Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The Softening of Miss Cynthia - By Lucy M Montgomery

The Softening of Miss Cynthia by L. M. Montgomery — A Heartwarming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime

Settle in and let this tender, heartwarming short story by L. M. Montgomery, the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables, ease you gently towards sleep. The Softening of Miss Cynthia is a quiet tale of a hardened heart, a lonely orphan boy and the slow return of kindness, read softly and slowly as a bedtime story for adults who want to wind down, ease insomnia and drift into deep, restful sleep.

Miss Cynthia lives alone in her big, spotless house, keeping neither man nor maid, and she likes it that way. Then one evening an express wagon pulls into her yard and a thin twelve-year-old boy climbs down with his trunk. He is Wilbur, the son of the stepbrother she grew up with, who has died far away in California. With his last wishes he sent the boy to his "good and kind" Aunt Cynthia.

But Miss Cynthia has grown sharp and set in her ways over the years. She has never been used to children, she tells her gossiping neighbour Mrs. John Joe, and she has no intention of keeping him. So Wilbur is sent off to work for a hard farmer down the road, and all summer long Miss Cynthia can't quite escape the sight of his pale face. What follows is a gentle story about conscience, forgiveness and how even the hardest heart can soften, set against a glowing autumn of crimson maples and warm October sunshine.

If you enjoy this classic audiobook reading, you'll find more of L. M. Montgomery's short stories in the Books at Bedtime series from Calming Anxiety, including A Fortunate Mistake, Ned's Stroke of Business, Davenport's Story and The Parting of the Ways, all perfect for a relaxing sleep audiobook night.

The Softening of Miss Cynthia was first published in 1904 and is collected in Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1904. L. M. Montgomery (1874–1942) has been in the public domain for many years, and this reading is shared freely for your rest and relaxation.

Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.

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Sleep well, my friend. And in everything, be kind.

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Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.