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The Sobbin' Women

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THEY came over the Pass one day in one big wagon-all ten of them-man and woman and hired girl and seven big boy children, from the nine-year-old who walked by the team to the baby in arms. Or so the story runs-it was in the early days of settlement and the town had never heard of the Sobbin' Women then. But it opened its eyes one day, and there were the Pontipees. They were there but they didn't stay long-just time enough to buy meal and get a new shoe for the lead horse. You couldn't call them unsociable, exactly-they seemed to be sociable enough among themselves. But you could tell, somehow, from the look of them, that they weren't going to settle on ground other people had cleared. They were all high-colored and dark-haired-handsome with a wilderness handsomeness-and when you got them all together, they looked more like a tribe or a nation than an ordinary family. I don't know how they gave folks that feeling, but they did. Yes, even the baby, when the town women tried to handle him. He was a fine, healthy baby, but they said it was like trying to pet a young raccoon. Well, that was all there was to it, at the start. They paid for what they bought in good money and drove on up into Sobbin' Women Valley-only it wasn't called Sobbin' Women Valley then. And pretty soon, there was smoke from a chimney there that hadn't been there before. But you know what town gossip is when it gets started. The Pontipees were willing enough to let other folks alone-in fact, that was what they wanted. But, because it was what they wanted, the town couldn't see why they wanted it. Towns get that way, sometimes.

15 pages

First published January 1, 2008

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About the author

Stephen Vincent Benét

287 books72 followers
Stephen Vincent Benét was born July 22, 1898, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, into a military family. His father had a wide appreciation for literature, and Benét's siblings, William Rose and Laura, also became writers. Benét attended Yale University where he published two collections of poetry, Five Men and Pompey (1915), The Drug-Shop (1917). His studies were interrupted by a year of civilian military service; he worked as a cipher-clerk in the same department as James Thurber. He graduated from Yale in 1919, submitting his third volume of poems in place of a thesis. He published his first novel The Beginning of Wisdom in 1921. Benét then moved to France to continue his studies at the Sorbonne and returned to the United States in 1923 with his new wife, the writer Rosemary Carr.

Benét was successful in many different literary forms, which included novels, short stories, screenplays, radio broadcasts, and a libretto for an opera by Douglas Moore based on "The Devil and Daniel Webster." His most famous work is the long poem John Brown's Body for which he received the Pulitzer Prize in 1929—a long narrative poem which interweaves historical and fictional characters to relate important events in the Civil War, from the raid on Harper's Ferry to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. During his lifetime, Benét also received the O. Henry Story Prize, the Roosevelt Medal, and a second Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for the posthumously-published Western Star, the first part of an epic poem based on American history. At the age of 44, Benét suffered a heart attack and died on March 13, 1943, in New York City.

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5 stars
29 (23%)
4 stars
49 (38%)
3 stars
35 (27%)
2 stars
11 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie Zapata.
1,869 reviews70 followers
January 11, 2019
This is the 1937 story that became the 1954 movie Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. There are a few small differences (no barn raising here, for one thing). The story had to get plumped up a bit here and there, but there are no disappointments for anyone familiar with the movie. I could see it reeling along in my mind as I read, and while I could tell where details were expanded or altered, I enjoyed the story as much as I enjoy the movie every time I see it.

The Pontipees moved to the area back when the youngest of the seven boys was just a baby. They kept to themselves, homesteading up in the mountains a ways from town, going into town to church once a year. Everyone was happy, Ma and the hired girl took care of things, and none of the boys thought of changing their lifestyle at all.

Until Pa died. And then Ma. And eventually the hired girl died (well, she had been a girl when they first moved to the homestead) and left the boys on their own. Seven grown backwoodsmen who couldn't keep house. Not a good thing, believe me! They eventually decided to draw straws and see who would go to town to get married so there would be a woman in the house again. That's when Milly arrives on the homestead, the first of the seven brides.

I was very excited to be able to read this story, since I have loved the movie for years. I never knew that Benet wrote this or anything other than poetry. Isn't it wonderful to be able to learn something new at my age?! LOL

Just because I love it here is the barn raising dance from the movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygmM...
Profile Image for Abbie Lewis.
97 reviews10 followers
October 1, 2021
This is a very short story. The movie 7 Brides for 7 Brothers is based off of this book and it is a childhood favorite and was what convinced me I wanted at least 7 boys all in a row…I spent wayyyy to much money to get this 23 page story to read but it didn’t disappoint!! Definitely a giggle or two!
Profile Image for Katelyn.
142 reviews103 followers
April 11, 2024
Somehow, this was worse than Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. At least those women had a little more backbone, the characters were interesting, and the music was charming. There's just no denying that we're supposed to be entertained at the idea of kidnapping women, and it's hard for me to get past that.
Profile Image for Becky.
5,663 reviews248 followers
January 8, 2020
First sentence: THEY came over the Pass one day in one big wagon—all ten of them—man and woman and hired girl and seven big boy children, from the nine-year-old who walked by the team to the baby in arms. Or so the story runs—it was in the early days of settlement and the town had never heard of the Sobbin' Women then. But it opened its eyes one day, and there were the Pontipees.

