L.M. Montgomery’s Short Story, ‘A Case of Trespass’

A boy learns the value of honesty from his mother.

“Boy Fishing” by Lilla Cabot Perry. Although he takes home a great catch, a boy receives something greater from his mother in this short story by L.M. Montgomery. Public Domain

Legacies that people leave, whether as inspiration or warning, prove to be a crucial foundation for subsequent generations and the world around them.

L.M. Montgomery considers the weight and importance of good, virtuous legacies in her short story “A Case of Trespass.” She follows a boy who is presented with a problem and must decide to either be honest or follow the path of fear. In the end, his choice becomes his legacy.

The Fishing Pond

Dan Phillips, 13, fishes for trout in Mr. Walters’s pond in the midday sun. He has been fishing since the early morning and has caught a good number of fish. Unfortunately, as the hot sun rises, the fish refuse to bite. After grabbing some flowers for his crippled younger sister, Ella May, Dan gathers his catch and heads home.