Something Very Precious

If you live with chronic illness, you can relate to this conversation in the middle of World War I:

"'And now, two years later, it is no nearer the end than it was then,' said Miss Oliver gloomily.

Susan clicked her knitting-needles briskly. 'Now, Miss Oliver, dear, you know that is not a reasonable remark. You know we are just two years nearer the end, whenever the end is appointed to be.' ...

'Would you exchange them - now - for two years filled with fun?'

'No,' said Rilla slowly, 'I wouldn't. It's strange - isn't it? They have been two terrible years - and yet I have a queer feeling of thankfulness for them - as if they had brought me something very precious, with all their pain. ... And still' - Rilla gave a little apologetic laugh, 'I don't want to suffer any more - not even for the sake of more soul growth.' ... 

'We never do,' said Miss Oliver. 'That is why we are not left to choose our own means and measure of development, I suppose.'"

And the following quote will show why this book came to mind today:

"And you will tell your children of the Idea we fought and died for - teach them it must be lived for as well as died for - else the price paid for it will have been given for nought. This will be part of your work, Rilla. And if you - and all of you girls back in the homeland - do it, then we who don't come back will know that you have not 'broken faith' with us."

"Rilla of Ingleside" by Lucy Maud Montgomery was the first book I remember bringing to life for me the heros and the sorrows of war - both in battle and at home.

While this final book in the "Anne of Green Gables" series does contain a rather cheesy and shallow romance, it thankfully doesn't take up too much of the story. In short, it follows Anne's youngest daughter, Rilla, through what she expected to be the most exciting years of her life. Little did she know that her teen years would be defined by World War I.

Whether you are an "Anne" fan or want to learn more about wartime life for soldiers and their families this Veterans Day [in the USA], "Rilla" may just stick with you (as with me) as being one of those books that brought history to life.

Happy Veterans Day!

Find the free audiobook on Librivox.org and free e-book on Gutenberg.org