A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

By Betty Smith

Copyright 1943

Like the tree that grows in the slums of Brooklyn despite the harsh conditions, young Francie Nolan also flourishes in an often cruel and lonely world.  She takes delight in the smallest, most unexpected pleasures while  so many adults she has contact with discourage her and keep her from becoming all that she could be.  One of these cases is an adult who could have had such a positive impact on Francie’s life yet all but ignores her.  

 

Francie loved reading and would often walk to the neighborhood public library on Saturday morning.  She would ask the librarian to recommend a book for a girl.  Without so much as a glance up or a second thought, the librarian would push forward a book.  Time after time, one of several books would be offered.   Just think what an impact that librarian could have had if she taken the time to look at Francie and talk to her.  Think of the conversations this bright, sensitive little girl could have had with a caring adult who also loved books.  Not only would Francie’s life have been affected, but the librarian would have been touched as well.  

As I started a new job at the front desk of a public library this week, I remembered little Francie Nolan.  Something as simple as eye contact and a smile can have an impact on a person’s day.  I’ll have to remember that the mundane tasks of a job are just part of the picture.  The rest of the picture is the attitude conveyed in words and body language.  Just maybe, someone like Francie will walk up to the desk looking for a little encouragement. I never want to become like that librarian in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, ignoring the person in front of me for the tasks sitting on the desk or the words flashing on the computer screen.

Fortunately

Written and illustrated by Remy Charlip 

Copyright 1964

1993 edition of Fortunately

While the book pictured here is not the exact issue from my childhood, the text and illustrations are the same.  I bought this one when my children were small so that they could experience the humorous story that I remembered from long ago.  

While Ned is on his way to a surprise party across the country, he runs into both good luck and bad luck.  

“Fortunately a friend loaned him an airplane.  Unfortunately the motor exploded.  Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane.  Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute.” 

Thus goes Ned’s attempt to reach the party.  Just when you think he’s in luck, Ned runs into another problem.  Just when you think he’s doomed, Ned has a stroke of good luck.

Like Ned, sometimes we experience good luck and sometimes we experience bad luck.  And sometimes what we perceive as bad luck is actually a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, a few years ago, my whole department was laid off by the company where I had worked for many years.  Fortunately, that experience led me to a career in libraries that I’m really excited about.   

And sometimes we can take the bad luck and find something positive in it.  Unfortunately, it’s the first day of Spring and 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside.  Fortunately, I’ve got a good book to read and a warm blanket on my lap!  

Here’s to looking on the bright side!

Amy Vanderbilt’s New Complete Book of Etiquette

The Guide to Gracious Living

1967 edition

It’s always interesting to look at books on customs and mannerisms from a previous time period.  What is acceptable today could have been shocking in the past, whether it is clothing, speech, or manners.  I can’t imagine what my grandmother would think if she were alive today, and happened to flip on the television to a reality show!  Nevertheless, society does need some etiquette rules to follow.  I recently received this old book as a gift from friend and decided to take a look to see if there is anything I can learn from it.

 

I think I’ll be able to skip chapter 41, Employer-Servant Relations, and head right to chapter 42, Gracious Living without Servants.  After all, “an intelligent, organized mistress can do the work of even a fairly large household more quickly and efficiently than can the average, often truculent maid-of-all-work.”  The description of this homeowner’s day, however, is a little puzzling.  With the cleaning schedule laid out by Ms. Vanderbilt, I’d be working morning ‘til night keeping my house in order!  When would I have time to work?  Or, more importantly, when would I have time to go online?  With all that cleaning of the woodwork and waxing of the floors, I wouldn’t have time for Pinterest or Twitter, much less blogging!

I was quite appalled to read, in the chapter on A Man’s Manners in the Business World, that “It is only human for a man to want his secretary to be neat, attractive, and if possible, pretty.  He has to look at her all day long.”  How about a smart secretary?  How about efficient and knowledgeable?  How about if the woman were the boss?  

