diana. Diana's mother had found out about the haunted wood and had been decidedly angry over it. As a result, Diana had abstained from any further imitative flights of imagination and did not think it prudent to cultivate a spirit of belief even in harmless dryads. But it's so easy to imagine there is," said Anne. Every night before I go to bed, I look out of my window and wonder if the dryad is really sitting here, calming her locks with the for a mirror. Sometimes I look for her footprints in the dew in the morning. Oh Diana, don't give up your faith in the dry ad. Wednesday morning came and got up at sunrise because she was too excited to sleep. She had caught a severe cold in the head by reason of her dabbling in the spring on the preceding evening, but nothing short of absolute pneumonia could have quenched her interest in culinary matters that morning. After breakfast, she proceeded to make her cake. When she finally shut the oven door upon it, she drew a long breath. I'm sure I haven't forgotten anything this time, Marilla. But do you think it will rise? Just suppose perhaps the baking powder isn't good. I used it out of the new can. And Mrs. Lind says you can never be sure of getting good baking powder nowadays when everything is so adulterated. Mrs. Lind says that the government ought to take the matter up, but she says we'll never see the day when a Tory government will do it. Marilla, what if that cake doesn't rise? We'll have plenty with hunted. Was Marilla's unempassioned way of looking at the subject. The cake did rise, however, and came out of the oven as light and feathery as golden foam, and flushed with the light, clapped it together with layers of ruby jelly, and in imagination saw Mrs. Allen eating it, and possibly asking for another piece. You'll be using the best tea set, of course, Marilla, she said. Can I fix the table with ferns and wild roses? I think that's all nonsense, sniffed Marilla. In my opinion, it's the eagaboles that matter and not flummery decorations." Mrs. Barry had heard table decorated, said Anne, who was not entirely guiltless of the wisdom of the serpent. And the minister paid her an elegant compliment. He said, it was a feast for the eye as well as the palette. Well, do as you like, said Marilla, who was quite determined not to be surpassed by Mrs. Barry or anybody else. Only mind you leave enough room for the dishes and the food.

And later self-out to decorate in a manner, and after a fashion that should leave Mrs.

Barry's nowhere. Having abundance of roses and ferns, and a very artistic taste of her own,

she made that tea table such a thing of beauty that when the minister and his wife sat down to it, they exclaimed in chorus over its loveliness. "'It's Anne's doings,' said Marilla, grimly just, and Anne felt that Mrs. Allen's approving smile was almost too much happiness for this world.

Matthew was there, having been invagled into the party, only goodness and hand knew how. He had been in such a state of shyness and nervousness that Marilla had given him up and despair. But Anne took him in the hand so successfully that he now sat at the table in his best clothes and white collar and talked to the minister not uninterestingly. He never said a word to Mrs. Allen, but that perhaps was not to be expected. All went Mary as a marriage bell until Anne's layer cake was passed. Mrs. Allen, having already been helped to a bewildering variety, declined it. But Marilla, seeing the disappointment on Anne's face, said smilingly, Oh, you must take a piece of this Mrs. Allen, and made it on purpose for you. In that case, I must sample it. Laft Mrs. Allen, helping herself to a plump triangle, as did also the minister and Marilla. Mrs. Allen took a mouthful of hers, and a most peculiar expression crossed her face. Not a word to chisai, however, but steadily ate away at it. Marilla saw the expression, and hastened to taste the cake. And surely she exclaimed, what on earth did you put into that cake? Nothing but what the recipe said, Marilla, cried Anne, with a look of anguish. Oh, isn't it all right? Right. It's simply horrible. Mrs. Allen, don't try to eat it. Anne tasted yourself. What flavoring did you use? Vanilla? Zadanne? Her face scarlet with mortification after tasting the cake, only vanilla, omarilla. It must have been the baking powder. I had my suspicions of that baking powder fiddlesticks go and bring me the bottle of vanilla you used. Anne fled to the pantry, and returned with a small bottle filled with brown liquid and labeled yellowly, best vanilla. Marilla took it, uncorked it, smelled it., Anne. You flavored that cake with anodine liniment. I broke the liniment bottle last week and poured what was left into an old empty vanilla bottle. I suppose it's partly my fault. I should have warned you. But for pity's sake, why couldn't you have smelled it?" The hand is allved into tears under this double disgrace. I couldn't. I had such a cold, and with this, and with this, she fairly fled to the Gabel chamber, where she cast herself on the bed, and wept as one who refuses to be comforted. Presently, a light step sounded on the stairs, and somebody entered the room. Oh,illa, sobdan, without looking up, I'm disgraced forever. I shall never be able to live this down. It will get out. Things always do get out and evenly. Diana will ask me how my cake turned out and and I shall have to tell her the truth. I shall always be pointed at as the girl who flavored a cake with linament. Kill the boys in school will never get overlapping at it. Marilla. If you have a spark of Christian pity, don't tell me that I must go down and wash the dishes after this. I'll wash them when the minister and his wife are gone, but I cannot ever look Mrs. Allen in the face again. Perhaps she'll think I tried to poison her. Mrs. Lind says she knows an orphan girl who tried to poison her benefactor. But the liniment isn't poisonous. It's meant to be taken internally. Although not in cakes. Won't you tell Mrs. Allen so, Marilla? Suppose you jump up and and tell her so yourself said Mary voice. Anne flew up to find Mrs. Allen standing by her bed, surveying her with laughing eyes. My dear little girl, you mustn't cry like this. She said, genuinely disturbed by Anne's tragic face? Why, it's all just a funny mistake that anybody might make. Oh no. It takes me to make such a mistake," said Anne, for lordly. And I wanted to have that cake so nice for you, Mrs. Allen. Yes, I know, dear, and I assure you I appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness just as much as if it had turned out all right. Now, you mustn't cry anymore, but come down with me and show me your flower garden. Miss Cuthbert tells me you have a plot all your own own, I want to see it, for I'm very much interested in flowers, and permitted herself to be let down and comforted, reflecting that it really was providential that Mrs. Allen was a kindred spirit. Nothing more was said about the liniment cake, and when the guests went away, and found that she had enjoyed the evening more than could have been expected, considering that terrible incident. Nevertheless, she sighed deeply. Marilla, isn't it nice to think that Tamara was a new day with no mistakes in it yet? I'll warrant you'll make plenty in it," said Marilla. I never saw your beat for making mistakes, Anne. Yes, and well, I know it, admitted Anne, mournfully. But have you ever noticed one encouraging thing about me, Marilla? I never make the same mistake twice. I don't know, is that much benefit when you're always making new ones? Oh, don't you see, Marilla?

There must be a limit to the mistakes one person can make.

And when I get to the end of them, then I'll be through with them.

That's a very comforting thought.

While you'd better go and give that cake to the pigs,

said Marilla, it isn't fit for any human to eat.

...