A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Adams Place - Home of Jingle Gordon and his aunt and uncle; bought by Long Alec in October 1934 for the purpose of pasturing and going into the livestock business. (MP 13-14)
Atkins, Unknown - the husband of Honor who died shortly after the wedding. (PoSB 56-57)
Bay Shore - the childhood home of Pat's mother; the home of the great-great-aunt Hannah, and the great-aunts Frances and Honor; passed to Mother upon the death of Frances four days after Silver Bush burned to the ground.
Binnie Family - "As Pat had forseen Silver Bush was overrun with the Binnie tribe (after May's marriage to Sid). May's brother's flicked cigarette ashes all over the house. Her sisters and cousins came in what Judy called 'droves', filled the house with shrieks, and listened behind doors. And they were always more or less offended no matter how they were treated. "(MP 205)
Binnie, May - nemisis of Pat. In what was acknowledged as an all-round bad decision, Sid married her in Fall 1940. May was nothing like the Gardiners, and life at Silver Bush became quite miserable. (MP 196) It was due to a fire that May left burning that Silver Bush was destroyed. (MP 270)
Bishop - (unnamed) Uncle of Clara. Visited one night at the Bay Shore. When a silver toilet set disappeared the next day, Hannah wrote him an accusory note. He wrote back that he was poor but not a thief. He had hidden the set in the blanket box because "it was too luxurious for a humble priest like myself to use, and I was afraid my medicine would spill on it." It was there, sure enough, and it was said that Hannah was never the same again after accusing a bishop of theft! (MP 10)
Bold-and-Bad - One of the Silver Bush cats who arrived in the summer of 1925 (PoSB 188). A big gray cat with "eyes of pale jade with a black line down their center." Refused to be friends with McGinty (MP 3) , and he had a bad habit of bringing dead mice to Pat's bedroom as a present. (MP 5)
Bonnet, Marie - wife of Nehemiah (PoSB 11); mother of seventeen children, four of whom died of cholera (PoSB 19); buried at the Silver Bush graveyard (PoSB 11).
Butterbloom, Nathaniel - After a mishap with the car in a storm, Pat and Suzanne take refuge in a small, seemingly deserted house, only to discover the following morning that it was inhabited by "a tall, gaunt, unshaven creature in a motley collection of garments, with an extraordinarily long grey moustache...hanging down on either side of his chin." The threesome had breakfast together, and the girls got quite a laugh over two unchaperoned girls spending the night with a drunken man! (MP 117-119)
Castle McDermott - Castle in Ireland in which Judy Plum was in service when she was just a "girleen" before coming to the Island. Home of the enchanted mirror.
Field of Farewell Summers - one of the fields on the Silver Bush farm, which in September was was dotted with purple asters. (PoSB 8)
Gardiner, Alexander - aka Long Alec; father of Joe, Winnie, Sid, Pat and Rae.
Gardiner, Amy - daughter of Brian and Jessie.
Gardiner, Barbara - called "aunt", presumably Long Alec's sister; lived at Swallowfield along with Edith and Tom.
Gardiner, Brian and Jessie - cousins from Summerside (MP 146) who just "ran down" uninvited for Christmas 1934 and brough rich, old Cousin Nicholas Gardiner with them. (MP 40)
Gardiner, Edith - called "aunt", presumably Long Alec's older sister. Rather sour woman who lived at Swallowfield with Tom and Barbara. Always at outs with Judy Plum. She died quite suddenly in August 1940. (MP 216)
Gardiner, Hazel - called "aunt", presumably Long Alec's younger sister; married Robert Madison in 1923.
Gardiner, Helen - rich, much-older sister of Long Alec who lived in Summerside; her home was called Elmwood (PoSB 103); married to a Mr. Taylor (PoSB 93); in March 1922 it was proposed that Winnie live with her in order to go to a better school, but Winnie's laughter got on her nerves and she was a sloppy housekeeper. (PoSB 101) It was while Pat was visiting her a few weeks later that she first met Bets. (PoSB 107)
Gardiner, Horace - called "uncle", presumably Long Alec's brother. Retired sea captain living in Vancover (MP 124); Judy tells a funny story about Horace and a monkey. (MP 6) He visits Silver Bush in Fall 1936 for the first time in twenty years. He is a very straight-laced man in spite of his rather free youth. By misfortune, he arrives the day of Rae's going-away-to-Queen's party and is quite scandalized. Even so, by the end of his visit, the whole family liked him very much, and he paid for Rae's year at Queen's. (MP 124-139)
Gardiner, Joe - oldest of Long Alec's children. Went away to sea in November 1926, much to the dismay of the family. (PoSB 192) He came home for a brief visit in April 1928 (PoSB 220) and again at Christmas, 1934, by which time he'd become Captain of his own ship. He was a year younger than Uncle Horace had been when he had gotten his ship. (MP 6) He married Enid Sutton in 1941 and she joined him on his subsequent travels.