While flipping through the pages of this book, I saw a large X made with a black marker.  A past owner of this book crossed of something she apparently no longer found useful, and that is a paragraph on lighting cigarettes.  This paragraph suggests that a man, even if he doesn’t smoke, always carry a lighter or matches just in case the woman he is with needs a light for her cigarette. 

Cultural differences aside, etiquette will always be important.  To act politely towards another is to show them that they are valued and respected.  While the particular rules may change, I hope the practice never does!

The Diamond in the Window

By Jane Langton

1962

Somehow, I missed reading this book as a child, but it is one that I know I would have loved.  The Diamond in the Window is the first book in the Hall Family Chronicles.  It tells the story of two children, Edward and Eleanor, who live in an old, rambling house in Concord, Massachusetts.  As the story opens, we find out that taxes are owed on the property and if Aunt Lily can’t come up with the money in time, she, the children, and Uncle Freddy will have to leave their run-down, yet much loved home. 

 

The children set out to solve a mystery involving two other children who once upon a time had vanished from the attic of the house.  They believe that solving this mystery will not only find the missing children, but will also lead them to treasure, enabling them to save their home.

This story is filled with historical lessons and plenty of fantasy.  Three authors from Concord, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott, are all part of the story.  Edward and Eleanor, whenever they sleep in the attic room, fall into dreams that help them solve the mystery.  Are they dreams, though?  When Eleanor wakes from her dream of falling out of a tree, she awakens bruised and scratched. 

Louisa May Alcott's grave in Concord, MA

 

Henry David Thoreau's grave in Concord, MA

In one dream, Eleanor has become a doll belonging to Louisa May Alcott and witnesses a conversation among Louisa and her sisters.  This follows a trip the children make to the actual Alcott home, now a museum.  Another day, the children visit Walden Pond and later dream that they are mice who live in Thoreau’s house in the woods.

Along the way, Eleanor and Edward learn moral lessons, too. 

In one of my favorite dream scenes, the children are stuck in a set of never-ending mirrors.  Each step offers them a choice of mirrors to step through, making it difficult to go back.  After yanking and tugging each other this way and that through this maze of mirrors, they come face-to-face with images of their future selves, with stubborn, grim expressions.  They are filled with horror as they realize that each choice they have made has brought them to this place.  

Eleanor remembers what her Uncle Freddy told her once.  “Beware how you paint yourself.  Carve yourself well!”  She realizes that in order to get back to their kind, caring selves they need to start making very careful choices.  

 

Site of Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond

Just like Eleanor and Edward, each action we take shapes our future selves.  Whether we continually chose selfishly or compassionately will determine the look of our future reflections. 

The Pooh Cook Book

By Virginia H. Ellison

Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

copyright 1969

After glancing at another Goodwill store find, I find myself suddenly in the mood for a tea party.  It is cold and snowy outside – a very blustery day.  It’s almost eleven o’clock and I find, like Pooh, that I’d like a little smackerel of something.  

Fortunately, I’m in possession of a nice big jar of honey.  This little cookbook has many recipes and most involve at least a little honey.  Sprinkled throughout the book are quotes from A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books.

Here’s a nice simple recipe for Homemade Snow and Honey using a tray of ice cubes and 2 Tablespoons of warmed honey.  Just crush the ice into a powdery snow and pour the warmed honey over it.  

That sounds like a delicious little treat, but for today, I think I’ll try the Honey Hot Chocolate for a Very Blusterous Day Outside.

Simmer ¼ cup of water, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa for 2 minutes until it is smooth.  Add a tablespoon of honey and ¾ cup of milk and heat.

Pooh is a very simple bear who takes delight in little things.  A cozy house on a winter day – a little something special for lunch.  It’s the simple things in life that warm the heart. 

The more it

SNOWS-tiddely-pom,
The more it
GOES-tiddly-pom
The more it
GOES-tiddly-pom
On snowing

From The House at Pooh Corner