Friendship Village

Friendship Village, 20 sentimental stories in the local‐color tradition, by Zona Gale, published in 1908. The narrator is a woman who moves from a large city to a Midwest village, which she depicts as representative of “The little real home towns, their kindly, brooding companionship, their doors to an efficiency as intimate as that of fairy fingers.”

The Debut describes the busy intrigue when Mrs. Ricker, who takes in washing, invites her patrons to a “coming out reception” for her daughter Emma Ella, 30 years old and engaged to be married. Mrs. Postmaster Sykes deliberately holds a reception the same evening; Emma Ella does not appear, having eloped; but all ends well when Mrs. Sykes brings her guests to join the other party. The Grandma Ladies is a Christmas story about Calliope Marsh, who cannot afford material gifts but entertains the “grandma ladies” of the Old Ladies Home, whom she gratifies by bringing a little child to join the celebration. The Tea Party tells of Mrs. Merriman, two years a widow, who will not appear at parties because she wishes to wear out her mourning costume before buying a new “best” dress. She solves her problem by appearing after a tea party has begun, and accepting refreshment apart from the other guests.