Premise/plot: Seven brothers are in need of seven brides?!

My thoughts: This short story inspired the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. In the short story, the brothers are NOT named in alphabetical order. They don't go about singing and dancing. The eldest is named Harry. He marries Milly. Milly suggests to her brothers-in-law that they should go kidnap some women to marry. All ends well, as it does in the movie, with the women falling madly in love with the brothers.

"Hello, girl," he said, in one of those big voices men use when they're pretending not to be embarrassed.

She looked up at him straight. "Hello, backwoodsman!" she said, friendly enough. She didn't look a bit scared of him and that put him off.

"It's a nice morning," said Harry, louder, trying to lead up to his point.

"It is for some," said the girl, perfectly polite but going on feeding the chickens.

Harry swallowed hard at that. "It'd be a nice morning to get married, they tell me," he said, with the perspiration breaking out all over him again. He'd meant to say something else, but when it came to the point, he couldn't.

Well, she didn't say anything to that so he had to start all over again.

"My name's Harry Pontipee," he said. "I've got a good farm up the Valley."

"Have you?" said the girl.

"Yes," he said. "It's a right good farm. And some folks seem to think I'd make a good husband."

"Do they?" said the girl. I guess she was smiling by now but Harry couldn't see it—she had her head turned.

"Yes they do," said Harry, kind of desperate, his voice getting louder and louder. "What do you think about it?"

"I couldn't tell on such short acquaintance," said the girl.

"Will you marry me and find out?" said Harry, in a perfect bellow, shaking all over.

"Yes, I will, if you don't ask me quite so loud," she [Pg 146]said, very prim—and even Harry could see she was smiling now.

Well, they made a queer pair when they went up to the minister—the girl still in her chicken-feed clothes, for she didn't have any others, and Harry in his backwoods finery. He'd had to buy out her time from the innkeeper for twelve beaver pelts and a hunting knife.

But when the wedding service was over, "Well, we're married," said Harry, with great relief. "And now we'll be going home."

"Oh, no we won't," said she. "We're going to the store first and buy me some cloth for a decent dress—for landless I may be and dowryless I may be, but I'm a married woman now, and what's fit for a chicken-girl isn't fit for a married woman."

In a sort of daze, he saw her lay out the price of twelve more beaver pelts in cloth and woman's fixings, and beat down the storekeeper on the price, too.

He only asked her a question about one thing—a little pair of slippers she bought. They were fancy slippers, with embroidery on them. "I thought you had a pair of shoes," he said. She turned to him, with a cocky sort of look on her face. "Silly," she said. "How could anyone tell your wife had pretty feet in the shoes I had?"

Well, he thought that over, and, after a while, something in the way she said it and the cocky look on her face made him feel pleased, and he began to laugh. He wasn't used to laughing in front of a girl, but he could see it might have its points.

Then they rode back to the Valley, her riding pillion, with her bundles in the saddlebags. And all the [Pg 147]way back, she was trying him and testing him and trying to find out, by one little remark or another, just what kind of a man he was. She was a spunky little girl, and she had more education than she let on. And long ago, she'd made up her mind to get out of being a bound girl the first way that offered. But, all the same, marrying Harry Pontipee was a leap in the dark.

But the more she tried and tested Harry, the better bargain she seemed to think she'd made. And that took courage to admit—for the way was a wild one and a lonesome, and, naturally, she'd heard stories of Pontipee Valley. She couldn't quite believe they lived with bears, up there, but she didn't know.

And finally, they came to the house, and there were dark things moving outside it. "Bears!" thought Milly, kind of hopeless, and her heart went into her throat, but she didn't let on.

"W-what's that, Harry dear?" she said, holding on tight.

"Oh, that's just my brothers," said Harry, kind of careless, and with that those six hungry six-footers moved into the light.

"Oh!" said Milly, "you didn't tell me you had six brothers." But her voice wasn't reproachful, just sort of soft and quiet.

"I guess it was the wedding kind of knocked it out of my mind," said Harry. "But, there—you'll see enough of 'em anyhow, because we all live together."

"Oh," said Milly again, kind of soft. "I see."
Profile Image for Maria.
403 reviews55 followers
June 4, 2011
This is the story that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was made after. If you haven't heard of the movie either, it's about seven brothers. The eldest decides to go get married, and he brings Milly back with him.

But eventually, Milly becomes tired doing all the woman-work for seven men. And she convinces the brothers to go and steal their own brides away from the settlement. They do, the girls are stuck on the farm over the winter (there was an avalanche), and by summer they're all quite happy with each other/in love.

