Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Ruth Ends

If you would like to read Ruth from the beginning, you will need to going to older posts until you come to the front of the book...Page #1. I wanted to keep this story going forever. I thought it would be interesting to take her to the time of her death. But I have been with Ruth since last August....About 8 months. It has been a adventure in my imagination, because there is no known story of Ruth's life or family. I have tried to research her, and other than the short story on this old house, I could not find anything. I wanted Ruth to help me tell her story. I have always loved the Victorian era. I must say it is complicated and very interesting. They lived their life by a code of conduct that I have learned from. So I sadly leave this Victorian time, but with a greater understanding of the things they had to deal with. So with that said.....I shall find other things to do and keep learning. Your Mary, If you would like to read this story, scroll down to page one.

Ruth finds a letter

Page #23 Ruth found her paper dolls, but she also found a letter. Ruth took the letter and got down the Dictionary because she didn't understand what Asylum meant. She didn't read the letter right away, she was afraid of what it might say. So she hid it and fixed her paper dolls. Something was wrong and in her heart she knew it was about her. Ruth knew this letter was to her Mother, that it was not for her to read. Ruth thought about putting it back in the trash can, that's what I will do. But before she would put it back, she started to read it. She had a hard time with the words. But she understood enough to fear what was ahead. It answered the secret, the upper room is for me. And why would the door be locked? Ruth decided to wait, and wait she did.


Paper Dolls

Page #22

Monday, March 2, 2009

What Ruth didn't know yet.

Page #21


When they took Ruth to see Dr. Harper, the advice that was given Rachael and Micah was more than they could hardly bare. He said that Ruth would only get worse, that soon she would not have any time between spells. He told them about a asylum in Missouri that she could be cared for in. That she would find children there just like her.
Rachael would not do this, she could not bare the thought of sending her to a asylum, this was not going to happen. But Ruth was getting worse. They were giving her more and more medicine. And it was just to make her rest. But also they were embarrassed about Ruth, they had no real control over her illness. More and more they tried to keep her hid, but she was growing up and it was getting to the point of fear, she could hurt Samuel, she had scared him a few times already.
The upper room was something Rachael didn't want to think about. But the whole family knew it was the room or the asylum. Rachael knew that it was only a matter of time, Ruth had to be controlled. Micah had to be strong in this decision. He marked the calendar and said to Rachael this is the day. I will prepare the upper room and Ruth will stay in the room. Rachael had a thousand questions, but the first was, will she come out sometimes. Micah said no, we can not continue to live this way. So they made their plan. The room was very small, and the only window looked out over the front of the house. Ruth would have no visitors, no one but the family would know she was there. It was understood that no one would talk about Ruth, they would tell everyone that she had gone away to a special girls school in New York. Martha had agreed to take her food, clean the room, and she had the key. Anyone that broke the rules would find themselves out of a job. Martha was paid well for her silence. Rachael and Micah fought many times over this decision, Rachael was sick with this, but the asylum was out of the question. They had heard awful stories about how they treated people. Cages, and beatings, starvation.
This is all so crule Rachael would cry. My poor baby, my poor little Ruth.

Honeysuckle and Family

Page #20 Click to inlarge pictures.


Sunday, March 1, 2009