Snuggle down and let the first snow of the season fall softly as you drift towards sleep with this warm, wholesome short story by L. M. Montgomery, the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables. Ned's Stroke of Business is a cheerful tale of moonlit ice, sleigh rides and a boy with a clever idea, read slowly and gently as a bedtime story for adults who want to wind down, ease insomnia and settle into deep, restful sleep.
Young Ned Allen longs to take a course at the business college in Trenton, but his mother can't afford the fifty dollars it would cost, and a quiet little farming village in winter isn't exactly full of ways for a boy to earn money. Meanwhile the Carlton boys must trudge six miles to Windsor every time they want to skate, where the rival Windsor boys make sure they're never welcome.
There is a perfect pond much closer, behind old Mr. Dutcher's barn, but Old Dutcher is the village crank, and he has never let a single boy set foot on it. So one winter's morning Ned gathers his courage, walks down the lane and puts a proposition to him. What follows is a gentle, good-humoured story about respect, gumption and the kindness of people who quietly keep an eye on us.
The story
Transcribed from the audio, so the odd word may be off. Tap any line while it plays to keep the words in step with Martin's voice.
Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety Ned Stroke of Business by Lucy M. Montgomery Jump in, Ned. I can give you a lift if you're going my way. Mr. Rogers rained up his prancing greyhors and Ned Allen sprang lightly into a comfortable cutter. The next minute they were flying down the long listening road, Rosie White in the sunset splendor.
The first snow of the season had come, and the slaying was, as Ned said, "Dandy." "Going over to Windsor," I suppose," said Mr. Rogers, "with a glance at the skies that were hanging over Ned's shoulders." "Yes, sir." "All the Carlson boys are going over tonight."
The moon is out, and the ice is good. We have to go in a body, or the winds of fellows won't leave us alone. There's safety in numbers. Pretty hard lines when boys have to go six miles for a skate, commented Mr. Rogers.
"Well, it's that or nothing, with a laugh, Ned. There isn't a source of full of ice any nearer, except that small pond in old juxtaposed field behind his barn. And you know old Dutcher won't allow a boy to set foot there." He says they would knock down his fences climbing over them, and like is not set fire to his barn.
"Old Dutcher was always a crank," said Mr. Rogers. And doubtless will be to the end. By the way, I heard a rumour to the effect that you are soon going to take a course at the business college in Trenton. I hope it's true.
Ned's frank face clouded over. "I'm afraid not, sir. The truth is, I guess Mother can't afford it." Of course, Aunt Ella has very kindly offered to board me free for the term, but these books and so on would require at least $50.
I don't expect to go. "That's a pity. You earn the necessary money yourself." Ned shook his head.
Not much chance for that in Carlton, Mr. Rogers. "I've cut your old my brains for the past month, trying to think of some way, but in vain." Well, here is the crossroad, so I must get off. Thank you for the drive, sir.
Keep on thinking, Ned, advice Mr. Rogers, as the lad jumped out. "Perhaps you'll hit on some plan yet to earn that money, and if you do, well, it will prove that you've got good stuff in you." I think it would, after Ned to himself, as he trudged away. I quiet little farming village in winter.
Isn't quite exactly a promising field for financial operations. At winter be corners, Ned found a crowd of boys waiting for him, and soon paired off with his chum, Jim Slocum. Jim, as usual, was grumbling, because they had to go all the way to Windsor to skate. Like is not.
We'll get into a free fight with the Windsorites when we get there, and be chevied off the icy complaint. The rivalry which existed between the Carlton and the Windsor boys was bitter and of long-standing. "We ought to be able to hold our own tonight," said Ned, "there'll be 30 of us there." "If only we could get Old Dutcher to let us skate his pond," said Jim.
"It wouldn't hurt his old pond, and the ice is always splendid on it. I'd give a lot if we could only go there." Ned was silent. A sudden idea had come to him.
He wondered if it were feasible. Anyhow, our triad he said to himself, "I'll interview Old Dutcher tomorrow." The skating that night was not particularly stressful. The small ponds at Windsor was crowded.
The Windsor boys being out in force, and although no positive disturbance arose, they can thrive to make matters unpleasant for the Carltonites. You trampled moodily homeward in no very good humour. Most of them declaring that, skating or no skating, they would not go to Windsor again. The next day, Ned Allen went down to see Mr. Dutcher, or Old Dutcher, as he was universally called in Carlton.
