Mrs. Cliff's Yacht

"Mrs. Cliff's Yacht" by Frank R. Stockton is a story set in the late 1800s, focusing on Mrs. Cliff, a wealthy widow, as she deals with being rich after a big change in her life. The story looks at what she thinks and how she feels about going back to her old home in Plainton, Maine, and how she handles the new duties and changes that come with money. At the start, Mrs. Cliff is in a New York hotel, thinking about her situation. She's happy and a bit worried about going home because of her new fortune. Even though she's rich, she really wants to stay close to her old friends and the way she used to live, hoping her money won't separate her from the people she cares about. Getting ready to head back to Plainton, she wonders how she can use her wealth in a good way without losing herself or her friendships, which sets up what happens when she interacts with her friends, neighbors, and the town when she gets back.