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The Alpine Path
The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career | Lucy Maud Montgomery
17 posts | 11 read | 11 to read
Lucy Maud Montgomery was born at Clifton (now New London), Prince Edward Island, Canada, on November 30, 1874. She achieved international fame in her lifetime, putting Prince Edward Island and Canada on the world literary map. Best known for her Anne of Green Gables books, she was also a prolific writer of short stories and poetry. She published some 500 short stories and poems and twenty novels before her death in 1942.
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lauraisntwilder
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Mehso-so

This was sort of an odd little book. Parts of it were interesting and I loved the line where she says she doesn't like dramatizations of novels (if only you knew, Maud!!). Mostly though, it made me want to read her unedited diaries. This was a little too curated, but at the same time it felt scattered. It felt too reserved, I guess? Like we weren't really getting all the information? Not awful though. #kindredspiritsbuddyread

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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Alpine Path Discussion

I‘m spoiler-tagging this one on the off chance that someone hasn‘t read Anne of Green Gables yet! I think there was someone in the group who hadn‘t? Just in case: there are Green Gables spoilers in the discussion question below. 😊

BarbaraJean “Many people have told me that they regretted Matthew‘s death in Green Gables. I regret it myself. If I had the book to write over again I would spare Matthew for several years. But when I wrote it I thought he must die, that there might be a necessity for self-sacrifice on Anne‘s part, so poor Matthew joined the long procession of ghosts that haunt my literary past.” (from Alpine Path) 2y
BarbaraJean I was so surprised to read this revelation of LMM‘s feelings about having written Matthew‘s death in Green Gables! Do you think her narrative choice was a good one? Could there have been a different way to have kept Anne at Green Gables without Matthew's death? How do you think the story (and the other books) might have played out if LMM had “spared” Matthew for a few more years? 2y
lauraisntwilder I can't imagine the story without that. It's what makes Anne grow up. It cements her bond with Marilla. I think her original impulse was right, but it does make me wonder! 2y
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Daisey I was surprised by this as well. Yes, it‘s heartbreaking, but I‘ve always felt like it was something that did have to happen for Anne‘s story to continue in the way that it did. The alternative is an interesting idea to consider. 2y
Centique Yes I agree. Matthew‘s death is such a turning point for Anne. I think the timing made it so much more powerful, as @lauraisntwilder said forcing her to grow up. 2y
TheAromaofBooks I think his death is critical in Anne's character development as well - yes, she had had struggles in her childhood, but Matthew's death feels like her first “adult“ grief, the first time in her life where she controlled how she responded to a hard moment in life (instead of just getting trucked off to the next situation some other adult picked for her, like she did as a child). 2y
quietjenn It's pretty difficult for me to imagine the story without this. As has been noted, it's so key, in so many ways. 2y
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead
I was surprised to see LMM list Story Girl as her favorite & wondered if that changed with later books. It‘s fascinating how context can affect our fondness for certain books—places or people or events we associate with those stories.
Do you have books that are favorites partly because of the context in which you read them?
Are there books where it‘s it hard for you to separate the personal context from the book itself?