Gardiner, Nicholas - Rich old cousin from New Brunswick who hated cats. Arrived at Silver Bush with Brian and Jessie Gardiner for Christmas 1934, and stayed for a few days.
Gardiner, Nehemiah - Pat's great-great grandfather, who came to P.E. Island with his wife, Marie Bonnet, in 1870. (PoSB 11)
Gardiner, Norma - daughter of Brian and Jessie (PoSB 94); she and Pat didn't get along from the first and Pat slapped her for making fun of Silver Bush. (PoSB 96)
Gardiner, Patricia - Pat was born in the fall of 1913. She was a bright, very lovable child who detested change. She went to Queen's Academy and became a teacher. After her mother's surgery, she gave up teaching to run Silver Bush, which was what she really wanted to do anyway. She positively worshipped her home, and she became very angry when anyone insulted it. In 1945, after the destruction of her home by fire, she became engaged to Hilary Gordon.
Gardiner, Rachel - aka Cuddles or Rae; the youngest of Pat's siblings, born 1920. Attended Queen's Academy; married Brook Hamilton in Spring 1943 and moved to China.
Gardiner, Richard - son of Nehemiah, brother of Thomas, known as "Wild Dick Gardiner." A sailor who had fought with sharks and was rumored to have eaten human flesh. As he was dying from measles, he asked Thomas to bury him under the waters of the Gulf. The scandalized Thomas wouldn't do this, and Dick was buried in the Silver Bush graveyard instead. Judy Plum told that as a result, whenever any misfortune was about to befall the Gardiners, Wild Dick would rise and sit on the fence and sing rakish songs. (PoSB 11)
Gardiner, Sidney - The younger of Pat's two brothers, born in 1912. Just one year apart in age (PoSB 9), Sid and Pat were always very close. Sid was jilted by Dorothy Milton in Winter 1936/37, and then married May Binnie in Fall 1940, much to the family's dismay.
Gardiner, Tom - called "uncle", presumably Long Alec's brother. Bachelor who lived at Swallowfield with the aunts Edith and Barbara; wanted to go to the Klondike during the gold rush, but Edith put a stop to it (MP 8); it was said that he built a new building on his property every year; he was the last man in the North Glen who wore a beard, as well as the only man who kept Jersey cows (PoSB 23); came close to marrying Merle Henderson in 1895 and in 1935. (MP 79-91)`
Gardiner, Thomas - Pat's great-grandfather, husband of Jane Wilson. Buried at the Silver Bush graveyard. (PoSB 11)
Gardiner, William - the brother of Nehemiah; known as "Weeping Willy" because, upon arrival on PE Island, seeing all of the trees that had to be cleared away, he sat down and cried. This event was never forgotten and no woman would marry him. He was buried in the Silver Bush graveyard, and it was said that whenever misfourtune was about to befall his clan, he sat on his tombstone and wept. (PoSB 11-12)
Gardiner, Winnie - the older of Pat's two sisters, the sibling between Joe and Sid. Married Frank (blank) in (blank), whereupon the couple moved to Bay Shore. Their first child, Mary Laura Patricia, was born on Christmas Day 1934. She later had three more children, including twins named Winnie and Rachel.
