Dear Father,
as winter approaches New Moon, the wind gets colder with each passing day.
Good morning, Perry.
Good morning, Emily.
Look at this.
Great Lincoln?
Yes, this is a book about the American President, Lincoln.
President? Sounds just dandy!
May I borrow it?
Certainly.
But first, wash your hands.
Perry is amazing.
Not long ago he didn't even know the alphabet.
But now he is able to read books.
Abraham Lincoln was born in the state of Kentucky.
Perry lives with Aunt Tom.
I'm back.
Welcome back, Perry.
Are you disappointed I'm still alive?
Perry is working because Aunt Tom is poor health.
Not that again.
I'll start preparing dinner.
When he was seven, his family migrated to the state of Indiana.
Perry! Perry!
What are you doing? Put out the lamp!
Sorry about that. I was just read-
Reading is of no use.
More importantly, you should focus on working.
If people don't work, there will be no food on the table.
Studying is for the rich folk.
Okay, I know!
We're barely staying afloat with my savings and your meagre salary.
Abraham Lincoln was poor and could not afford to attend school.
Good morning, Perry.
Good morning.
Isn't Emily ready yet?
I'm off to school.
Good morning, Perry, Ilse.
You're rather early these days.
I just find Mister Carpenter's lessons very captivating.
Come on, hurry up.
Emily!
Why am I being dragged away by the one who's late?
You know, Saucy Sal and Aunt Elizabeth...
Abraham Lincoln was...
poor and could not afford to attend school.
Even so, he continued to study.
You want to go to school too, don't you?
Mister Jimmy.
I don't mind.
You can work before and after classes.
Reading is of no use.
School is for the rich folk.
Lincoln was also poor and didn't attend school, yet he became the President.
So, I shall do the same.
I'm sure you can do it, Perry.
Right!
I'll go feed the cows.
Your future is like a white sheet of canvas.
Colour the canvas with the paint of "your dreams".
Talk about your dreams.
Think for yourself.
Tell it in your own words.
I'm sure your dreams are pushing you from behind.
Let me say it again: talk about your dreams.
I announce here, that we will be having a speech contest.
Speech contest?
Tell your dreams to every possible person.
I would like all of the younger ones to narrate their dreams, too.
Eh? Us, too?
The winner will be presented with a laurel wreath.
Since ancient times, it has been awarded to those who are victorious.
It is a crown of honour.
It's great that we're having a speech contest.
I wonder what kind of speech I should make.
It seems like quite a task.
Our dreams for the future, huh?
It's a topic worth talking about.
This wreath will be mine.
All the townsfolk will be here to watch, won't they?
If you win, you'll become a star.
Rhoda will surely come in first.
Of course.
My father is also very good at giving speeches.
I have to win first place.
My dream is to become a writer.
Why? Because I love to write.
Why? Because I love to write... sounds too ordinary.
Being ordinary is no good?
That's not the point.
Wanting to become a writer because I love to write just doesn't sound very convincing.
What's your dream, Ilse?
I want to eat a ton of ice cream.
I mean your dream for the future.
I want to become the President!
Or so I hope.
So you're having a speech contest.
Sounds interesting.
Isn't it? That's Mister Carpenter for you.
Perry, you should join in, too.
No, I wasn't-
That's a great idea!
I couldn't possibly-
Abraham Lincoln studied while he worked.
Perry, this is-
Give me that!
Perry, that's amazing. You copied that from the book, didn't you?
So many pages worth, too.
Oh, darn. Okay, I'm coming over to give you a wash.
Perry, you should join the speech contest.
I can't do it.
You can!
Why do you give up without even trying?
Aunt Tom won't allow it.
Why don't you ask her?
If you can't, I shall do it.
Leave me alone!
You can't understand!
If I don't work, we can't even buy bread.
For me, attending school, reading and participating in contests is a luxury far beyond my reach!
Abraham Lincoln studied while he worked.
And finally, he became the President.
That's right! You have a huge dream, don't you?
The President Lincoln that you so admire didn't attend school either.
Here.
Whether or not you will succeed is decided by you.
Abraham Lincoln studied while he worked.
And finally, he became the President.
You, too, can do the same.
I'm back.
Welcome back, Perry.
You're a little late today.
Did you run off somewhere to play again?
If so, did you finish your work at the Murray's?
Yes he has! There's no one who works harder than Perry!
Who are you?
I'm Emily Byrd Starr... of New Moon.
And what does a young lady from the Murray's want with us?
Well...
Aunt Tom, stop that. It's rude.
Good evening, I'm Ilse Burnley.
So, have you come to bully an old woman like me?
Aunt Tom, I want to participate in a speech contest.
Speech contest?
Our school is organising it.
Your school?
I see, so that's why you're here.
I know you want to go to school.
But if you do, who's going to support this household?
I know it's not reasonable for me to attend school,
but at least let me join the speech contest.
Studying is for the rich folk.
More importantly, you should be more serious about your work.
I am serious about my work!
Don't lose your temper at me. You know how sloppy you are.
Well, it is rather messy.
I'll clean it up, nice and proper.
You say that now, but you won't keep it up for long, will you?
Not this time!
I'm going to join the contest, even if you object.
If you didn't want to listen, you shouldn't have come to me in the first place.
Little brats just need to do as they're told.
Whatever the case, I'm going to join the contest!
And I intend to win it, too!
Perry!
You intend to win it?
That's right, I'll win.
I will show you that I can win!
Perry wants to join the speech contest, too?
Yes, sir.
Interesting. He's most welcome.
Thank you, sir!
What?
Perry doesn't even attend school!
I can't believe you're letting him join a contest that the whole town will be watching.
That's right.
