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  RUTH HALL:

  A
  DOMESTIC TALE
  OF
  THE PRESENT TIME.

  BY
  FANNY FERN.

  NEW YORK:
  PUBLISHED BY MASON BROTHERS.
  1855.




  ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854,

  BY MASON BROTHERS,

  In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District
  of New York.


  STEREOTYPED BY
  THOMAS B. SMITH,
  216 William St., N. Y.

  PRINTED BY
  JOHN A. GRAY,
  95 & 97 Cliff St.




PREFACE.

TO THE READER.


I present you with my first continuous story. I do not dignify it by the
name of "A novel." I am aware that it is entirely at variance with all
set rules for novel-writing. There is no intricate plot; there are no
startling developments, no hair-breadth escapes. I have compressed into
one volume what I might have expanded into two or three. I have avoided
long introductions and descriptions, and have entered unceremoniously
and unannounced, into people's houses, without stopping to ring the
bell. Whether you will fancy this primitive mode of calling, whether you
will like the company to which it introduces you, or--whether you will
like the book at all, I cannot tell. Still, I cherish the hope that,
somewhere in the length and breadth of the land, it may fan into a
flame, in some tried heart, the fading embers of hope, well-nigh
extinguished by wintry fortune and summer friends.

  FANNY FERN.




CONTENTS.


                      CHAPTER I.
  THE EVE BEFORE THE BRIDAL--RUTH'S LITTLE ROOM--A RETROSPECTIVE
      REVERIE                                                     15

                      CHAPTER II.
  THE WEDDING--A GLIMPSE OF THE CHARACTER OF RUTH'S BROTHER
      HYACINTH                                                    23

                      CHAPTER III.
  THE NEW HOME--SOLILOQUY OF THE MOTHER-IN-LAW                    25

                      CHAPTER IV.
  THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE MOTHER-IN-LAW                      28

                      CHAPTER V.
  RUTH'S REFLECTIONS ON THE INTERVIEW                             32

                      CHAPTER VI.
  A BIT OF FAMILY HISTORY                                         34

                      CHAPTER VII.
  THE FIRST-BORN                                                  39

                      CHAPTER VIII.
  THE NURSE                                                       41

                      CHAPTER IX.
  FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THE MOTHER-IN-LAW'S CHARACTER           44

                      CHAPTER X.
  RUTH'S COUNTRY HOME                                             47

                      CHAPTER XI.
  RUTH AND DAISY                                                  50

                      CHAPTER XII.
  THE OLD FOLKS FOLLOW THE YOUNG COUPLE--AN ENTERTAINING
      DIALOGUE                                                    52

                      CHAPTER XIII.
  THE OLD LADY'S SURREPTITIOUS VISIT TO RUTH'S, AND HER
      ENCOUNTER WITH DINAH                                        55

                      CHAPTER XIV.
  THE OLD LADY SEARCHES THE HOUSE--WHAT SHE FINDS                 59

                      CHAPTER XV.
  THE OLD DOCTOR MEDDLES WITH HARRY'S FARMING ARRANGEMENTS        63

                      CHAPTER XVI.
  LITTLE DAISY'S REVERIE--HER STRANGE PLAYFELLOW                  65

                      CHAPTER XVII.
  "PAT" MUTINIES                                                  67

                      CHAPTER XVIII.
  A GROWL FROM THE OLD LADY                                       69

                      CHAPTER XIX.
  DAISY'S GLEE AT THE FIRST SLEIGH-RIDE                           72

                      CHAPTER XX.
  DAISY'S ILLNESS--THE OLD DOCTOR REFUSES TO COME                 74

                      CHAPTER XXI.
  DINAH'S WARNING--HARRY GOES AGAIN FOR THE DOCTOR                78

                      CHAPTER XXII.
  THE OLD DOCTOR ARRIVES TOO LATE                                 81

                      CHAPTER XXIII.
  "THE GLEN" DESERTED--THE OLD DOCTOR'S AND HIS WIFE'S VERSION
      OF THE CAUSE OF DAISY'S DEATH--MRS. JONES GIVES HER
      OPINION                                                     85

                      CHAPTER XXIV.
  ANNIVERSARY OF DAISY'S DEATH--RUTH'S REVERIE--LITTLE KATY'S
      REQUEST                                                     90

