A Window in Thrums

by J. M. Barrie

Overview

On the bump of green round which the brae twists, at the top of the brae, and within cry of T'nowhead Farm, still stands a one-storey house, whose whitewashed walls, streaked with the discoloration that rain leaves, look yellow when the snow comes. In the old days the stiff ascent left Thrums behind, and where is now the making of a suburb was only a poor row of dwellings and a manse, with Hendry's cot to watch the brae. The house stood bare, without a shrub, in a garden whose paling did not go all the way round, the potato pit being only kept out of the road, that here sets off southward, by a broken dyke of stones and earth. On each side of the slate-coloured door was a window of knotted glass. Ropes were flung over the thatch to keep the roof on in wind. Into this humble abode I would take any one who cares to accompany me. But you must not come in a contemptuous mood, thinking that the poor are but a stage removed from beasts of burden, as some cruel writers of these days say; nor will I have you turn over with your foot the shabby horse-hair chairs that Leeby kept so speckless, and Hendry weaved for years to buy, and Jess so loved to look upon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421893457
Publisher:	1st World Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2008
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM ( 9 May 1860 - 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland but moved to London, where he wrote a number of successful novels and plays. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who inspired him to write about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens (included in The Little White Bird), then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a "fairy play" about an ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER III. PREPARING TO RECEIVE COMPANY. Leeby was at the fire brandering a quarter of steak on the tongs, when the house was flung into consternation by Hendry's casual remark that he had seen Tibbie Mealmaker in the town with her man. " The Lord preserve's !" cried Leeby. Jess looked quickly at the clock. "Halffower!" she said excitedly. " Then it canna be dune," said Leeby, falling despairingly into a chair, " for they may be here ony meenute." " It's most michty," said Jess, turning on her husband, " 'at ye should tak a pleasure in bringin' this hoose to disgrace. Hoo did ye no tell's suner?" " I fair forgot," Hendry answered, " but what's a' yer steer ?" Jess looked at me (she often did this) in a way that meant, " What a man is this I'm tied to!" "Steer!" she exclaimed. " Is't no time we was makkin' a steer ? They'll be in for their tea ony meenute, an' the room no sae muckle as sweepit . Ay, an' me lookin' like a sweep ; an' Tibbie Mealmakcr 'at's sae partikler genteel seein' you sic a sicht as ye are!" Jess shook Hendry out of his chair, while Leeby began to sweep with the one hand, and agitatedly to unbutton her wrapper with the other. " She didna see me," said Hendry, sitting down forlornly on the table. Get aff that table!" cried Jess. " See haud o' the besom," she said to Leeby. " For mercy's sake, mother," said Leeby, " gie yer face a dicht, an' put on a clean mutch." " I'll open the door if they come afore you're ready," said Hendry, as Leeby pushed him against the dresser. " Ye daur to speak aboot openin' the door, an'you sic a mess!" cried Jess, with pins in her mouth. " Havers!" retorted Hendry. " A man canna be aye washin' at 'imsel." Seeing that Hendry was asmuch in the way as myself, I invited him upstai...