Beside Still Waters

"Beside Still Waters" by Arthur Christopher Benson is a reflective story about Hugh Neville's journey through life as he looks back on his childhood, family ties, and how he has changed as a person. The story opens with Hugh thinking back to his younger years and his family. He explains how different his parents were: his father was serious because he had a hard childhood, while his mother was caring because she grew up with money. Hugh remembers happy times in nature, how things felt to him, and how books and religion shaped who he became. Even though he had a good life, he felt separate from others and struggled with his feelings, which leads him to a quest to find himself and understand the bigger questions in life.