Daisey I found this comment on The Story Girl interesting as well, since it comes nowhere close to how I feel about the Anne & Emily stories. I did love all the references she made to things that inspired that story and it gave me a better appreciation for it. I definitely have strong feelings about books I read when I was young that would not make as much of an impression if I read them for the first time as an adult. 2y
Bkwrm7 There are definitely books I associate with specific periods of my life and some that I reread every so often despite the fact they are no longer popular. Probably the best example of this for me is The Grounding of Group 6 - a book I don't think almost anyone I know has read, but that has stuck with me for decades at this point. 2y
BarbaraJean @Daisey Me too--even allowing for the Emily books & The Blue Castle (my favorites!) having not been written yet, I wouldn't have put The Story Girl at the top of a list. She had written Anne of Green Gables and Anne of the Island by this point, and I think they're both so much richer, better books. But I love that LMM had such fond memories of writing The Story Girl! 2y
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BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7 I love hearing which books have stuck with people because of when they read them. The tagged is one of those for me--I remember being a bit embarrassed about the hot pink cover with its image of a lipstick-smeared coffee cup. In a lot of ways, it's a “fluffy“ book, but I read it & re-read it at some key times of transition as a young adult and it spoke to me deeply about direction and life choices and knowing & following who I am. 2y
Centique So many children‘s books I loved just can‘t conjure the magic anymore - like the Arthur Ransome Swallows and Amazon series and Enright‘s Gone Away Lake. I‘ve been thrilled to find that rereading Streatfeild‘s Ballet Shoes somehow took me right back to that time in my childhood. I‘m hoping more rereads will do the same 🤞 2y
TheAromaofBooks I wonder if The Story Girl was somewhat of a concept of an idealized childhood for her? A warm, happy family of cousins and friends all playing and working together, but all enamored with the story-teller in their midst? So different from her actual life experience. 2y
quietjenn The cynical part of me wonders if the shout-out to Story Girl is because it and it's sequel were her most-recent books, at the time that this was written? So she'd have still been living with these characters a bit, and thinnk, “yes, this is my favorite until the next one?“ But that might just be a stretch because Story Girl is one of my least favorites and I'm trying to justify it 😄. 2y
quietjenn To answer the question though: YES! So many books, so many associations. 2y
BarbaraJean @Centique I love it when childhood favorites take you right back. The Ramona books always do that for me! @TheAromaofBooks That would make sense, for her to construct a happy childhood like the one she wasn't able to have, and to take pleasure in escaping into that world. I wonder if it's what her childhood would have been like if she'd been able to grow up among her cousins at Park Corner. 2y
BarbaraJean @quietjenn Ha! Yes, I definitely didn't feel the magic with Story Girl that LMM seems to! I had to justify it as her favorite with the thought that at this point, she hadn't written Blue Castle yet. 😁 But if it's the last one she wrote in her gable room, it would be the last one she wrote before she was married. She might look back on writing it as an idyllic time, since her marriage turned out to be so unhappy. Which is sad to think about! 2y
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Alpine Path Discussion

I found some interesting background on the poem that‘s the source for L.M. Montgomery‘s “Alpine Path” in this post: https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2018/05/31/alpine-path/

It seems the poem that inspired Montgomery is a different one from “To the Fringed Gentian” by William Cullen Bryant (I‘d assumed the poem was by Bryant and had never looked it up!)

rubyslippersreads What an interesting article. It‘s rather ironic that Dean Priest sent Emily this poem, given how unsupportive he became about her writing. 😏 2y
BarbaraJean @rubyslippersreads Haha, yes! I think for him it was a case of ideal vs. reality. He was happy to encourage her when her writing was a hobby. When it came to the reality of her career, he realized he had a rival. 🙄 2y
22 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Alpine Path Discussion

The material in “The Alpine Path” was originally published in 6 magazine installments in 1917, and later published as a book in 1974.
Did your version of the book split it up into sections? (Mine didn‘t, so I‘m curious!)
Do you think the material works together as one unit, in book form?
What did you think of the content overall—did it give you any new insights or information about LMM?

