Ruth Hall Chapter Summaries

Ruth Hall by Fanny Fearn Chapter One Ruth is leaning against brick wall contemplating how tomorrow she would be on her own. She was contemplating about her future and if she would find more thorns than roses in her future. Her brothers name is Hyacinth. Ruth?s mom is dead. When she was alive she acted uneasy around her stereotypical father who fancied tea, napped on the sofa, and complained about the noise. Ruth was sent to a boarding school with 4 other girls who focused on looks and sneaking out at night instead of studies. She wrote their compositions for them. She started to blossom and become a beautiful girl. She was a year into school when her same old haughty brother Hyacinth visited. Ruth?s father suggested she get married for teach school because he was getting poorer in his tradesmans business. It?s the night before Ruth?s bridal. Chapter Two No one but family was at wedding ? so whats the point of being beautiful? Chapter Three Ruth married Harry. Harry?s mom is very traditional and doesn?t like Ruth. She is jealous that Ruth will push her to the side. Ruth doesn?t know Chapter Four Harrys mom is jealous again. Ruth doesn?t know a thing about housekeeping for shit. MomInLaw says any money he gives her she should give to her to keep MomInLaw is very conservative and Calvinist. Chapter Five Ruth was in tears because she couldn?t tear Harry between his mom and her. Chapter Six Harry?s father began life in farm on Vermont. Was a well distinguished doctor. All the ladies loved him. Had cook named Betty who wore Ruths bridal veil to party. And ruth kept quiet about it. Harry was making separate plans for a house for him and Ruth, separate his wife. Harry?s parents began to ?become old people? in their habitual daily tasks. Chapter Seven Ruth had a baby! Everyone had diff opinions. Gave doc something to do. Old lady didn?t like it cuz it separated harry from her and grew harrys attachment to Ruth. Betty was impartial cuz she could ask for higher wages even though more work to make gruel. Name of baby is Daisy Chapter Eight: Nurses name is Mrs. Jiff. She is rather disgusting. She drinks, doesn?t take good care of the kid, yet practiced for 25 years for newborn babies. It took her hours to make tea and spread bread becuz shes lazy and talks w/ betty. Ruth wanted to be less restricted from Mrs. Jiffs orders (list on 26) Chapter Nine: MominLaw tells Ruth to take care of the kid herself when Mrs. Jiff leaves and not to get a nursery girl because it would be too expensive. Chapter Ten Ruth and Harry got a new house 5 miles from town! House was old She felt so free in the new house w/out restraint or criticism from Harry?s mom. As the baby got a lil older and more demanding, she took to the prayer to calm her tenses. Chapter 11 Ruth and her child spend beautiful Sunday mornings frolicking in the meadows and enjoying nature. Ruth takes notice of the little things in the baby like her skin and pressure from hand. An ending passage foreshadows the resting of a rose?.. perhaps a bad foreshadow. Chapter 12 Mom and dad move near ruth. Dad only married mom for dads cider. Chapter 13 Mom meets maid and questions if Ruth ever helps her w/ anything Chapter 14 Mom is nosy and looks at parlor. It is very beautiful w/ drapery and floral. Ruth does it all herself. Chapter 15 Dad tries to manage Harrys workers when Harry isn?t there. Chapter 16 Daisy plays w/ caterpillar. Chapter 17 Pat and John tell Harry about his dad telling them what to do and it annoys Harry becuz he wants to get away from his dads dictatorship. And wants to start his own life Chapter 18 Mom and dad talk about how they think Ruth is childish Chapter 19 Harry took horse to town through the snow. Daisy loves it. Chapter 20 Ruth and Harry wake up Pat late at night to get the horse together to send for doctor. Dad says to give her ½ teaspoon of shit to make her better Chapter 21 Dinah (maid) wakes up to all the commotion and looks. Harry gets his dad to come. Dinah thinks daisy will die Chapter 22 DAISY DIES! Chapter 23 Harry and Ruth move. Mom and dad talk smack about Ruth to neighbor Sally Jones. Chapter 24 8 years later. Ruth has daughters Katy and Little Netty. Live at resort. Chapter 25 Ruth speaks w/ Mary Leon who is the envy of everyone w/ her perfect husband and everything. Mrs. Leon cry?s down to Ruth because she hates her marriage. Chapter 26 Harry gets typhus fever ? really sick. Ruth takes care of him. Refuses to leave him. Chapter 27 Harry?s dad (tom) and mother come to hotel. Dad wants to see harry. Mom waits. Chapter 28 Tom says Ruth misdosed Harry . Harry DIES! Chapter 29 Hyacinth comes to visit. Nothing big in this chapter. Chapter 30 Dad only thinks of self at funeral. The dress maker, Miss. Skinlin talks w/ mom about her dress. Mom told Skinlin lies about the true love of Ruths and Harrys relationship. Skinlin assumes that Ruth is rich after Harrys death and that mom and dad will help but the mom assures her they will not. Chapter 31 Funeral procession Chapter 32 Ruth had to fire Biddy McPherson (their nursery maid) because they didn?t have money. Chapter 33 Ruths father Mr. Ellet visits w/ Tom Hall about the situation because they don?t want it looking bad infront of the church. Mom and dad don?t want anything to do w/ her