Before she became a world famous author, Montgomery lived through the struggles and triumphs of teaching. It was these experiences and connections she made with her pupils that undoubtedly seeped their way into her portrayal of all the teachers in her novels and short stories.

In the days leading up to her final hours as teacher there, she wrote that one chapter of her life was nearly closed.  “Time's unseen fingers are already turning the last page.  And it has been a varied chapter of pleasure and toil, hardships and joys.  I shall be sorry to part with the children.  Most of them have crept into my heart”.

On June 28, 1895, she recalls the proceedings of her last day. 

"‘The sceptre is departed from Judah’—I am no longer teacher of Bideford school.  But I feel so badly that I half wish I had never resigned.  This morning I went early to school.  Every child brought a bouquet for decoration and the boys got huge armsful of ferns with which we adorned every adornable place, and the exam went off splendidly.  At its close my pupils presented me with an address and a very pretty little jewel box of celluloid mounted in silver.  The girls were all crying and so was I, and so were most of the women present.  Then we sang ‘God Save The Queen’ and I went down to Mr. Williams to tea.  On my way home I thought of the first day I had crossed its threshold—a trembling confused young thing feeling scarcely less childish than the children I was to govern. This has been a very happy year for me and I shall think of that old school without a very kindly feeling."

Source: The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery – Volume 1: 1889-1910