BarbaraJean Mine had no chapter/section divisions at all, but I also didn‘t really see clear thought units within the material. I struggled with this as a book—I don't think there's enough coherence between the different elements: memoir, reminiscences on her writing process, and excerpts from her journal that weren't tied in to her theme. I wonder if I'd have liked it better as a serial, or if I'd have had the same issues. 2y
BarbaraJean I also thought it was interesting where this fell within her career. In 1917, she‘d published the first three Anne books, Kilmeny of the Orchard, Chronicles of Avonlea, Story Girl and Golden Road. Alpine Path was published the same year as House of Dreams. LMM had yet to publish the Emily books, the Pat books, Blue Castle, Tangled Web, Jane of Lantern Hill, and the other Anne books. 2y
lauraisntwilder I found a copy of the 1974 version online. It even has a stamp on the title page showing that the original owner bought it at LMM's birthplace. It's divided into 10 chapters, but the divisions felt arbitrary and didn't help make it feel more cohesive. 2y
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Daisey I truly enjoyed the early sections that described parts of her young life and inspiration for stories and details in her writing. However, I felt it was not well connected to the later portion and those parts with journal entries and travel details were not really enjoyable or enlightening. 2y
Bkwrm7 Mine had no divisions. The beginning parts seemed like they were really about her writing journey and how that came to be, but the travel stuff at the end didn't seem to fit. I wonder if the literary pilgrimage aspects of it would have made more sense to me if I had read more of the novels and poetry Montgomery was so enamored of. As it was, I kept nodding off while trying to finish that section. 2y
Bkwrm7 @Daisey So, my experience was basically the same. @BarbaraJean Since I was bored by the end, I appreciated that this was short, but agreed it did not cohere as a book. 2y
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder That's interesting they broke it up into 10 sections! I'm really curious how it appeared in its original 6 installments. @Daisey @Bkwrm7 The travel parts felt so random. Like she had a deadline and figured she could throw in some journal excerpts to fill out her quota. I liked that they visited so many literary landmarks on their honeymoon! But yes, maybe I'd have gotten more out of it if I'd known the authors she referenced. 2y
Centique Mine broke it up into 10 sections too. I haven‘t finished yet but I‘m enjoying reading everyone‘s thoughts. 2y
quietjenn My version didn't break it up at all. It definitely didn't feel like there was much delineation from section to section. I think I actually enjoyed it more than others did, but that might be because I thought of it as a more of a rambling, meandering reminiscence - sort of like sitting down for coffee with an old relative who's just going to talk about whatever - than anything actually thoughtfully constructed. 2y
BarbaraJean @quietjenn I like that way of thinking of this--meandering reminiscences rather than something with a direction! I'd be up for sitting down with LMM for coffee and talking about whatever. 🙂 2y
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BarbaraJean
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#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead - Alpine Path discussion

Montgomery begins Alpine Path with a few self-deprecating comments on her career and what might be said about it. Do you think this book accomplishes her modest goal: to encourage other writers on their own “Alpine Path”?

lauraisntwilder Maybe at the time it was written? We're so spoiled these days with authors having newsletters and social media accounts, that this felt tight-lipped in comparison. 2y
Bkwrm7 I think the parts that cover how she squeezed writing in around her day jobs and talking about getting used to all the rejections could be very encouraging for other writers. 2y
BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder That's a good point--I do wonder how this would have landed with her audience at the time. Social media does lend itself to the over-share! @Bkwrm7 How she handled the rejections would definitely have been encouraging to other writers! It was interesting to me how many writing-related jobs LMM had that weren't what she really wanted to do, like writing her “pot-boilers.“ 2y
quietjenn I think there were interesting bits, which could perhaps be encouraging for others, but I wouldn't say that, overall, it was particularly inspirational. 2y
18 likes4 comments
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BarbaraJean
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Mehso-so

This wasn‘t what I expected from the description/subtitle. The first half is a brief sketch of LMM‘s early years, then the second half throws in lots of excerpts from her journals, with very little commentary to tie them together (or to connect them to the story of her career). I understand this was compiled from a series of autobiographical essays, but it didn‘t feel like a series of essays, either—it was too scattered! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

BarbaraJean I am looking forward to discussing this on Saturday and hearing what others thought! 2y
Daisey I agree! I enjoyed the first half or so, but the second seemed very scattered. 2y
LeahBergen Well, I don‘t feel too badly about missing this one now. 😬 2y
BarbaraJean @LeahBergen Ha! It was interesting overall. But odd and all over the place. I don't know that it added a lot to my understanding of Montgomery. 2y
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BarbaraJean
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“There must have been a time when I learned, as a first step into an enchanted world, that A was A; but for all the recollection I have of the process I might as well have been born with a capacity for reading, as we are for breathing and eating.”

Same, Maud. Same.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

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Daisey
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Mehso-so

I really enjoyed the first part of this book that described aspects of Montgomery‘s early life and highlighted details that inspired her writing. However, I didn‘t find as much to appreciate in the later section about her European travels. Then it ended very abruptly. My rating improved slightly from a previous read, but this slim autobiographical book is still only a so-so read for me.

#reread #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #memoir #nonfiction

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BarbaraJean
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The #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead discussion of The Alpine Path is quickly approaching! Join in next weekend, April 29th, as we discuss L.M. Montgomery‘s autobiography of her career.

I‘ve tagged those who were interested in this month‘s discussion. All are welcome—let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be!

