The Brown Mouse
by Herbert Quick (1861–1925)
- Free to read
- 4 hours to read
- 23 chapters
- Reading level: 7th grade
"The Brown Mouse" by Herbert Quick is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers on Jim Irwin, a farmhand struggling with his identity and aspirations, as he unexpectedly finds himself appointed as a schoolteacher. The narrative explores themes of class, ambition, and the pursuit of a meaningful life against the backdrop of rural America. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Jim Irwin and Jennie Woodruff, a farmer's daughter. Their interaction begins with a simple yet pivotal moment when Jennie dismisses the idea of Jim marrying her with a derisive "Humph!" This offhand comment triggers a chain of events that lead Jim to reflect on his stagnant life, prompting his decision to pursue a teaching position. The opening establishes Jim's internal conflict between his duties, his unfulfilled dreams, and his feelings for Jennie, while also hinting at the broader societal expectations and limitations placed on individuals in rural settings. The narrative teases the promise of transformation for both Jim and the community as they navigate the complexities of their relationships and aspirations.
- Love stories
- Iowa
- Rural schools
Read the opening
Chapter I: A Maiden's "Humph"
A Farm-hand nodded in answer to a question asked him by Napoleon on the morning of Waterloo. The nod was false, or the emperor misunderstood—and Waterloo was lost. On the nod of a farm-hand rested the fate of Europe.
This story may not be so important as the battle of Waterloo—and it may be. I think that Napoleon was sure to lose to Wellington sooner or later, and therefore the words "fate of Europe" in the last paragraph should be understood as modified by "for a while." But this story may change the world permanently. We will not discuss that, if you please. What I am endeavoring to make plain is that this history would never have been written if a farmer's daughter had not said "Humph!" to her father's hired man.
Of course she never said it as it is printed. People never say "Humph!" in that way. She just closed her lips tight in the manner of people who have a great deal to say and prefer not to say it, and—I dislike to record this of a young lady who has been "off to school," but truthfulness compels—she grunted through her little nose the ordinary "Humph!" of conversational commerce, which was accepted at its face value by the farm-hand as an evidence of displeasure, disapproval, and even of contempt. Things then began to happen as they never would have done if the maiden hadn't "Humphed!" and this is a history of those happenings.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Brown Mouse by Herbert Quick comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #26987, released 2008-10-21. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Novels, American Literature.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
