The Joy of Nelly Deane
Encyclopedia
The Joy of Nelly Deane is a short story by American writer Willa Cather
. It was first published in Century in October 1911.
with her family. She later receives a latter from Mrs Dow saying Mr Deane has lost money in an investment in Cripple Creek, Colorado
, Franklin ended up marrying a woman in Long Pine, Nebraska
, and Nelly is a teacher at the local school. The following winter, Peggy stops at Riverbend, where Nelly is to join the Baptist
faith and marry Scott. The day after the baptism, Nelly confesses to being unhappy to Peggy.
After living in Rome
for years, Peggy receives another letter from Mr Dow announcing Nelly's death subsequent to her second child's birth. Both children are now being looked after by Mrs Spinny, the Deanes having died. Back in Riverbend, Mrs Dow explains to Peggy that Nelly died because she was looked after by the wrong doctor - Scott had fallen out with two other good doctors. Finally, Peggy meets Margaret whilst she is sledging on Lupton's Hill, and Mrs Spinny also shows her the new baby, who reaches for the flower in her hat.
Willa Cather
Willa Seibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels of frontier life on the Great Plains, in works such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours , a novel set during World War I...
. It was first published in Century in October 1911.
Plot summary
After rehearsing for a choir, Nelly asks Peggy to walk back home in Riverbend with her and keep her away from Scott, who wants to walk her back. After the performance, Peggy sleeps over at Nelly's, and the latter tells her she is engaged to Guy Franklin. After graduation, Peggy moves to Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
with her family. She later receives a latter from Mrs Dow saying Mr Deane has lost money in an investment in Cripple Creek, Colorado
Cripple Creek, Colorado
The City of Cripple Creek is a Statutory City that is the county seat of Teller County, Colorado, United States. Cripple Creek is a former gold mining camp located southwest of Colorado Springs near the base of Pikes Peak. The Cripple Creek Historic District, which received National Historic...
, Franklin ended up marrying a woman in Long Pine, Nebraska
Long Pine, Nebraska
Long Pine is a city in Brown County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 341 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Long Pine is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Nelly is a teacher at the local school. The following winter, Peggy stops at Riverbend, where Nelly is to join the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
faith and marry Scott. The day after the baptism, Nelly confesses to being unhappy to Peggy.
After living in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for years, Peggy receives another letter from Mr Dow announcing Nelly's death subsequent to her second child's birth. Both children are now being looked after by Mrs Spinny, the Deanes having died. Back in Riverbend, Mrs Dow explains to Peggy that Nelly died because she was looked after by the wrong doctor - Scott had fallen out with two other good doctors. Finally, Peggy meets Margaret whilst she is sledging on Lupton's Hill, and Mrs Spinny also shows her the new baby, who reaches for the flower in her hat.
Characters
- Nelly Deane, a popular girl.
- Peggy, the narrator.
- Mrs Dow
- Mrs Freeze
- Mrs Spinny. She looks after Nelly's children subsequent to her death.
- Scott Spinny, Mrs Spinny's son.
- Guy Franklin, a travelling trader. He often travels to and from ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and later moves to Long Pine, NebraskaLong Pine, NebraskaLong Pine is a city in Brown County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 341 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Long Pine is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, where he gets married. - Mrs Deane, Nelly's mother.
- Jud Deane, Nelly's father.
- Margaret, Nelly's daughter.
- Doctor Tom, a doctor Scott has fallen out with.
- Doctor Jones, a doctor Scott has fallen out with.
- Doctor Fox, the incompetent doctor who looks after Nelly before she dies.
Allusions to other works
- In childhood, Nelly and Peggy are said to be rehearsing for Queen Esther.
- The Bible, with HagarHagar (Bible)Hagar , according to the Abrahamic faiths, was the second wife of Abraham, and the mother of his first son, Ishmael. Her story is recorded in the Book of Genesis, mentioned in Hadith, and alluded to in the Qur'an...
and IshmaelIshmaelIshmael is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, and was Abraham's first born child according to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Ishmael was born of Abraham's marriage to Sarah's handmaiden Hagar...
, is mentioned.
External links
- Full Text at the Willa Cather Archive