Lem Blossom overcomes romantic rivalry, family conflict, financial failure, and a house fire to win prosperity and Mary's affection.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
A Rivalry in the Countryside
Lem Blossom falls in love with Mary Griggs, but Mary already has Tom Perkins as her beau. Mary's father Josh Griggs disapproves of Lem's romance.
Key Events
Rural Romance Begins — Lem falls in love with Mary, who already has Tom as her beau. Characters: Lem Blossom, Mary Griggs, Tom PerkinsLocation: Rural community
Tom's Established Courtship — Mary's existing relationship with Tom complicates Lem's romantic hopes. Characters: Mary Griggs, Tom Perkins, Lem BlossomLocation: Rural community
Josh Rejects Romance — Josh Griggs frowns on the romance between Lem and Mary. Characters: Josh Griggs, Mary Griggs, Lem BlossomLocation: Griggs household
Lem Perseveres — Despite opposition and Mary's beau, Lem continues pursuing Mary. Characters: Lem Blossom, Mary GriggsLocation: Rural community
Pumpkin Load Prepared — Lem has a load of pumpkins that he attempts to sell. Characters: Lem Blossom, Pa BlossomLocation: Blossom property
Pumpkin Sale Fails — Lem fails to sell his load of pumpkins. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Rural market area
Pumpkins and Desperation
Lem fails to sell a load of pumpkins, leaving the Blossom family desperate. Pa Blossom responds by turning to bootlegging.
Key Events
Pumpkin Sale Fails — Lem fails to sell his load of pumpkins. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Rural market area
Family Financial Desperation — The failed sale leaves Pa Blossom desperate for another solution. Characters: Pa Blossom, Lem BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Pa Chooses Bootlegging — In desperation, Pa Blossom turns to bootlegging. Characters: Pa BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Bottles Enter Household — Pa's bootlegging brings bottles into the Blossom household. Characters: Pa Blossom, Lem BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Bootlegging Discovered — Lem smells the bottles and realizes what Pa is doing. Characters: Lem Blossom, Pa BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Father Drives Son Away — Pa Blossom drives Lem away after the bottles are discovered. Characters: Pa Blossom, Lem BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Exile and Sudden Fortune
Lem and the household discover Pa's bottles, and Pa drives Lem away. On the road to the station, Lem conceives a pumpkin-market scheme that earns thousands of dollars.
Key Events
Father Drives Son Away — Pa Blossom drives Lem away after the bottles are discovered. Characters: Pa Blossom, Lem BlossomLocation: Blossom home
Lem Leaves for Station — Lem travels toward the station after being driven away. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Road to the station
Pumpkin Scheme Conceived — On the way to the station, Lem conceives a plan involving pumpkins. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Road to the station
Pumpkin Corner Proposed — Lem develops the idea of obtaining a corner on pumpkins. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Road to the station
Fortune from Pumpkins — Lem's pumpkin plan succeeds and brings him thousands of dollars. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Rural community
Fire and Devotion
Mary's house catches fire, and Lem attempts to use the fire-pumper he invented. He risks his life and saves Mary.
Key Events
Mary's House Ignites — Mary's house catches fire while she is inside. Characters: Mary Griggs, Josh Griggs, Tom Perkins, Lem BlossomLocation: Mary's house
Fire Pumper Tested — Lem tries the fire-pumper he invented during the emergency. Characters: Lem BlossomLocation: Mary's house
Lem Enters the Fire — Lem risks his life to reach Mary inside the burning house. Characters: Lem Blossom, Mary GriggsLocation: Mary's house
Mary Is Saved — Lem saves Mary's life after the house catches fire. Characters: Lem Blossom, Mary GriggsLocation: Mary's house
Love and Fortune Secured — Lem ends with both thousands of dollars and Mary's affection. Characters: Lem Blossom, Mary GriggsLocation: Rural community
Story Breakdown
Rural Romance Setup — Lem falls in love with Mary while Tom remains her beau.
Lem Loves Mary — Lem develops strong romantic feelings for Mary.
Tom Holds Court — Mary already has Tom Perkins as her beau.
Parental Opposition — Mary's father rejects the romance and complicates Lem's pursuit.
Josh Rejects Romance — Josh Griggs frowns on Lem and Mary's relationship.
Lem Perseveres — Lem continues pursuing Mary despite opposition.
Pumpkin Market Failure — Lem's initial commercial effort collapses and worsens the family's situation.
Load Goes Unsold — Lem fails to sell a load of pumpkins.
Family Despairs — The failed sale leaves Pa Blossom desperate.
Bootlegging Family Rupture — Pa's desperate solution creates a crisis inside the Blossom household.
Pa Turns Bootlegger — Pa Blossom turns to bootlegging after the failed sale.
Lem Is Expelled — After the bottles are detected, Pa drives Lem away.
Pumpkin Fortune — Exile leads Lem to a successful plan involving control of the pumpkin market.
Roadside Idea — Lem conceives the pumpkin plan on the way to the station.
Thousands Earned — The plan succeeds and gives Lem thousands of dollars.
Fire Rescue Climax — A fire at Mary's house gives Lem a final chance to prove his devotion.
House Catches Fire — Mary's house catches fire with Mary inside.
Mary Is Rescued — Lem risks his life and saves Mary.
In the rural village of Mosville, inventor and fire chief Lem Blossom, the son of a pumpkin farmer, falls in love with unsophisticated country girl Mary Griggs. His rival is the worldly Tom Perkins, who is conspiring with her father, Joshua, to corner the pumpkin market. Unable to sell his pumpkins, Pa Blossom turns bootlegger in desperation. Lem learns that the pumpkin crop up north has been destroyed by frost and attempts to corner the market himself by offering a $1,000 prize for the largest pumpkin. When the Griggs home catches fire, Lem saves Mary and Joshua with the aid of his water pump and folding ladder, both of which he invented. Joshua then partners with Lem and approves the young man's betrothal to Mary.
