A Return to Loveliness
Anne of Green Gables
Chapter 16 - Diana is Invited to Tea
With Tragic Results
Come sit with me as the cool breezes lightly waft by - the air quickly warming fortelling of another hot summery day. Let's imagine ourselves far away on a wonderful island - not in the summertime, but in the autumn - the month of October. Lets drink our berry smoothy and enjoy blueberry biscuits with cinnamon icing, in honor of the rasberry cordial Anne intended to serve Diana in their first grown-uppish tea party.
Anne revelled in the world of color about her.
"Oh, Marilla" she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't the give you a thrill--several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."
On this day, Marilla was planning to attend a meeting of the Aid Society at Carmody. While giving Anne instructions for the day, to remember to put out the tea. Marilla on impulse suggested Anne invite her friend Diana over to spend the afternoon and to enjoy tea with Anne.
"Oh, Marilla!" Anne clasped her hands. "How perfectly lovely! You are able to imagine things after all or else you'd never have understoond how I've longed for that very thing. It will seem so nice and grown-uppish. No fear of my forgetting to put the tea to draw when I have company. Oh, Marilla, can I use the rosebud spray tea set?"
Marilla declined Anne's request suggestiing she use instead the brown tea set....She added that Anne could open a little yellow crock filled with cherry preserves, cut some fruitcake, offer cookies and snaps as well as offer a half full bottle of Marilla's Raspberry Cordial with instructions to have their tea in the sitting room.
Completely Delighted Anne flew over to Diana's to invite her over for the day. Shortly thereafter Diana arrived at Green Gables dressed in her 'second best' dress as was Anne, each girl acting as adult and formal as they could - considering the honor and solemnity of the afternoon's events.
The girls spent the day in the sunny fields of the orchards chattering away about schoolmates and the residents of Avonlea all the while eating several apples from the trees.
When they returned to Green Gables Anne set Diana in the sitting room and offered Marilla's Raspberry Cordial - which was to be found on the second shelf of the sitting room closet. While Diana settled herself, Anne searched the closet shelf for the cordial. Anne discovered it was not on the second shelf but up high and set back in the closet. She offered a tumbler full of the cordial to Diana, declining some herself - still full from the apples. As Anne was preparing the girl's tea, Diana so enjoyed the cordial - not having tasted any so good - she helped herself to another tumbler full and then another.
Anne returned to the sitting room, chatting away as she normally did and was interrupted by Diana who declared she was not feeling well. Despite Annes plea for her to try some refreshments and tea, thinking this would make her feel better, Diana declined and insisted she needed to return home.
Disappointed, Anne relented and accompanied Diana as far as the Barry yard fence and returne to Green Gables - weeping all the way home.
As the warmth of the day progresses and we thoroughly enjoy each other's company and this Delightsome tale, lets retire to the guest room where I've set a light tea to refresh our spirits. I have prepared cucumber and tomato tea sandwiches as well as oatmeal cookies. You may have your choice of lemon, raspberry, rose or green tea. Let us continue to imagine ourselves back on the island as Anne and Diana enjoy their afternoon together....
The next day Anne was astonished to learn from Mrs. Lynde that Mrs. Barry accused Anne of setting Diana drunk, "She says that I must be a thoroughly bad, wicked little girl and she's never going to let Diana play with me again. Oh, Marilla, I'm just overcome with woe."
Amazed, Marilla asked Anne what she gave Diana at their tea. Nothing but the Rasberry Cordial, Anne replied also explaining that Diana liked it so much she drank three tumblers full.
Disbelieving Marilla approached the sitting room closet to discover the bottle that held the refreshment that Anne offered. Marilla immediately recognized that the liquid was not her Rasberry Cordial, but her three-year-old Currant Wine. Of which certain residents of Avonlea disapproved strongly of, Mrs. Barry among them.
"Anne you certainly have a genius for getting into trouble. You went and gave Diana currant wine instead of raspberry cordial. Didn't you know the difference yourself?"
Anne responded that she didn't even taste the drink. Anne continued that Diana got terribly sick wishing to go home and that Mrs. Barry told Mrs. Lynde that Diana giggled silly and went straight to bed. It was when Mrs. Barry smelled Diana's breath that she noted she was actually drunk. Mrs Barry was so angry at Anne refusing to believe that the incident was an accident.
"I should think she would better punish Diana for being so greedy as to drink three glassfuls of anything" said Marilla.
"I must cry," said Anne. "My heart is broken. The stars in their courses fight against me, Marilla. Diana and I are parted forever. Oh, Marilla, I little dreamed of this when first we swore our vows of friendship".
Thus goes one of the Delightsome scenes in the novel, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The complete story is so very Delightsome one falls in love with this whimsical, poetical young lady.
Filled with the beauty that is Prince Edward Island and the blissful rhythm of the pace of rural life on the island, you can be transported in your imagination discovering the wonders of life and the trials and triumphs of this marvelous heroine whom you'll cherish your life through...
I hope you've enjoyed your visit, the story and the light refreshments. We can find much to enjoy
in reading Anne of Green Gables - there's so much scope for the imagination....
I want to thank Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for inspiring us to celebrate
Anne of Green Gables today.
Raspberry Cordial
2 packages of frozen, unsweetened raspberries
1-1/4 cups sugar
8 cups boiling water
3 lemons
Directions:
1) Place raspberries into a large pot and add the sugar.
2) Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or until all the sugar has dissolved.
3) With a whisk or spoon, smash the raspberries thoroughly.
4) Pour the mixture through a strainer to extract the juice. Discard the remaining pulp.
5) Squeeze 2 of the lemons, and add the lemon juice to the raspberry juice.
6) Boil 10 cups of water and add the water to the raspberry juice.
7) Let the raspberry cordial cool. Add thin slices of lemon to the cordial, and then chill it in the refrigerator.
8) Add more water to taste.
9) Serve and enjoy!
From Kate MacDonald's Anne of Green Gables Cookbook
Cucumber Sandwiches
1 lg. cucumber, cleaned but not peeled
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 green onions, chopped
Mayonnaise as needed
Celery salt
Garlic powder
Paprika, if desired
Sandwich bread, white or other
Shred the cucumber and allow to drain over a paper towel until most of the liquid is gone. Mix the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and spreadable. Stir in chopped onions and add garlic powder and celery salt as desired. Add drained cucumber, stir.
Take crusts off bread; spread a scant 1/4 cup of cucumber mixture on bread. Slice into triangles.
Serve immediately, or chill until serving.
Wishing you a most Delightsome Day,