                      CHAPTER XXV.
  HOTEL LIFE--A NEW FRIEND                                        93


                      CHAPTER XXVI.
  THE FALL OF THE LEAF--HARRY'S ILLNESS--THE LONELY WATCHER       97


                      CHAPTER XXVII.
  ARRIVAL OF THE OLD DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE                         102

                      CHAPTER XXVIII.
  THE OLD DOCTOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT--HARRY'S DEATH                   105

                      CHAPTER XXIX.
  HYACINTH'S SENSIBILITIES SHOCKED                               110

                      CHAPTER XXX.
  MISS SKINLIN                                                   114

                      CHAPTER XXXI.
  HARRY'S FUNERAL                                                120

                      CHAPTER XXXII.
  A SERVANT'S DEVOTION                                           123

                      CHAPTER XXXIII.
  BICKERINGS OF THE FATHER AND FATHER-IN-LAW--DISPUTE ABOUT THE
      SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN                                    125

                      CHAPTER XXXIV.
  RUTH RECEIVES A VISIT FROM HER FATHER--HE INSISTS ON HER
      GIVING UP HER CHILDREN TO THE OLD DOCTOR--RUTH'S REFUSAL   128

                      CHAPTER XXXV.
  THE OLD LADY, ENRAGED, PROPOSES A COMPROMISE--MR. ELLET IS
      FORCED TO ACCEDE                                           132

                      CHAPTER XXXVI.
  RUTH'S NEW LODGINGS--SPECULATIONS OF THE BOARDERS              139

                      CHAPTER XXXVII.
  MR. DEVELIN'S COUNTING-HOUSE--THE OLD DOCTOR'S LETTER          142

                      CHAPTER XXXVIII.
  LITTLE KATY MOURNS FOR HER PAPA                                146

                      CHAPTER XXXIX.
  MR. DEVELIN DEMANDS HARRY'S CLOTHES OF RUTH--THE WEDDING VEST  148

                      CHAPTER XL.
  RUTH'S APPLICATION FOR NEEDLE-WORK                             151

                      CHAPTER XLI.
  DISGUST OF RUTH'S FASHIONABLE FRIENDS                          155

                      CHAPTER XLII.
  CONVERSATION IN MRS. MILLET'S KITCHEN                          158

                      CHAPTER XLIII.
  THE BOUQUET                                                    161

                      CHAPTER XLIV.
  MRS. MILLET AND THE WOODEN MAN                                 164

                      CHAPTER XLV.
  LITTLE KATY VISITS HER GRANDPA AND MEETS WITH A CHARACTERISTIC
      RECEPTION--THE STRANGE GENTLEMAN                           166

                      CHAPTER XLVI.
  A PEEP FROM RUTH'S CHAMBER WINDOW--KATY'S RETURN               171

                      CHAPTER XLVII.
  BOARDING-HOUSE REVOLUTION--MRS. SKIDDY'S FLIGHT--MR. SKIDDY IN
      THE CAPACITY OF DRY NURSE                                  176

                      CHAPTER XLVIII.
  A NEW IDEA--THE MILLETS EXHIBIT THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND DELICACY  184

                      CHAPTER XLIX.
  RUTH RESOLVES TO BECOME A TEACHER                              189

                      CHAPTER L.
  RUTH APPLIES FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL                              191

                      CHAPTER LI.
  THE EXAMINATION BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE                        192

                      CHAPTER LII.
  MRS. SKIDDY'S UNEXPECTED RETURN                                198

                      CHAPTER LIII.
  SKIDDY'S INTERCEPTED HEGIRA--HIS INCARCERATION--HIS FINAL
      ESCAPE                                                     203

                      CHAPTER LIV.
  THE LUNATIC ASYLUM                                             209

                      CHAPTER LV.
  RUTH'S NEW LANDLADY                                            215

                      CHAPTER LVI.
  THE STRANGE LODGER--RUTH RESOLVES TO RESORT TO HER PEN TO
      OBTAIN A SUBSISTENCE--SHE APPLIES TO HER BROTHER HYACINTH
      FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE--HIS CHARACTERISTIC REPLY        219