but they are determined to take the kids. Chapter 34 Mr. Ellet tells Ruth about the plan to give her kids up but she resists. Chapter 35 The mother is still bound and determined to have Ruths kids even if she said no. She bashes Hyacinth as being a woosey. The deal Mr. Ellet and Tom Hall come to is that tom will give Ruth a small sum for an unspecified amount of time if Ellet does too. Mr. Ellet is poor and thinks tom should just pay it all. Tom forces Mr. Ellet to pay his share cuz of what the churchppl will think. Chapter 36 Ruth and the girls stay at a boarding house Random people Sam and Jim talk about how Jim wants to get in her pants. Chapter 37 Mr. Tom Develin is introduced as a bachelor who has a bookstore. Tom Hall wants him to take Harry?s clothes from Ruth even if its illegal. Chapter 38 Katy talks of how she misses Harry Chapter 39 Mr. Develin collects the clothes from Ruth. She keeps the white wedding vest though Chapter 40 Mary and Tom Herbert, store owners, talk of how Harry use to come in and buy Ruth her clothes and everything she wanted. It hurt Tom Herbert so much that he couldn?t give Ruth a job because she couldn?t bring two kids to the mill upstairs to make clothes. Chapter 41 Gertrude and Mary go to visit Ruths place. But when they see how disgusting it is they decide not to go because people would stare. Instead they talk about how much they spend on collars and go to La Temps saloon. Chapter 42 Gatty and Betty talk about Ruth and her patheticniess. They mention how Hyacinth isn?t even aware of Ruth?s situation. Chapter 43 Johnny Galt sent Ruth flowers. He came to the market every day w/ vegetables and drive a horse in the pasture for Harry. He was a good guy. Chapter 44 Mrs. Millet talks to Mr. Millet about how john is going to a social put on by Hon. Herbert Greene and how that?s good because Hyacinth said its good to network. Mrs. Millet talks about how expensive photo shoots and how she needs $40 for a velvet Jacket for Leila Chapter 45 Katy went to Mr. Ellets house by herself to get money and he treated her like crap. On her way home she saw a girl w/ her daddy and started crying. The random daddy intervened and found out she was Harrys child and gave her money to give to Ruth./ Chapter 46 At first Ruth is abhorring the site of the large brick tenement acrossed their place. Then she saw a house that looked like crap on outside but had fancy things on the inside. Then Katy came home and gave her the money and she was so ecstatic she prayed. Chapter 47 Ruth is rooming at John and Mrs. Skiddys residence. John freaks over having to watch baby. Chapter 48: Ruth wants to become teacher/get a private school. The bitch Mrs. Millet buys Ruths coral pin that cost Harry 10 for only 1.25. some friends they are. Chapter 49: Finds out there?s a job opening at school. Chapter 50: Talks w/ Mr. Millet and Develin who are both on school committee that shes going to apply. They say apply but that she has chances just as anyone else. Chapter 51: Mr. Millet and Develine were the oens who voted against Ruth for the job. BITCHES! Chapter 52 Mrs. Skiddy still hasn?t returned to Mr. Skiddy for a week. He had cruch on Nancy Spriggins. Mrs. Skiddy finally came home. Allusion to Skiddy being a roman on page 105 Mrs.Skiddy owns him. Chapter 53: Feminist idea of manage or be managed (107). Her full name is Matilda Maria Skiddy. Her sons are Sammy and Johnny w/ baby Tommy. Mr. Skiddy was fed up w/ Mrs skiddy and left for California. After a year there he was unsuccessful and wrote to get help from mrs skiddy but she said NEVER. Chapter 54: Ruth and Katy walk past insane hospital. They go there and realize Mrs. Leon DIED! Her husband left her there when he went to Europe. Mr. Tibbetts was superintendent and let Ruth see body. The law is on the side of the man (111) Mrs. Leon left a message for Ruth w/ nurse saying she wasn?t insane and that she doesn?t want to die there. Chapter 55: Ruth had to seek new place to live cuz skiddys living conditions. Mrs. Waters was her new landlady. She was a female physician but really weird. She adopted a cough from poor heated air and dampness of cellar and Mrs. Waters made her buy her medicine for 3 shillings. Chapter 56: Mrs. Waters had another lodge named Mr. Bond. He sayted in his room all days. Odd noise came from his room. She decided instead to write for the papers as a job! She sent an example of her writing to Hyacinth and he wrote her back saying she sucks and that she should find an onobtrusive job. Chapter 57: Mom in law wants to try to get Katy again. Tried to lure Katy w/ promises of pony rides. Chapter 58 Mr. Ellet says how shes going to have to give up katy. Chapter 60: Ruth went to church and felt better Chapter 61: You see capitalism v. Religion in convo between Mr. Ellet and preacher Mr. Clark. Also shows lack of church alludes to Ruths life. Constrast between how rich dad is but wont help daughter out. Chapter 62: Ruth found employment at ?The Standard? w/ editor Mr. Lescom. His rule was not to pay until it was printed. And she had 5 days before pay and Netty was hungary. Netty was sick and Mr. Bond was nice and gave her some medicine. She trusted him. Chapter 63: Katy @ gmas but it sucks. Little girls must be seen and not heard. Ruth walked the entire distance to see