The movie, honestly, is better. But the book offers a very interesting comparison as to how scriptwriters adapt books.
Profile Image for Ami Steel.
23 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2008
This is the 7 brides for 7 brothers story, it is short. Ami
Profile Image for Kailey (Luminous Libro).
3,180 reviews486 followers
April 16, 2014
Quite different from the movie version, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", and I think I like the movie better. But this short story is full of fun and interest!
Profile Image for ★ℕłℂØℓҾ★ (Nix).
305 reviews37 followers
December 28, 2020
Woooooooww. I tracked down this story because I absolutely love the movie based on it (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), but this is one of the rare times when the movie is sooooo much better than the written story. It might have been a better story if it were longer. I'm glad they changed some things in the screen adaptation, like the names of the brothers and the kidnapping being the eldest brother's idea instead of Milly's. I don't care that the movie (and even more so this short story) have many issues with political correctness. I realize they were written at a very different time than the one in which we currently live. The movie will always be one of my favorites, and the songs get stuck in my head so easily. As I write this, "Bless your beautiful hide" is running through my head.

Overall, not my favorite story to read, but I did enjoy the similarities with the movie I know and love.
Profile Image for C.
184 reviews5 followers
August 7, 2017
A bonus after reading "The Devil and Daniel Webster." I hadn't realized that Benét had created this story, on which is based one of my favorite movie musicals, but it was a welcome surprise.
Profile Image for Adri.
38 reviews8 followers
Read
May 12, 2021
tell you bout them sobbin' womeeeeen who lived in the roman dayyysss
this is a story about a woman who gets tricked into taking care of 7 men and grows so thin that she tricks all of the men into kidnapping women to help her.
it's widely classed as a sexist psychotic story but Benét was a mASTER OF SATIRE!!

and yes, it's a wonderful musical.

Profile Image for Sara Pigott.
12 reviews24 followers
September 16, 2017
If you're expecting the same story as 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', then you'll be somewhat disappointed. This story has a strongwilled and cunning Milly at the center. Milly moves the story. Milly manipulates everyone into doing as she wants. It is a funny short story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Karina.
579 reviews22 followers
May 6, 2020
Great short story about a large backwoods family of brothers finding wives to help with chores. There's kidnapping and hinted misogyny, but I argue there's a power struggle where the women come out on top. Different than the movie based on it, but good in its own way.
Profile Image for Annelise.
122 reviews15 followers
January 12, 2021
I thought it would be fun to read this since I grew up watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. There’s one fundamental difference that changes the feel of the whole story...not sure which one I think is the better choice.
Profile Image for MissyLynne.
1,239 reviews30 followers
June 6, 2017
Short, simple read.

Interesting to see how 'The Sobbin' Women' ended up on screen as 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'. Plot is basically the same, but things are written differently
Profile Image for John Chaplin.
6 reviews
January 15, 2019
Quick short story that the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is based on. Fun to see what was changed for the screenplay.
Profile Image for Bud Russell.
340 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2021
The basis for the movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." The short story was charming.... but actually thought the film was better.
Profile Image for Mary.
61 reviews
December 21, 2021
I loved the film and now this short story too. It’s silly and entertaining.
Profile Image for Shannon Miles.
34 reviews
September 8, 2022
I have the songs from the movie in my head. One of my all time favorite movies. How cool it was that I stumbled on this short story
Profile Image for Meagan.
257 reviews
January 16, 2024
The movie shortchanged Milly a lot of her power 😂 apparently she masterminds kidnapping the ladies.
Profile Image for Wild-Rogue-Rose.
120 reviews31 followers
October 15, 2013
Whelp, that was an interestingly fine read. It's awesome when you can find the source of a childhood favorite: the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in this instance.

This was very short and much to the point, that I'm still sitting here surprised script writers are capable to stretch these stories into 1 to 2 hour film masterpieces.

As for the story, I was a little shocked the brothers were given 'H' names instead of Bible-Alphabet following names. Even more shock came when I learned the wife-stealing idea came directly from Milly. Those shocks wore off like a Hollywood marriage and I resumed enjoying this piece.

To say the movie, or play, is better than this short story will not go past my lips. Both in my opinion are good and should be shared.

My complaint is that it's too short.
Profile Image for Michelle.
98 reviews
March 28, 2015
Pretty entertaining. I like millys character much better in the film.
Profile Image for Sarah.
936 reviews
July 18, 2015
I found this very interesting and unusual as the short story which inspired my favourite musical
976 reviews5 followers
December 20, 2016
This was the source of the seven brides movie, which is appreciated more than the book.
Profile Image for Ruth.
290 reviews18 followers
Read
January 5, 2019
The story that the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was based on. It’s interesting. I like the movie better, but it was a quick and fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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