
Glengarry School Days: A Story of Early Days in Glengarry
by Ralph Connor
'Glengarry School Days: A Story of Early Days in Glengarry' Summary
Set in a Canadian backwoods community in the late 1800's, the story centers around the school, the pupils and master, and the families. There are spoilers from here on...
The teacher-pupil relationship with the first master, Archie Munro, is inspiring and the 'golden lessons' that he teaches...that the man that remains master of himself never knows defeat.'
I loved the chapter called, 'Examination day; ' The examination was the great school event of the year...its approach was attended with deepening excitement...'
I don't remember ever feeling that way about examinations. More like deepening anxiety. How great it would be if exams were like this again. Each person doing their best and encouraging others to do theirs.
And as the Master said, 'It is a good thing to have your minds trained and stored with useful knowledge, but there are better things than that. To learn honour, truth, and right; to be manly and womanly; to be self-controlled and brave and gentle-these are better than all possible stores of learning...'
The new master introduced at chapter 4 was certainly different. I did have some sympathy with him at first as it is never easy taking over a position that was previously held by someone loved. However, he soon lost my sympathy by his behaviour. He not only belted Thomas, the brave young fellow who volunteered to take the whipping for his younger fellow pupil, but he also little Jimmie who he volunteered for.
Connor's masterful description of the minister's son, Hughie and his descent into the clutches of the manipulative 'Foxy' and then his inner turmoil, makes this book more than just a sweet book of delightful nostalgic tales. It becomes a book of deep human understanding. Everyone of us at some time in our life has done something that we deeply regret and which burns a hole in our very soul if we don't take it to the Lord and the one(s) offended. I squirmed and ached every step of the way with Hughie and rejoiced with his emancipation. As Mrs Finch says, "It is a graund thing tae be free, is it no.' Masterfully done by one who knows the Master.
The description of working and being with the Finch family was also very well done. I have experienced similar myself and felt peace simply by reading about it. The Lord gave us work for a blessing and Mrs Murray and Mrs Finch both understood this principle. Connor obviously has a 'mother-love'. He either had a mother of great virtue and wisdom or else he didn't but knew of such in other families. Either way, he put mother at the centre of a loving strong healthy family.
The conversion of John Craven and the shinny match were well written. I was caught up in the excitement of the match and the way Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Finch ministered to others in a quiet feminine way. It was interesting to read that according to Hughie's mother, the purpose of the game was 'to teach the boys to control their temper.' and that 'he that ruleth his spirit it better than he that taketh a city.' I wish sportsmen today observed this philosophy.
Overall, wonderful well written book with deep understanding of the emotions and ideals of a community of people trying to live according to their beliefs and principles. This book is a keeper.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1902Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

Ralph Connor
Canada
Charles William Gordon, or Ralph Connor, was a Canadian novelist, using the Connor pen name while maintaining his status as a church leader, first in the Presbyterian and later the United Church in Ca...
Books by Ralph ConnorDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Filled with descriptions of the magnificent Swiss Alps, the lives of the simple country folk who live in their picturesque peaks and valleys and the g...

Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty
Parables From Nature is a collection of short stories which were originally published as 4 separate volumes. They are inspired from Nature and written...

Coco Bolo: King of the Floating Island by Sidford Frederick Hamp
Sisters Margaret and Frances wait for their younger brother Edward to go for a nap before embarking on the adventure of trying to stand on the heads o...

Rhymes For The Young Folk by William Allingham
A collection of charming and imaginative poems for children, written by the renowned Irish poet William Allingham. These verses, written for his own c...

Wood Folk at School by William J. Long
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Wood Folk, a group of nature-loving children guided by the wise and knowledgeable Woodmaster, as they ex...

The Windy Hill by Cornelia Meigs
The Windy Hill is a children's novel by Cornelia Meigs. A brother and sister learn about their own family's history in New England through a series of...

Three Minute Stories by Laura E. Howe Richards
This book is a collection of short stories, poems, and anecdotes intended for young children. The stories are all relatively short, making them ideal...

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is one of the most appreciated Victorian writers, his novels gaining worldwide recognition by both critics and readers. First publishe...

Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 3 by Louisa May Alcott
Embark on an enchanting literary journey with "Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 3" by the incomparable Louisa May Alcott. Within these pages lies a treasure...

The Story of Atlantis and the Lost Lemuria by William Scott-Elliot
This volume contains two publications by W. Scott-Elliot, namely The Story of Atlantis (1896) and The Lost Lemuria (1904). A theosophist and believer...
Reviews for Glengarry School Days: A Story of Early Days in Glengarry
No reviews posted or approved, yet...