LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY: Part I
Maud's mother died of tuberculosis before she turned two. Her father travelled to Saskatchewan shortly after her mother's death to look for work. Maud stayed with her maternal grandparents in PEI. Maud missed her mother terribly.
Maud's grandparents were very strict. They insisted she always be quiet and act like a proper lady. She was forbidden to attend parties and was not allowed to invite friends to her home.
Maud's grandparents ran the village post office. People often dropped by in the evening to pick up their mail. They often shared stories with Maud's grandfather. Maud remembered these stories her entire life.
Maud started school in 1881. Often she would be found writing poems instead of concentrating on her studies. The students formed a story club. Their stories had tragic plots and usually ended with everyone dying. At age ten, Maud wrote, "My Graves," which was rediscovered in "Anne of the Island." Because Maud's grandparents lived in such a remote area, there were no children for Maud to play with. She spent her days reading, writing and dreaming.
At age 15, Maud travelled with her paternal grandfather to visit her father in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Her father had remarried by this time and though they remained close, Maud and her stepmother didn't see eye-to-eye.
Just before Maud's 16th birthday, she wrote the poem, "On Cape Leforce." She submitted the poem to "The Daily Patriot," in Charlottetown, PEI. Weeks passed with no word on her submission. Then, her father brought home a copy of the "Patriot." Maude discovered that the paper had published her poem. It was her first success and she was delighted.
Maud began to write more poetry and submit it to various publications. These were published, along with an essay. She won a writing contest sponsored by a Montreal newspaper. Though she wasn't being paid for her work, Maud was on her way to becoming a writer.
Maud was homesick for her Island. Although she dreaded leaving her father and friends, Maud returned to PEI to live with her grandparents. Maud hoped her grandfather would pay her tuition to college. He refused. Maud taught piano from the home and continued with her writing.
Soon Maud's grandparents tired of listening to the piano. They agreed to help her father pay for her schooling. She passed her entrance exam and place fifth out of 264 students. She left for Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown in 1893. In 1894, she accepted a teaching position in Bideford, PEI.
In 1895, Maud entered Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia to study English. She wished to gain knowledge to further her writing career. She returned to teaching in October, 1896, taking over the position of her second cousin, Edwin Simpson. Edwin visited her often and fell in love with her. Maud didn't love him, but felt she would eventually. The couple became secretly engaged.
Edwin found another teaching position for Maud in Lower Bedeque. Here she met and fell in love with Herbert Leard, who was a farmer. Though she knew that she would never marry Herbert, she broke her engagement with Edwin.
In March, 1898, Maud's grandfather died. She returned to Cavendish to live with her grandmother. Maud saw Herman only once after her return to Cavendish. He died of influenza in June, 1899.
Maud spent the next few years taking care of her grandmother. During this time she wrote short stories and poetry. In September 1901, she took a job with the "Daily Echo" - a newpaper in Halifax. She was originally hired as a proof reader. She had an opportunity to write for the "Echo" when part of a story disappeared. She wrote of this experience in "Emily's Quest."
Maud's earnings at the "Echo" were meager, but she gained experience. Too tired to write before or after work, she began to write during lulls in her duties. Before long, her work was being published in several top magazines. Her job with the "Echo" ended in 1902. Maude returned to Cavendish to care for her grandmother once again. She wanted to write in the peaceful surroundings of her childhood home.
Maud's stories were often rejected, but she didn't allow herself to be discouraged. When she received a rejection, she would immediately submit the work to another publisher. In 1903, she earned $500. from her writing.
Maud led a lonely existence. People snubbed her because she was a writer. Men courted her but she refused to marry them. She was unhappy. She took long walks and wrote about her feelings in a diary.
Despite her problems, Maud was determined to continue her writing. She began to study magazines to find out what kind of stories the editors were looking for. She was very self-disciplined and spent long hours honing her skills. She sent out numerous manuscripts. Then, she began to wonder if she could write a book.
Over the years, Maud had made notes of plot ideas and characters. In the spring of 1905, she came across on of these notes. It read, "Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent them." She began to visualize the girl. She would name her Anne...with an "e." Maud detested it when people added an "e" to the end of her name. She knew Anne would want her name spelled correctly. Maud plotted a short story based on a gingery, lively girl with red hair. As the character came to life, Maud discovered she liked Anne very much. Was it possible this story could be written as a book?
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