The Village Watch-Tower by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
"The Village Watch-Tower" by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century, capturing moments of rural American life at the twilight of that era. The book predominantly focuses on the character of Lucinda Bascom, an elderly observer of village life, who spends her days at the window of her humble home, aptly named the "Village Watch-Tower," where she witnesses the comings and goings of
her neighbors and reflects on her long life. The opening of the book introduces us to Lucinda Bascom and her storied past, tying her life experiences to the significant events of the village surrounding her. As Lucinda watches the river and the activity on the road, we get glimpses of village gossip and the dynamics of the local community through her observations and interactions with neighbors. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the setting in Maine, along with details concerning her family history and the community's social fabric, setting the stage for the stories to unfold in the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
The village watch-tower -- Tom o' the blueb'ry plains -- The nooning tree -- The fore-room rug -- A village Stradivarius -- The eventful trip of the Midnight Cry
Credits
Produced by R. McGowan, E. P. McGowan, and David Widger
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 73.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