TheAromaofBooks This one is so short that I keep putting it off. 😂 Definitely planning to it this week, though!! 2y
BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Haha—me too! I‘ve had it out from the library for over a week but still haven‘t started! I‘m planning to get to it this weekend. 2y
LeahBergen I haven‘t started yet, either. 😆 2y
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JenlovesJT47 Hey is there any way you can give me a list/link of the previous Kindred Spirits buddy read books for the past year? I got way behind but want to catch up because I adore LMM 🤓 Thank you in advance and thanks again for putting this all together and for all of the hard work you put into it! 🤗❤️ 2y
BarbaraJean @JenlovesJT47 Absolutely! This is the post with the 2023 schedule: https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2526407 You're welcome to jump in whenever works for you! 🤗 2y
JenlovesJT47 Thank you!! 🤗 2y
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Daisey
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This is my current at school book to read for a few minutes each day with my classes. I‘ve read it once before and didn‘t appreciate it much. I‘m enjoying it much more on a second, more mature, read.

#TeachersOfLitsy #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #reread #nonfiction

BarbaraJean Love your bookmark! 2y
Daisey @BarbaraJean Thanks! I have a few of these simple botanical ones that I love and seem a perfect match for Montgomery‘s writing. 2y
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BarbaraJean
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Here are the #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead books for April and May!

We‘ll continue reading about LMM‘s life with “The Alpine Path,” her autobiography of her writing career. And in May, we‘ll read an Anne retelling, with “Ana of California.”

I‘m tagging the whole list as a heads up—let me know if you want to be added to the tag list for either or both of these (that is, if you haven‘t already—I do have a tag list going already for Alpine Path).

BarbaraJean @Daisey - I just saw that I have you on my list for Alpine Path, but not the overall Kindred Spirits list. Did you want to join just for Alpine Path, or should I add you the the overall list for the year as well? 2y
Bkwrm7 I'm in for both! Thanks! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I'm in for both!! I actually read Ana of California several years ago and feel like I may have enjoyed it! 😂 2y
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sblbooks I'm in for May. 2y
quietjenn Definitely down for the Alpine Path, but have already read (and liked!) Ana, so probably won't revisit. 2y
Daisey @BarbaraJean I want to be on the list for Alpine Path but not the overall list. I‘ll just pay attention to your page and see if there are any other specific books I want to join for. Thanks! 2y
rubyslippersreads Please add me to both The Alpine Path list and the overall list. 😊 2y
Centique Looks like my library has The Alpine Path so I will try to join in for April. Happy to stay on the tag list as I bounce in and out and enjoy everyone‘s reviews 😍 2y
lauraisntwilder Please add me for both. Thank you! 2y
BarbaraJean @Bkwrm7 @TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder I have you all down for both months! @sblbooks You're on the list for Ana of California in May! @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Centique You're on the list for Alpine Path in April! @Daisey Perfect--thanks for letting me know. I've got you on my list for Alpine Path only. Thanks everyone! Looking forward to these discussions. 2y
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BarbaraJean
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2022 is wrapping up & I'm thinking about #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead in 2023. We've read through LMM's books other than the short story collections & her autobiography & journals, but it might be fun to explore books about LMM & her work, and other LMM-adjacent fiction together. We could alternate months with fiction & nonfiction, continuing with LMM-themed books through 2023. I‘ve tagged people who‘ve participated/were interested in the past, but ⬇