Garrison, Doreen - the mother of Hilary, who left him at his uncle's after the death of her husband when Hilary was about two. She subsequently married Mr. Garrison and moved to Honolulu. She visited Hilary for the first time in the summer of 1926. She proved to be a very cold-hearted woman, and all of Hilary's dreams about his distant mother were shattered. (PoSB 178-184)
Gentleman Tom - One of the Silver Bush cats who appeared from nowhere and was very attached to Judy. He loved to lie on the tombstones in the summer. (PoSB 12) He was "so old he'd forgotten to die." (MP 3) Some ten or more years after he arrived, he left in November 1938 just as suddenly as he had come. (MP 182) On her deathbed, Judy said, "I've been sure ever since Gentleman Tom wint away that me own time wasn't far off." (MP 259)
Gordon, Hilary - aka Jingle; best friend of Pat ever since he found her lost in the dark in September 1921 and escorted her home (PoSB 65). He asked for Pat's hand several times over the years, but it wasn't until late 1945 that she finally agreed.
Gordon, Lawrence and Maria - the uncle and aunt of Hilary; they took him out of obligation but really didn't care for him and took no pains with his happiness or well-being. (PoSB 67-70)
Gordon, Jim - father of Hilary; met and married Hilary's mother Nova Scotia and died there. (PoSB 75)
Gowdy, Dan - called cousin by Pat, but I believe that this is an honorary title because it is always said in quotes; lived at Bay Shore with Hannah, Honor and Frances. (PoSB 56)
Gresham, Sir Charles - baron; husband of a fourth-cousin of Mother. (MP 9)
Gresham, Lady Clara - fourth-cousin to Pat's mother; visited Bay Shore at the age of ten; went to live in England with an aunt as a child. After her marriage to an English baron, the family believed that, as great-aunt Frances put it, "she wudn't be acknowledging inny kin to common people like us." (MP 9) But when her aunt-by-marriage, the Countess of Medchester, visited the Island, Clara requested that she visit the Gardiners. (MP 66)
Hamilton, Brook - Became Rae's fiance in September 1939. Brook and Rae made plans to marry in 1944 after Brook's graduation from college and move to China to take over a branch of his father's business there. (MP 190) However, in Spring 1943, the head of the China office died suddenly. Brook and Rae married with just three days notice and left for China. (MP 244)
Hill of the Mist - A hill one mile to the east and slightly higher than the Silver Bush hill; three lombardies perched at the top. At the age of five, Pat was afraid to leave Silver Bush for fear that the Hill would be gone when she returned. (PoSB 9)
Hynes, Harris Jemuel - In November 1927, Pat had her first crush. Things were just peachy for a few weeks, until Harris called Hilary a sissy. This outraged Pat, and she told him so quite firmly. That was the end of that! (PoSB 206-218)
Kirk, David - Forty-something widower who buys Long House and lives there with his sister Suzanne. (MP 100) Pat and David become engaged in August 1941, and agreed to be married when Suzanne was. Suzanne was, at that time, engaged to be married when her fiance finished college, at least two years hence. (MP 220-223) In Spring 1944, upon news that Suzanne is about to be married, Pat and David mutally break the engagement because they both know that Pat doesn't really love him. (MP 255-256) After Suzanne's marriage, David leaves Long House. (MP 258)
Long House - called the Long Lonely House by Pat as a child because no one lived there. In the Spring of 1922, Bets Wilcox and her family moved there, but the family moved after Bets died in 1932. The successor to the Wilcoxes did not stay long, and in the spring of 1936, the house was bought by David Kirk, a widower, and his sister Suzanne. After Suzanne's marriage in 1944, David leaves, and it becomes the Long Lonely House once again.
Madison, Billy - son of Robert and Hazel; during the fiasco dinner at Christmas 1934, he had "presence of mind enough" to open the door for the Newfoundland dog running rampant through Silver Bush. (MP 42)
Madison, Buddy - son of Robert and Hazel; as a two-year old during Christmas 1934, he added to the melee by "shrieking piercingly." (MP 42)
Madison, Robert - shopkeeper; husband of Hazel Madison.
