The Day of His Youth

"The Day of His Youth" by Alice Brown is a late 19th-century story about Francis Hume, who lives in the woods with his father, Ernest, after his mother dies giving birth to him. It examines how nature affects who you are, the challenges of love, and how people and society change when Francis's simple childhood turns into a more confusing adulthood. At the beginning, we learn that Francis and his father are in deep sorrow, which causes them to live alone in nature. The men form a home in the woods, becoming physically strong and connecting through shared experiences and beliefs. As Francis gets older, he starts noticing the world outside the woods and meeting new people, which brings up feelings of love and longing that test the simplicity of their life. This sets the stage for an exploration of growing up, what society expects, and the struggle between personal desires and community duties.