Mrs. Tree's Will

"Mrs. Tree's Will" by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards is a story about a village thrown into turmoil after the death of the respected Mrs. Tree and the reading of her surprising will. The main character, Mr. Homer Hollopeter, Mrs. Tree's cousin, must deal with his sadness and the surprising gifts left to him and other people in town, which affects how everyone gets along. The story starts with everyone meeting in Mrs. Tree's living room after she suddenly dies, and Mr. Hollopeter tells the minister about her last moments. The will shows that Mrs. Tree cared a lot about the townspeople but also liked to play jokes, which makes her niece, Maria Darracott Pryor, upset because she doesn't get much money. Overall, the story looks at the impact of what we leave behind, the funny side of relationships, and small town life.