Drop by Drop: ‘Uncle Richard’s New Year’s Dinner’

L.M. Montgomery’s short story shows the power of kindness.

Kindness makes food taste better in L.M. Montgomery's short story. Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

With “Happy New Year” ringing in our ears, panic, anxiety, expectation, excitement, and determination flow through our minds in an instant. Despite these warring and conflicting feelings, we must face the new horizon with courage, kindness, and resolve. For though the new year is rather daunting, it can be full of surprises if we are only brave enough to face them.

In her short story, “Uncle Richard’s New Year’s Dinner,” L.M. Montgomery encourages us to have an adventurous and kind attitude as we head into the new year. While following Prissy Baker as she makes her Uncle Richard’s New Year’s dinner, Montgomery demonstrates that people can surprise us and kindness can do wonders.

A New Year

Prissy Baker walks into Oscar Miller’s store on New Year’s morning to buy some matches. While still in the store, her uncle, Richard Baker, arrives. However, he completely ignores her, for Uncle Richard and Prissy’s father, Irving Baker, have not been on speaking terms for nine years due to a quarrel over some land.