CHAPTER V

OFF FOR THE BACKWOODS


It was still dark when Ruth awoke and slipped down to the kitchen
again. But she heard her uncle rattling the stove grate. He was a
very early riser. She peered into the kitchen and saw the grove of
drying clothing, so knew that her trick of the night before had kept
Fred Hatfield from running away.

Therefore she merely dropped the boy's nether garments inside the
kitchen door and scurried back to her own room to dress by candle-light.
She heard Aunt Alvirah stumbling about her room and groaning
her old, old tune, "Oh, my back, and oh, my bones!" As soon as Ruth
was dressed she ran in to see if she could do anything for the old
woman.

"Ah, deary! what a precious pretty you be," said the old woman,
hugging her. "I'm so glad to see you again after your being away so
long. And your Uncle's that proud of you, too! He often reads the
reports the school teacher sends him--I see him doing that in the
evening. He keeps the reports in his cash-box, just as though they
was as precious as his stocks and bonds. Yes-indeedy!"

"You are so glad to have me at home, Aunt Alvirah, that I feel
guilty to be going away again so soon," Ruth said.