Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. BEGINNINGS. THEY were off at last, Mrs. Lorrimer, baby, and nurse, with Mr. Lorrimer to accompany them to the steamboat, and make all arrangements for their comfort on their long day's journey. Rob, who liked driving better than anything, had gone off too, with the cart which carried the trunks; and the girls went their several ways about the half-deserted house. Ruth spent the morning in giving her room a thorough cleaning and setting to rights, and the afternoon in writing a long letter, according to promise, to the faithful Martha., This sent her to bed thoroughly tired, and not a little saddened; but sleep and forgetfulness come readily to the young, and she rose the next morning as bright and cheery as the birds themselves, which, already thinking of mating, were hopping gayly among the bare branches beneath her window, practising- the love songs with which they would woo each other on St. Valentine's day. It was Sunday, and breakfast was so much later even than usual, that Ruth had time to perform all her morning duties satisfactorily before she went down. The younger children, with her father, were in the dining-room when she entered, and Kitty, after a rapid glance of inspection at her toilet, at once assailed her. "Why, Ruth!" she said, in a tone of surprise and rebuke. "Ain't you going to church? Such a good girl as you! Don't you see it's 'most ten o'clock?" "Well, I am all ready," said Ruth, smiling; "we don't go without breakfast -- do we?" "You're not going to wear that same frock!" exclaimed Kitty and Pinkie, in chorus, glancing disdainfully at the plain travelling dress of heavy black serge. "I have not had time to unpack my trunk yet, you know," said Ruth, half amused, half disconcerted. "But this dress is...
