es
were so odd. There was an open fireplace in the room, and when the
days were cold and there was a snapping, blazing wood-fire, they used
to ask Miss Ketchum if they might not bring their chestnuts and roast
them in the hot ashes.

Miss Ketchum knew a great many stories, too, and sometimes, on Saturday
afternoon, when the children had plenty of time, and would surely not
have to hurry away in the most interesting part of the story, she would
lean back in her big rocking-chair, and with the little girls sitting
on ottomans, one each side of her, she would tell them delightful
stories about when she was a little girl and went to school. Ruby and
Agnes were glad that they did not live then, when there was no whole
holiday on Saturday, but they were very much interested in hearing all
that Miss Ketchum had to tell them, and in comparing the things that
she did when she went to school with what they did themselves.

Altogether Miss Ketchum was a very delightful friend to have, if, she
was a little forgetful sometimes, and did like caterpillars; but Ruby
and Agnes grew almost as fond of her pets as she was herself, as they
learned how much there was of interest about them. They looked forward
quite eagerly to the time when, instead of the ugly worm that had woven
a chrysalis about himself and gone to sleep for the winter, there
should burst forth a beautiful butterfly. It made them more careful
not to hurt creeping things, and if they found a brown worm crawling
about where he might be stepped upon, the girls would always pick him
up carefully upon a stick or leaf and put him in a safe place where he
might keep out of danger.

CHAPTER XX.

PERSIMMONS.

The September days passed away and the October days came and found Ruby
both happy and good. She had not forgotten her home nor her dear
mother and father, but she was learning to love her new home very
dearly, and she had tried so hard to be good and give the teachers as
little trouble as possible that they were all very fond of her. She
found her lessons very pleasant, and as she loved study and was
ambitious to always have perfect lessons she was very near the head in
all her classes.

Twice a week she wrote long letters home to her mother, and told her
all about her doings; and her mother was so much better that she was
able to write to Ruby two or three times a week,--such loving letters
that Ruby always wished for a little while that she could put he