Giving That Satisfies: ‘The Genesis of the Doughnut Club’

“The Cook,” circa 1657–1667, by Gabriel Metsu. A cook gives the greatest gift on Thanksgiving. Public Domain

When a cook puts everything she has into her cooking, the food tastes of the generous spirit with which she or he made it. Any gift given with a generous spirit sends waves of joy, thankfulness, and inspiration farther than the giver could imagine.

In L.M. Montgomery’s short story “The Genesis of the Doughnut Club,” Aunt Patty is that kind of generous spirit, and through her, Montgomery demonstrates what true giving looks like.

For five years, Aunt Patty has happily been housekeeper for her brother in Carleton. He’s now passed away and leaves Patty with no choice but to return to Northfield, where no one truly needs or wants her.

Before she leaves, she decides to give one last, magnificent Thanksgiving dinner for “her boys.” These were the boys of Carleton, “young fellows just let loose from home and mother ... but all of them boys, lovable, rollicking boys, with the makings of good men in them if there was anybody to take hold of them and cut the pattern right.”

For the past five years, Patty had welcomed them all into her home. Every day she had one or more of them in the house. She would feed them wonderful food, talk with them, scold them, and offer guidance to all. With her loving care, many of them began going to church and Bible study, mending their ways and growing into true men.

Ultimate Giving

Before she must move out, she gets to work preparing food and inviting all of the boys she can, “[throwing herself] heart and soul into the preparations for that dinner.” She cooks turkey, pork, mince, pumpkin, and apple pies; she also bakes doughnuts, fruit cake, cranberry sauce, and brown bread.

The night before Thanksgiving, one of her boys, Jimmy Nelson, visits her. He asks if he can bring his uncle to the dinner. Patty says that he can come, but suddenly realizes that Jimmy’s uncle is Joseph P. Nelson, “the millionaire railroad king.”

With this new guest weighing on her mind, Patty grows nervous as the guests arrive the next day. With every ring at the door, she worries about the millionaire’s entrance. However, when he does arrive, she realizes that she has nothing to worry about.

Although she keeps an eye on the millionaire, she turns her main attention to her boys. They all dig in to the feast set before them. When the boys finish the feast, some stay behind to help Patty clean up.

The next day, Patty prepares to leave for Northfield. She must leave her boys and the town for a dreary, unexciting place with unexciting people.

As she cries by herself, she hears a knock at the door. She opens the door to someone who loves “doughnuts and apple pies and cranberry tarts.”

Montgomery uses this story to highlight the impact that a truly generous spirit can have on others. Through her selfless giving, Miss Patty touches the lives of many around her. Her impact leads to their success, growth, and true, heartfelt gratitude.

As Pierre Corneille said in “Le Menteur”: “The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” Montgomery inspires the most powerful manner of giving in which the giver gives everything selflessly for the other. Such giving can impact those around us and encourage a brighter future.

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