Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The Gossip of Valley View - By Lucy M Montgomery

The Gossip of Valley View by L.M. Montgomery — A Funny, Feel-Good Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime

Drift off to sleep with The Gossip of Valley View by L.M. Montgomery, a gently funny and heart-warming tale of small-town rumour and late-blooming romance from the author of Anne of Green Gables, read aloud by Martin Hewlett on Books at Bedtime, the sleep story series from Calming Anxiety.

It's the first of April, and fourteen-year-old Julius Barrett hasn't managed to fool a single soul all day. So when solemn, truthful Dan Chester rides by on his grey mare, Julius can't resist one last April Fool. He whispers some astonishing news: Adelia Williams and Young Thomas Everett are to be married in June. They are the very last two people in Valley View anyone would pair together. Young Thomas is a confirmed bachelor of fifty, Adelia a cheerful spinster of forty, and the two families have never been friendly.

Within days the story is everywhere. At the blacksmith's, the mill, the post office and even the minister's visit, Young Thomas is teased and congratulated wherever he goes. The rumour grows with every telling: a brown cashmere wedding dress, a hat with an ostrich plume, and then an actual wedding present arriving by express from a cousin in Minnesota. The trouble is, the more Valley View talks, the more Young Thomas finds himself thinking about Adelia's rosy cheeks and twinkling brown eyes.

This classic bedtime story for adults is perfect for winding down, easing insomnia and letting a busy mind settle into deep, restful sleep. Montgomery's warm humour, cosy village characters 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 enjoy L.M. Montgomery, you'll find more of her short stories on Books at Bedtime, including The Fillmore Elderberries, Jessamine, A Redeeming Sacrifice and Uncle Richard's New Year's Dinner, all from the same collection.

The Gossip of Valley View was first published in 1910 and is collected in Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1909 to 1922. L.M. Montgomery (1874–1942) and this story are in the public domain.

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.