Simply unthinkable.
Perry studies harder than anyone here!
I'm sure he'll win!
Win?
You're kidding.
That's impossible.
That's very amusing, but there's no way he can win.
I'm going to be the winner.
That's Rhoda for you.
You father will be coming to watch the speech contest, won't he?
Your father is the manager of the Stuart Bank, isn't he?
He is.
How nice. I wish I was part of your family, Rhoda.
My... I aspire to be...
like Lincoln; to become a man of great achievements.
Great achievements like Lincoln... does that mean becoming the President?
But Canada doesn't have a President.
For honour and glory!
But what the heck are honour and glory?
Speech! Speech! Speech!
Argh! I just can't come up with anything good!
I guess I can't hope to win.
Perry has been trying to prepare for his speech, while working, this entire week.
But there's a mountain of work to be done: tending to the cows, cutting the grass and other household chores.
He has hardly any time to concentrate.
And so? What are you trying to tell me?
Could you let him leave early, just for today?
If you could-
Emily.
Perry's employer is Jimmy.
Jimmy should be the one to decide.
If that's the case, then-
The barn wall is damaged, isn't it?
It would be dangerous for it not to be fixed before the storm arrives.
Well, I can-
I'll do it!
Perry.
It's my job.
I'll finish fixing the wall before the storm comes.
Perry, what do you plan to do?
You haven't thought up your speech yet, have you?
Don't you want to win?
I'm earning an adult's wage from Mister Jimmy.
No one else would pay that much for someone like me.
I'll never shirk my responsibilities.
I shall have to work and study hard at the same time.
Abraham Lincoln would probably say this:
"A person who doesn't take his duties seriously does not deserve to let his dreams be heard!"
Right?
Perry...
That's what Lincoln would have said.
Mister Jimmy.
Once you finish replacing the old boards, you can leave.
But-
The barn will be safe once you change the boards.
All it'll get is a little wet, which is no big deal.
Mister Jimmy...
Come on, Emily, let's go back into the house.
Okay.
Bye, Perry. See you tomorrow.
Yeah.
Thanks, Mister Jimmy!
I don't have any time to waste.
Perry isn't back yet?
House is cleaned. Dinner is made.
It seems he's keeping this up longer than usual.
The road by the shore is awfully dangerous in such weather.
Well, well. No matter how old he gets, he's still a kid.
Neither Jimmy nor Emily knew that the storm would approach so quickly on that night.
They weren't aware that Perry worked through the night, repairing the barn wall, either.
I won't be beaten...
Not after all that cheering from Emily.
Abraham Lincoln...
Abraham Lincoln studied while he worked.
And finally,
he became the President.
Yes!
I've finished!
Now, to go practise.
Perry, we were looking for you.
I heard you are working at New Moon.
Did something happen?
Aunt Tom collapsed.
Aunt Tom!
What a fever!
Don't fret, it's just a cold.
Go back and finish your work.
I've finished. It's already nightfall.
Are you sure you're okay?
I don't need a kid like you to worry about me.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I brought you back when you were orphaned.
How the little baby has grown up.
It seems like only yesterday.
You always kept my hands full with all your mischief.
I get a fever just thinking about that.
And now that you're a little bigger, you're telling me you want to go school.
Aunt Tom.
Silly boy.
It's cold.
I'll feel better after getting some sleep.
I'll make you something warm to eat.
That is why I think...
that it's important to have our own dreams and aspirations.
I shall be responsible for shaping my own future as an artist.
It doesn't look like Perry is coming.
I hope for this town to have a bright and promising future.
Being able to fulfill your ideals in life will bring happiness.
To prepare for that, one should deposit their money with the Stuart Bank.
If we all do so, a promising future awaits this town.
Well said, Rhoda.
The point I'm trying to put across is...
What was that again?
Daddy, what's next?
The Stuart Bank is very pleased to continue doing business with everyone.
Oh, Daddy.
Perry...
What kind of adult will I grow up to become?
I do not know the answer yet.
But I believe that I should just be myself.
Looking at the adults has made me realise;
No one is happy when they have to force themselves.
My dream is to carry on composing poems.
Of the beautiful things I see before me, and also...
those that cannot be seen, like the glitter of the wind.
I want to give life to the things that long to be expressed in words.
That is where I find happiness.
To me, writing is to be alive.
Perry, what happened to you?
That silly boy didn't go to the speech contest after all?
His determination wasn't as strong as expected.
Who is it?
Good evening. It's me, Emily of New Moon.
Even so, I shall not be discouraged.
Even so, I shall not be discouraged!
In this heart of mine-Oops!
In this heart of mine, my hopes burn with a passion!
I'll continue studying, just like Abraham Lincoln did!
The difficulties I encounter while learning will, in turn, give me courage.
I'll give others courage.
No matter how hard, I shall walk the long white road that lies ahead of me!
Emily! Ilse!
Congratulations.
You've won the contest, Emily.
You're the winner, Perry.
Here.
Aunt Tom, you should be resting!
I don't want a little kid like you ordering me about.
What's all that about difficulties in learning?
What do you know?
Whatever. Do what you want.
Go to school if you want.
You can study or do whatever you feel like doing.
It's your life after all.
Aunt Tom...
I... I...
I'll study as hard as I can!
I'm going to become a lawyer one day, and make it into Parliament!
And then... And then...
I'll marry Emily!
That's not a bad idea.
I'm going to make it!
He said that with a refreshing smile.
Emily could see the long, white road that lies ahead of Perry.
For the first time ever, I submitted my poem to the newspaper.
I'm sure my poem will become the talk of the town.
On the next episode of Emily of New Moon:
The One Poem in the World.
Watch for it!