McClenahan, Mary - member of a ring of thieves with a kind heart; as children Pat and Jingle believed she was a witch and went to her to get McGinty back. (PoSB 87)
McGinty - Hilary Gordon's dog. When Hilary left for college in Toronto, McGinty moved to Silver Bush, where he lived until his death in
Medchester. Countess of - The aunt (by marriage) of Sir Charles Gresham. Visited Silver Bush in 1935 at the request of Clara. (MP 66)
Merridew, Merle - nee Henderson; sweetheart of Uncle Tom when they were young, but she refused to marry him. During the summer of 1935, it came to light that now-widowed Mrs. Merridew and Uncle Tom had been exchanging letters for quite some time, and he had, once again, proposed. Mrs. Merridew suggested that they meet before finalizing any plans, and as a favor to Uncle Tom, Pat invited her to Silver Bush. Upon her arrival, Tom decided that he no longer wished to marry her, as she had become a fat, loud woman, but proposed anyway as the honorable thing to do. To everyone's great relief, Mrs. Merridew refused on the basis that Tom had gotten so "old-looking." (MP 79-91)
Milton, Dorothy - She became engaged to Sid in Spring 1935, but in Winter 1936/37, she jilted Sid and ran away with her cousin from Halifax. Sid became hard and bitter; nothing would console him. (MP 151)
Mince Pie Field - a triangular field of land running up to the spruce bush (PoSB 8)
Plum, Judy - Arrived at Silver Bush in May of 1894 and never left. Her title was housekeeper, but she became family.
Secret Field - A field on the Silver Bush farm that Sid and Pat discovered one day, where strawberries grew. This field was the home of the Wood Queen and the Fern Princess. Pat and Sid vowed to keep the field a secret between them. (PoSB 8-9)
Selby, Albert - Mother's brother, the father of Dorothy and Joan. (PoSB 166)
Selby, Dorothy and Joan - The daughters of Albert Selby and his wife; educated at a convent boarding school; their visit to Silver Bush in late fall 1925 coincided with Pat's and Bets' birthday. Pat didn't "take" very strongly to them. (PoSB 166)
Selby, Honor - the great-aunt of Pat who lived at Bay Shore; once married to a Mr. Atkins, he died shortly after the wedding. (PoSB 56-57)
Selby, Frances - the great-aunt of Pat who lived at Bay Shore. According to Judy she never married because her beau died before the wedding. (PoSB 57)
Selby, Mary - wife of Long Alec and mother of Joe, Winnie, Sid, Pat and Rae; (I had quite a time finding her first name, because she is always referred to as 'mother', but I finally discovered it on PoSB 61, when Hannah refers to her as 'Mary'.)
Silver Bush - The family of home the Gardiners.
Sutton, Enid - Became the wife of Joe in the spring of 1941 after an engagement of three years, and joined him on his subsquent travels.
Swallowfield - The farm adjoining Silver Bush, home of Tom, Barbara, and Edith. (PoSB 22)
Tillytuck, Jane Maria - A saleslady who arrived at Silver Bush to peddle her wares in Fall 1941. By pure coincidence, it was discovered that she was Tillytuck's estranged wife. She had ordered him out fifteen years earlier when he refused to believe in predestination, and he left.
Tillytuck, Josiah - "Tillytuck walked into the room, and though nobody just then realised it, into the life and heart of Silver Bush." (MP 19-20) Hired man at Silver Bush for seven years; Tillytuck was a hard worker, and a great storyteller. He left Silver Bush in Fall 1941, partly because he couldn't stand Sid's wife May, and partly because his wife had found him. The whole family was quite upset.(MP 230-231) He did come back for a brief visit the when Judy was dying in late 1944. (MP 263)
Wheeler, Lawrence - a Holy Christian "go-preacher" who hung around Silver Bush constantly in 1937. The family believed he was pursuing Rae, and none of them approved, so Pat refused to leave them alone. It came to light that Wheeler actually was after Pat, and he believed that Pat liked him because she was always around! After Pat refused to marry him, he stopped coming to Silver Bush and left the area altogether. Rae, who had fancied herself in love with him, believed that Pat had made him leave. They had a serious quarrell and tensions were high for several months.
Whispering Lane - the lane that ran between Silver Bush and Swallowfield, which was planted with white birches. (MP 13)
Wilcox, Elizabeth Gertrude - aka Bets. In the spring of 1922, Pat and Bets meet at Elmwood in Summerside. They became fast friends, and by coincidence, it turns out that Bets' family has bought the Long House. The two girls thought it was uncanny that they shared the same birthday. (PoSB 107) In April 1928, Bets died of flu pneumonia. Pat was heartbroken. (PoSB 224-227)
Wilson, Jane - Pat's great-grandmother, wife of Thomas Gardiner. A demure Quaker lady who always wore grey and a prim, plain cap. It was she who had fought off a big black bear trying to get into their cabin by pouring hot mush on his face. (PoSB 11)
