Mrs. Tree

"Mrs. Tree" by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards is a charming story about an extraordinary nonagenarian living in the village of Elmerton whose days are filled with vitality, involvement, and the small dramas of village life. Through the eyes of Mrs. Tree, a sharp-witted woman over ninety years old, the novel examines the ties that hold a community together and the complexities of the human heart. The story begins by introducing Mrs. Tree and her companion Direxia Hawkes, whose conversations reveal the daily happenings of Elmerton, including the departure of a young couple and hints at the return of William Jaquith, a young man whose troubled past is entwined with the lives of the townspeople. This sets the stage for a look at the complexities of life and relationships, all seen through the unique perspective of Mrs. Tree.