Dwellers in Arcady: The Story of an Abandoned Farm

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28027

Title

Dwellers in Arcady: The Story of an Abandoned Farm

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Dwellers in Arcady chronicles a family's idyllic twelve-year tenure on an abandoned Connecticut farm, blending rustic charm with the passage of time. Through vivid seasonal imagery and humorous anecdotes about farm life, the narrative captures the warmth of home, the beauty of nature, and the poignant realization that all good things must eventually end.

Summary up to 500 words

Albert Bigelow Paine's *Dwellers in Arcady* is a nostalgic memoir chronicling the life of a family on an abandoned two-hundred-year-old farm in Connecticut. The narrative begins with the narrator and his wife, Elizabeth, purchasing a dilapidated but structurally sound 'salt-box' house from their neighbor, William C. Westbury. Despite its weathered exterior, the home boasts a rich history, featuring a massive stone fireplace, antique furnishings, and a legacy spanning generations. The story unfolds through the changing seasons as the couple transforms the property, repairing the structure, cultivating a vibrant garden filled with hollyhocks, roses, and sunflowers, and raising crops like rye and wheat. They also raise pigs named Hans and Gretel and manage a small orchard, supported by household staff including the driver, Ed, and the servant, Lazarus. The text is punctuated by humorous episodes, such as the pigs growing excessively large and the eccentricities of the staff. As the years pass, the family expands with children named The Pride, The Hope, and The Joy. The narrative captures the evolution of rural life, marked by the arrival of automobiles and the impact of war, which eventually prompts the family to travel abroad. Upon their return, they find the farm has changed, leading them to sell the property to a new young couple, continuing the cycle of life. The book concludes with a bittersweet reflection on the transience of happiness and the enduring beauty of memories. A poignant final image describes the miraculous blooming of a white Canterbury bell that had failed to grow for six seasons, appearing only on the day the family leaves as a final farewell. Through this lens, Paine celebrates the enduring charm of New England, the poetry of the seasons, and the inevitable passage of time that turns lived experience into cherished memory.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28027.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg28027.epub

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2026-07-05 13:29 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Farm life