Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - Three Old Sisters and the Old Beau - By Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

The Three Old Sisters and the Old Beau by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman — A Gentle Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime

Drift off to sleep with The Three Old Sisters and the Old Beau by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, a tender, wistful New England tale of lifelong devotion and hearts that never grew old, read aloud by Martin Hewlett on Books at Bedtime, the sleep story series from Calming Anxiety.

Rachel, Nancy and Camilla have lived all their lives in the house where they were born. The youngest is nearly seventy, yet they are still the most youthful maidens in the village. On summer evenings, their shadows can be seen on the window curtains playing at graces with ribboned hoops. Each afternoon at five o'clock they sit in state in their cool front hall, dressed in the silks and muslins of their girlhood, bent over their embroidery.

And always, on a pleasant summer afternoon, the old beau comes stepping across the road from his house behind the pines, in his silk bell hat and blue swallow-tailed coat with bright brass buttons, flourishing his ivory-headed cane. He has never had another sweetheart, and they have never had another beau, and for as long as anyone can remember he has taken tea and pound cake from a blue china cup and plate. But which of the three sisters holds his heart? Nobody in the village has ever known.

This classic bedtime story for adults is perfect for winding down, easing insomnia and letting a busy mind settle into deep, restful sleep. Freeman's quiet, old-fashioned village, a gently bittersweet ending and Martin's calm, unhurried narration make it an ideal sleep audiobook for anyone who finds it hard to switch off at night.

If you enjoyed Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, you'll also find her Seventoes' Ghost on Books at Bedtime, alongside L.M. Montgomery's Charlotte's Ladies and The Little Black Doll.

The Three Old Sisters and the Old Beau was first published in Harper's Magazine in May 1896 and collected in The Love of Parson Lord and Other Stories (Harper & Brothers, 1900). Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930) and this story are in the public domain.

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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.