Booth Tarkington’s Short Story, ‘The Spring Concert’

“Spring,” 1865, by James Tissot. (Art Renewal)

Spring is in the air! As the weather heats up, trees bud, flowers bloom, and birds sing. Our world takes up the spirit of springtime, in which love and hope abide. A wonderful springtime spirit fills Booth Tarkington’s short story “The Spring Concert,” in which he portrays the promise that spring represents and the tune of love to which it dances.

As Mr. Allen approaches Mary and then crosses paths with Joe, Tarkington demonstrates how we determine our futures, and that everything about springtime radiates love.  

Spring Concert

With spring comes the Spring Concert in the Midland town, and Mr. Allen asks Mary if she would attend the concert with him. Despite his flowery flattery, Mary refuses with a simple “no.” Such a flat denial turns Mr. Allen toward the pub, where he consoles himself with buttermilk.

Another miserable sufferer, Joe Perley, sits in the pub, commiserating with his glass of beer. After acquiring his jug of buttermilk, Mr. Allen heads to Joe’s table to join him.

Joe protests against Mr. Allen’s arrival, exclaiming that he wants to drink alone. In response, Mr. Allen advises Joe against getting drunk, for then he will not appreciate tonight’s concert. Joe again announces his desire to be left alone.

Mr. Allen persists that he, too, is miserable, claiming that Mary refused him because she loves Joe. “Well, you’re responsible for Mary’s treatment of me, aren’t you?” he confides. Joe says this can’t be so, stating that he barely saw anything of her in his whole life. Joe explains: “You know well enough how it is with me, and how it was with my father before me—every so often the spell comes on me, and I’ve got to drink.”

Suddenly taking Joe’s spells into consideration, Mr. Allen suggests that perhaps Joe uses his “hereditary” spells as an excuse for “hankering” for something else. This statement sends Joe into an angry fit. Nothing can distract Joe or take away the fact that he inherited his spells. Mr. Allen says: “You know, Joe, I believe if ... you found something else was really pleasanter, it might be you’d never start in [a spell] again.”

Spring in Our Hearts

The persistent Mr. Allen informs Joe that Mary truly loves him, and that spring is just the time for love. Joe laughs this off, but Mr. Allen points out that Mary has refused him and all other suitors in the town, so she must be in love with Joe. He bids Joe farewell, and heads off to tell Mary of his long conversation with Joe that was all about her.

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In this sweet story, Tarkington bids us breathe in the spring spirit, which harbors abundant hope and love. With hope, we overcome our faults and become who we choose to be; with love, we see the good in others and form new, beautiful bonds.

Tarkington’s story reverberates with L.M. Montgomery’s hopeful words in “Anne of Ingleside”: “Nothing ever seems impossible in spring, you know.” Spring’s hope and love bids us to achieve the impossible.

As Mr. Allen says, “This is springtime.” Let us inhale deeply the flowers in bloom around us, and smile broadly for the rebirth of love.

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