Katy. Chapter 64 Mr. Lescom said her first articles were copied and that they received some more subscriptions so it?s a good sign (foreshadow?). The only way for her to get higher pay from Mr. Lescom was to find a higher bid from rival quarter. The editor of ?The Pilgrim? was her next bet. Mr. Tibbetts says he would maintain her the pen name Floy and she would right 2 articles a week. Katy had to work harder. The public was busying themselves w/ who Floy could be. Rumors as to who katy was (you can see gender norms on reaons ppl gave 133) Hyacinth saw Floys articles and said something must be done. Wrote to Mrs. Millet to influence Ruth to stop and when Millet talked to her abougt it she went on writing! Yay. Chapter 65 She opened two letters from people. One was from John Stokes saying she should make a boy so that readers may keep them. Second one was from Mary R. who said that she just really loved her and that hopefully someday they would meet. Chapter 66 Katy had first day at school and it sucked. Old lady said katy should love her the most. Katy said no. Was scolded and told to go to room. Chapter 67 Mr. John Walter was infaturated w/ Ruth and thought she should write for the ?Household Messanger?. Said hew ould only make her write one a week. Wrote letter to floy asking how much she made and her real name. Ruth received it, likes the messanger and sent reply. Chapter 68 John Walter received reply and thought it was outrageous her conditions she worked. He asked if she would sign the contract to write one a week, whatever length, at a larger pay. Ruth signed document. Chapter 69 Mr. Lescom says business is one thing, friendship is another (147) She still wants to see if she could right for Lescom. Chapter 71 Walters wrote Lescom how horrible it was and how she made him popular. He also wrote ruth saying that she cannot write for the Standard. Chapter 72 She received letter to have her collections published into a volume and purchase copyright for $800. At first she was worried it wouldn?t sell but then said pshaw.. it will. Received letter from Reginald Danby saying he has a very noble background but is now poor and wants to go to College. Hopes she can take his lifes sotry and gmas poetry and turn it into a book which will pay forhis college. Chapter 77 Mr. Tibbetts was informed of Ruths decision to leave and threatened to sell her articles as cheap editions to ruin the sales of her books. He?d have revenge! Chapter 78 Mr. Horace Gates wrote for the Irving Magazine, under editoral staff of Hyacinth. Hates hyacinth becuz he takes credit for his work. Ellet tells Gates to not mention Floy because its his sister and doesn?t want ppl to know. Gates is curious as to why he wouldn?t want her to write. Mabye its cuz he wants to be the only genius in the family. Hyacinth has always used diplomatic and monetary means to avoid confrontation w/ other newspaper agencies. Chapter 80 (161) Mr. John Walter stopped by Ruths place while he was passing through to meet her. He was sad at how poor they lived. Ruth received letter from Sarah Jarmesin asking her to write about her story how a guy screwed her over so she could make a book to pay off her $500 court fee debt. Another letter was from Billy Sands saying his dog died and wanted her to write an epithalamium for him. Another letter was from Mary Andrews who asked if Floy could be a mother to her babe. Anotehr letter was from Wiliam Stearns of the author of ?history of the dark ages? saying that she is not a genious and she violates rules of composition. Said that the female mind is incapable of producing literature (166) Chapter 81 (167) Mr. Walter asks for Ruth to get a head examination in which docter baskcially gives her an astrology of everything she is mentally and physically based on her nervous temperament, her vital temperament and etc. Chapter 82 (173) Sally Walters was wondering about who exactly Ruth is. She didn?t mind as long as her and Bond pay their bills. Publication of Ruths book! Nettie wants to see the book and asks if she should be writer. Ruth says hell no! From Harry?s grave sprang Floy (175). New identity? Chapter 83 (176) Lewis talks to Hyacinth how ?The Inquisitor? is the highest literary authority and they claim Floy?s book to be genius. Hyacinth tells Lewis Floy is his sister and doesn?t want to do w/ her Chapter 84 (178) Lewis talks to Mr. Walter to find out if Floy is really Hyacinths sister Mr. Walter tells Lewis the whole story of how she came from luxury to poverty to writing. Chapter 85 (180) Ruth will get to take Katy back! Received letter from John Walter asking her to wait because he would come with. Chapter 86 (183) Katy is rescued from the evil mother in laws place Nettie resembles her mother. Katy resembles her father Chapter 87 (186) They go to a hotel where they will stay for a few weeks and go out for supper with Walter. Walter gives her letters she?s received. One is from John Dean asking her to write a speech for his schools first anniversary. One is from Hal Hunnewell asking her to write her compositions for her academy class because she hates too. One is from Kitty telling her about family and how she should write kid stories Katy has mark on arm from when Mom in Law beat her for leaving when her and the add in law were bitchen about Ruth.