A Tale from Hemlock and Canadice Lakes

Historical Fiction and Review.

Mrs. Gertrude Winslow of Springwater smiled broadly as she approached the home of her friend Edith last Tuesday morning; there was much news to tell. Everyone present at the weekly quilting club noticed immediately how out of character she appeared and they were intensely curious about what might have brought about this refreshing aberration.

After a hastened greeting the excitement became too much for the little group and Gertrude was placed center stage where she sprang forth with this story. It seems she was happy over the recent disgrace of her husband; Schadenfreude, she called it as she gloated in her gentile German voice. “I am so happy that he has finally failed,” shouted Gertrude.

There were a few gasps and raised eyebrows at this but Gertrude continued on.

“As you all know, I have been after Albert for years to address those bees, but he just wouldn’t listen to me,” she professed. “There was all that noise and the persistent threat of attach every time I left the house.”

“Yes, yes,” shouted Edith, “we know about the bees, why do you think we don’t come anymore?” The room broke into immediate snorts and giggles.

Gertrude continued to explain that her husband would shrug his shoulders and mumble something about “live and let live” whenever she approached the issue. “Such a generous philosophy,” she gestured in a mocking tone.

“But what happened,” Edith finally exclaimed, in a high demanding tone.

Gertrude relented. “Well, last Sunday, as we approached the house after church it was obvious that something was wrong. I smiled, but Albert frowned. A bear had come while we were gone and tore the siding off two walls of the house to get at the honey hives.”

The room burst into laughter again. “Live and let live,” someone said.