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 RETROSPECTIVEREVERIE[15]
CHAPTER II.
THE WEDDING—A GLIMPSE OF THE CHARACTER OF RUTH’SBROTHER 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 ENTERTAININGDIALOGUE[52]
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OLD LADY’S SURREPTITIOUS VISIT TO RUTH’S, AND HER ENCOUNTERWITH 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’SVERSION OF THE CAUSE OF DAISY’S DEATH—MRS. JONESGIVES HER OPINION[85]
CHAPTER XXIV.
ANNIVERSARY OF DAISY’S DEATH—RUTH’S REVERIE—LITTLEKATY’S REQUEST[90]
CHAPTER XXV.
HOTEL LIFE—A NEW FRIEND[93]
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FALL OF THE LEAF—HARRY’S ILLNESS—THE LONELYWATCHER[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—DISPUTEABOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN[125]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
RUTH RECEIVES A VISIT FROM HER FATHER—HE INSISTS ONHER GIVING UP HER CHILDREN TO THE OLD DOCTOR—RUTH’SREFUSAL[128]
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE OLD LADY, ENRAGED, PROPOSES A COMPROMISE—MR. ELLETIS 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 WEDDINGVEST[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 CHARACTERISTICRECEPTION—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 ANDDELICACY[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 FINALESCAPE[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 PENTO OBTAIN A SUBSISTENCE—SHE APPLIES TO HER BROTHERHYACINTH FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE—HIS CHARACTERISTICREPLY[219]
CHAPTER LVII.
THE OLD LADY RESORTS TO STRATAGEM, AND CARRIES HERPOINT[224]
CHAPTER LVIII.
MR. ELLET EXHIBITS HIS USUAL FATHERLY INTEREST IN RUTH’SAFFAIRS[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 STRANGELODGER 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—CRUELTYOF 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 THEHOUSEHOLD 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 ATOTAL WRECK—SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF RUTH—RESCUEOF LITTLE KATY[348]
CHAPTER LXXXII.
ARRIVAL OF KATY WITH HER MOTHER, MR. WALTER, AND MR.GREY, AT NEW LODGINGS; DINNER AND LETTERS—CONVERSATIONSBETWEEN THE CHILDREN[354]
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
THE LITTLE FAMILY ALONE AT THEIR NEW QUARTERS—NETTIEIN THE CONFESSION BOX—KATY’S MIRTH[367]
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
KATY AND NETTIE COMPARE NOTES—RUTH DREAMS—MIDNIGHTCONFLAGRATION—RESCUE OF THE LITTLE FAMILY BY JOHNNYGALT[372]
CHAPTER LXXXV.
TEA-TABLE TALK BETWEEN “THE WOODEN MAN” AND HISSPOUSE—LETTER FROM “OUR JOHN”[378]
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
THE OLD LADY EXTINGUISHED IN A CONVERSATION WITH HERNEIGHBORS, WHO ANNOUNCE THE ASTONISHING FACT THAT‘FLOY’ IS RUTH[383]
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
CONVERSATION BETWEEN RUTH’S FATHER AND MR. JONES REGARDINGRUTH’S LITERARY DEBUT[388]
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE LITERARY BOOKSELLER AND MR.WALTER[391]
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
ARRIVAL OF MR. WALTER—BANK STOCK AND BANK CERTIFICATE[394]
CHAPTER XC.
THE LAST VISIT TO HARRY’S GRAVE[398]