Last Words: A Final Collection of Stories

"Last Words: A Final Collection of Stories" by Juliana Horatia Ewing is a treasury of stories from the 1800's, filled with youthful characters navigating the wonders of the natural world and the tricky parts of family ties. One telling begins through the experiences of Mary, a young girl learning to balance what her family expects of her, her own dreams of creating a beautiful garden, and troubles caused by neighbors who just can't seem to get along. Right away, we meet Mary and her family learn about a place called Mary's Meadow owned by the 'Old Squire' next door. The children are fascinated by the Meadow's flowers and a singing nightingale, and they want to explore it, but their mother cautions them because of a long-standing argument about the land. Trying to be kind like her mother taught her, Mary decides to plant flowers in the Meadow, hoping to make it even nicer. But her plan backfires when she clashes with the Old Squire, who thinks she's trespassing and stealing, making Mary feel ashamed and scared. This disagreement introduces important ideas about love, selfishness, and what it really means to be part of a community.