Ned did not exactly look forward to the interview with Pleasure. Old Dutcher was a crank. There was no getting around that fact. He had good days occasionally, where for him he was barely affable, but they were few and far between.
And Ned had no reason to hope that this would be one. Old Dutcher was unmarried, and his widowed sister kept house for him. This poor lady had a decidedly lonely life of it. For Old Dutcher's studiously discouraged visitors, his passion for solitude was surpassed, only by his eagerness to make and save money.
Although he was well to do, he would wrangle over a cent, and was the terror of all who had ever had to do dealings with him. Fortunately for Ned and his project, this did turn out to be one of Old Dutcher's good days. He had just concluded an advantageous bargain with a Windsor-Catteldealer, and hence he received Ned with that, for Old Dutcher might be called absolute cordiality. Besides, although Old Dutcher disliked all boys on principle, he disliked Ned less than the rest because the boy had always treated him respectfully, and had never played any tricks on him on Halloween or April Fool's Day.
I've come down to see you on a little matter of business Mr. Dutcher said Ned, bothly and promptly. It never did to beat about the bush with Old Dutcher. You had to come straight to the point. I want to know if you all rent your pond behind the barn to me for skating.
Old Dutcher's aspect was certainly not encouraging. No, I won't. You ought to know that. I never allow anyone to skate there.
I ain't gonna have a parcel of wootping yellow youngsters tearing over my fences, disturbing my sleep at nights, and like is not setting fire to my barns. No sir, I ain't gonna rent that pond for no skating rink. Ned smothered a smile. Just wait a minute Mr. Dutcher, he said respectfully.
I want you to hear my proposition before you were refused definitely. First, I'll give you ten dollars for the rent of the pond, then I'll see that there'll be no running over your fields and climbing your fences, no lighting of fire or matches about it and no wootping or yelling at nights. My rink will be open only from 2-6 in the afternoon and from 7-10 in the evening. During that time, I shall always be at the pond to keep everything in order.
The skaters will come and go by the lane leading from the barn to the road. I think that if you agree my proposition Mr. Dutcher, you will not regret it. What's to prevent my running such a rink myself? Ask Old Dutcher gruffly.
It wouldn't pay you Mr. Dutcher, answered Ned promptly. The Carlton boys wouldn't patronize us rink run by you. Old Dutcher's eyes twinkle. It not this pleasing to know that the Carlton boys hated him.
In fact, it seemed as if he rather liked it. Besides, went on Ned. You couldn't afford the time. You couldn't be on the pond for eight hours a day until ten o'clock at night.
I can, as I've nothing else to do just now. If I had, I wouldn't have been trying to make money by a skating rink. Old Dutcher scound. Ten dollars was ten dollars, and as Ned had said, he knew very well that he could not run a rink by himself.
Well, he said half reluctantly. I suppose I'll let you go ahead. Only remember, I hold you responsible if anything happens. Ned went home in high spirits.
By the next day he had placards out in conspicuous places on the schoolhouse at the forge, at Mr. Rogers' store and at Wynne to be corners, announcing that he had rented Mr. Dutcher's pond for a skating rink. And that ticket for the same is twenty-five cents a week for each skater could be had upon application to him. Ned was not long left in doubt as to the success of his enterprise.
It was popular from the start. There were about fifty boys in Carlton and Wynne to be, and they all patronized the rink freely. At first, Ned had some trouble with two or three rowdies who tried to evade his rules. He was backed up, however, by Old Dutcher's reputation and by the public opinion of the other boys, as well as by his own undoubted muscle, and soon had everything going smoothly.
The rink flourished a man, and everybody, even Old Dutcher, was highly pleased. At the end of the season, Ned paid Old Dutcher his ten dollars and had plenty left to pay for books and tuition at the business college in Trenton. On the eve of his departure, Mr Rodgers would kept a keen eye on Ned's enterprise, again picked him up on the road. So you found a way after all Ned, he said genially.
I had an idea you would. My bookkeeper will be leaving me about the time you will be throughout your college. I'll be wanting in his place a young man with a good nose for business, and a rather thing that you will be that young man. What do you say?
Well, thank you sir, Stamig Ned, scarcely believing his ears. A position in Mr Rodgers' store meant good salary and promotion. You'd never dared to hope such good fortune. If you think I can give satisfaction, you manipulated Old Dutcher, and you've earned enough in a very slow-going place to put you through your business college term.
So I am sure you are the man I'm looking for. I believe in helping those who have the gumption enough to help themselves, so we'll call it a bargain, Ned.