                      CHAPTER LVII.
  THE OLD LADY RESORTS TO STRATAGEM, AND CARRIES HER POINT       224

                      CHAPTER LVIII.
  MR. ELLET EXHIBITS HIS USUAL FATHERLY INTEREST IN RUTH'S
      AFFAIRS                                                    228

                      CHAPTER LIX.
  RUTH APPLIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AT NEWSPAPER OFFICES               230

                      CHAPTER LX.
  THE BREAD OF LIFE                                              235

                      CHAPTER LXI.
  A CHAPTER WHICH MAY BE INSTRUCTIVE                             237

                      CHAPTER LXII.
  RUTH OBTAINS EMPLOYMENT--ILLNESS OF NETTIE--THE STRANGE LODGER
      PROVES USEFUL                                              240

                      CHAPTER LXIII.
  A PEEP INTO THE OLD DOCTOR'S COTTAGE                           245

                      CHAPTER LXIV.
  A GLIMPSE OF COMING SUCCESS                                    251

                      CHAPTER LXV.
  LITTLE NETTIE'S SORROWS--CHEERING LETTERS                      257

                      CHAPTER LXVI.

  KATY'S FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL--THE TOWN-PUMP CONTROVERSY--CRUELTY
      OF KATY'S GRANDPARENTS                                     262

                      CHAPTER LXVII.
  MR. JOHN WALTER                                                267

                      CHAPTER LXVIII.
  A LETTER FROM MR. WALTER, AND ITS EFFECT                       271

                      CHAPTER LXIX.
  RUTH ENGAGES TO WRITE SOLELY FOR THE HOUSEHOLD MESSENGER       278

                      CHAPTER LXX.
  WHAT MR. LESCOM SAID                                           282

                      CHAPTER LXXI.
  A SHARP CORRESPONDENCE                                         287

                      CHAPTER LXXII.
  OFFERS OF MARRIAGE AND OFFERS TO PUBLISH                       292

                      CHAPTER LXXIII.
  WHAT MR. TIBBETTS SAID ABOUT RUTH'S WRITING FOR THE HOUSEHOLD
      MESSENGER                                                  298

                      CHAPTER LXXIV.
  SOLILOQUY OF A SUB-EDITOR                                      302

                      CHAPTER LXXV.
  MR. WALTER'S VISIT                                             309

                      CHAPTER LXXVI.
  THE PHRENOLOGICAL EXAMINATION                                  318

                      CHAPTER LXXVII.
  PUBLICATION DAY COMES AT LAST                                  330

                      CHAPTER LXXVIII.
  HYACINTH CORNERED                                              334

                      CHAPTER LXXIX.
  MR. LEWIS ENLIGHTENED                                          338

                      CHAPTER LXXX.
  MORE LETTERS                                                   342

                      CHAPTER LXXXI.
  FRESHET IN THE DOCTOR'S CELLAR--"HAMS" IN DANGER OF A TOTAL
      WRECK--SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF RUTH--RESCUE OF LITTLE KATY    348

                      CHAPTER LXXXII.
  ARRIVAL OF KATY WITH HER MOTHER, MR. WALTER, AND MR. GREY, AT
      NEW LODGINGS; DINNER AND LETTERS--CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN
      THE CHILDREN                                               354

                      CHAPTER LXXXIII.
  THE LITTLE FAMILY ALONE AT THEIR NEW QUARTERS--NETTIE IN THE
      CONFESSION BOX--KATY'S MIRTH                               367

                      CHAPTER LXXXIV.
  KATY AND NETTIE COMPARE NOTES--RUTH DREAMS--MIDNIGHT
      CONFLAGRATION--RESCUE OF THE LITTLE FAMILY BY JOHNNY GALT  372

                      CHAPTER LXXXV.
  TEA-TABLE TALK BETWEEN "THE WOODEN MAN" AND HIS SPOUSE--LETTER
      FROM "OUR JOHN"                                            378

                      CHAPTER LXXXVI.
  THE OLD LADY EXTINGUISHED IN A CONVERSATION WITH HER
      NEIGHBORS, WHO ANNOUNCE THE ASTONISHING FACT THAT 'FLOY'
      IS RUTH                                                    383

                      CHAPTER LXXXVII.
  CONVERSATION BETWEEN RUTH'S FATHER AND MR. JONES REGARDING
      RUTH'S LITERARY DEBUT                                      388

                      CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
  INTERVIEW BETWEEN