BarbaraJean (cont'd) I don't want to keep tagging people who aren't interested, or who aren't currently active on Litsy, so if you'd like to jump in for future Kindred Spirits reads, please comment! All are welcome, you certainly don't have to participate every month, but let me know if you'd like to be tagged in the future. I'll tag some books below that have been on my radar—let me know which sound interesting, or add others you‘d like to suggest! (edited) 2y
BarbaraJean The classic prequel by Budge Wilson: 2y
BarbaraJean Contemporary adaptation: 2y
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BarbaraJean Interpretation/analysis of LMM's books: 2y
Prairiegirl_reading I am so enjoying the Christmas with Anne read! I would like to participate in at least some in 2023. I‘ve had Before Green Gables on my shelf for years so I‘d in for that one for sure. 2y
quietjenn You can keep tagging me. I'll probably dip in and out, depending on the book. 2y
sblbooks Yes, please tag me. I may not get to every book but I would like to read several of these. Before Green Gables is really good. 2y
Linsy I thought this was a beautiful adaptation! 2y
julieclair I would like to read some of these. Please keep me on the tag list. And thanks for hosting! 2y
LeahBergen Keep tagging me, please! Like @quietjenn I‘ll probably dip in and out. 😊 2y
Centique Please keep tagging me! I will try to jump in for a couple of these despite being AWOL such a lot 🥰 2y
TheAromaofBooks Do keep tagging me!!! I've really enjoyed our discussions!! 2y
rubyslippersreads Like @LeahBergen and @quietjenn I‘d like to be tagged so I can dip in and out. 2y
Jerdencon I know I‘ve been a little MIA but please continue to tag me - I‘d like to start back in again. 2y
AnneCecilie Please continue to tag me son I can dip in and out like several others 2y
StayCurious Please tag me! I‘d like to get back into the group 2y
BarbaraJean @Prairiegirl_reading @quietjenn @sblbooks @Linsy @julieclair @megnews @LeahBergen @Centique @TheAromaofBooks @rubyslippersreads @Jerdencon @AnneCecilie @StayCurious Yay! I‘ll put together a proposed schedule for the year and will be sure to tag you all. I‘m feeling some energy around Before Green Gables, so maybe we‘ll start there! 2y
kwmg40 Please continue to tag me. I may not join for all the books but I'd be interested in following along. 2y
BarbaraJean I‘ll be sure to tag you! Glad to have you join in where you can! 2y
Bkwrm7 I am hoping to get back to Litsy in the new year, so please keep tagging me. I‘d be interested in some of the adaptations and variations. This is another one that I‘ve had on my shelf for quite awhile. 2y
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LeahBergen
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saresmoore They need an “I love that you have this and covet it in equal amounts” emoji. 😍🤗🤤 6y
rubyslippersreads I almost picked this too. 😊 ❤️ getting a peek at your LMM collection! 😍 6y
merelybookish I have the ugly paperback edition. Yours is much prettier! 😍 6y
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Jas16 Omg your LM Montgomery collection just made me swoon 6y
LeahBergen @saresmoore Haha! 😘😘 6y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I thought you might pick it, too. And the crappier, no-dustcover-editions are just out of view in this shot. 😆 (edited) 6y
LeahBergen @merelybookish Hey, that paperback was the first one I read as a kid. It has a place in my heart! 😄 6y
LeahBergen @Jas16 Thank you! It‘s an ongoing project. 😆 6y
ValerieAndBooks Lovely!! Curious — do all your vintage books have the protective (plastic?) covers? Do you put them on yourself? 6y
LeahBergen @ValerieAndBooks Thank you! And yes, I do put the protective covering on them all myself. 😂 It actually makes them easier to read if they have a fragile/torn cover. I buy a roll of it and it lasts for years (and years!). 6y
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rubyslippersreads
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I'm so excited to have been approved for this on #Netgalley. It's not in the @Litsy database yet, but look at that gorgeous cover. 😍

Faibka Nice! 8y
BookishTrish Me too!!!! 8y
LeahBergen 😮😮 I can't wait to hear what you think of this! 8y
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rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @BookishTrish @Faibka Even though it's not out till May, I'm so tempted to move it right to the top of my TBR list. #cantwait 😀 8y
Jess_Read_This I saw this one one Netgalley! Congrats on the approval! It looked pretty good. Looking forward to your review! 8y
Laura317 I asked for it. Keeping fingers crossed. 8y
DebinHawaii Love the cover! Looking forward to hearing what you think! 👍📚 8y
Reviewsbylola I will have to look it up! 8y
Bookish.Heart Oh lucky you! 8y
EvieBee 😍😍 8y
Daisey I'm going to look this up right now! 8y
GlitteryOtters Oh wow!!!!! Lucky you!!!! 💕😍😍😍😍 8y
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SG2014
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We must follow our "airy voices", follow them through bitter suffering and discouragement and darkness, through doubt and disbelief, through valleys of humiliation and over delectable hills where sweet things would lure us from our quest, ever and always must we follow, if we would reach the "far-off divine event" and look out thence to the aerial spires of our City of Fulfilment.

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SG2014
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Nothing beats a Saturday morning spent with LM Montgomery