Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; or, Jasper Parloe's Secret

Ruth Fielding #1

by Alice B. Emerson

Ruth Fielding, a recently-orphaned girl, arrives in Cheslow, New York to live with her uncle, Jabez Potter, at the Red Mill with his housekeeper, Aunt Alvirah Boggs. Ruth is greatly disappointed in the cold reception she receives. Uncle Jabez seems to care very little about her, and all that he has to say is that she must earn her keep. Uncle Jabez grows even more difficult after his cash box disappears during a flood.

Ruth becomes friends with Helen and Tom Cameron, who are the children of a wealthy merchant. Ruth also visits a lame girl, Mercy Curtis, at her home. Mercy is a very disagreeable girl who resents her disability and takes it out on everyone else. Ruth kindly endures Mercy's taunts, and even promises Mercy that she can someday come stay with her at the Red Mill.

There stood the miller, upright and silent, plying the whip.
In time, Ruth's cheery disposition softens Mercy's attitude, and she does visit the Red Mill. Soon, a doctor examines Mercy, and it is determined that she may have hope of recovery after an operation. Uncle Jabez's cash box is found, thanks to Ruth, and Uncle Jabez gradually softens towards Ruth.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Childrens, Historical, Classics

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Alice B. Emerson was a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Betty Gordon and Ruth Fielding series of children's novels. The writers taking up the pen of Alice B. Emerson were: Josephine Lawrence (Betty Gorson series #1-4, 7, 9), W. Bert Foster (Ruth Fielding series #1-19, Betty Gordon series #5,6), Elizabeth M. Duffield Ward (Ruth Fielding series #20-22, Betty Gordon series #8), Eunice W. Creager (Betty Gordon series #10-15) and Mildred Benson (Ruth Fielding series #23-30).

Series:
* Betty Gordon
* Ruth Fielding

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since Applewood Books began reprinting the original Nancy Drew books (the ones from the 1930s), I have had an interest in vintage children's series from the early part of the 20th century. So when this title, the first in the Ruth Fielding series, came through work, I decided to give it a try.

One of many series produced for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the Ruth Fielding books began publication in 1913, and include 30 titles. They relate the adventures of the eponymous Ruth Fielding, a worthy young orphan who comes to stay with her gruff and miserly great Uncle Jabez Potter at his Red Mill in upstate New York. This initial title follows Ruth as she settles into her new home, befriends the Cameron twins, and helps to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her uncle's strong-box.

The story was pleasant enough, though not brilliant. There were times at which I found myself thinking that the writing produced by anonymous series ghost-writers was far better then than what we see today. My main objections were the occasional insipidity of Ruth, and the obnoxious (though thankfully brief) inclusion of a black "Mammy" character, complete with stereotypical speech patterns. I had encountered this before in the original versions of the Bobbsey Twins, but assumed that this was owing to the Southern setting of that series. Apparently the trend was far more widespread in children's literature of the period. I don't know why that would surprise me.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this first book in the Ruth Fielding series. I've read so many favorable comments about this series, from scholars and collectors alike, but had never gotten around to reading them. The series is a precursor to Nancy Drew, which would debut in 1930 under the same publishing house, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, but Ruth and Nancy couldn't be more different. Ruth is orphaned and poverty-stricken, suddenly sent to live with a truly crotchety great uncle (her mother's uncle), who runs a grain mill. Ruth must work for her uncle in order to "deserve" his charity and in order to be allowed to go to school. Ruth, in this first book, sees education as her ticket to a better life. She makes almost no friends her own age because her peers at school resent her as a charity case. As the series progresses, solving mysteries becomes a stronger component in the stories (based on what I've read), but this first book features only a very incidental mystery as a very secondary part of its plot. The main plot focuses more on character development and Ruth's efforts at fitting in, trying to find some element of kindness or warmth in her uncle, and her determination at succeeding in school. She meets Helen and Tom Cameron the first day she gets there - teens her age whose father is one of the wealthier men in the area. Jasper Parloe is an altogether unpleasant man who has been fired by Ruth's uncle Jabez Potter for suspicion of theft, and Jasper vows revenge. Living with Jabez and Ruth is an old woman named Alvirah Boggs, who keeps house for Jabez, and everyone knows as Aunt Alviry - she is the only real comfort and affection Ruth gets in her uncle's house. What I find very interesting is how language is a class marker for the characters in this book, but, unlike other series books I've read from this same time, there isn't a character who remarks on the lack of "educated" speech from the lower class characters (the Dorothy Dale series comes to mind). All the lower class characters (uncle Jabez, Aunt Alvirah, Jasper Parloe, and a couple of others) all speak with an obvious colloquial "dialect," while those in or hoping to become part of the higher class all speak in a more standard "educated" dialogue. Surprisingly, for its time (1913), truly derogatory depictions or negative stereotyping of the lower class characters don't take place - unless the character is unsavory to begin with (like Jasper Parloe). I find that quite progressive for a Stratemeyer Syndicate publication, as the publishing company had a reputation for racial, ethnic, and class stereotyping and for moralizing plots and characters in its early publishing history. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolie petite histoire, sur une orpheline qui rêve de devenir scénariste au début du XXe aux États-Unis.
Les illustrations sont jolies et l'héroïne adorable.

Par contre le rêve de la petite n'est clairement pas au centre du roman, c'est une petite enquête autour d'un coffret perdu qui est le cœur du livre, la quatrième de couverture me semble donc légèrement mensongère.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my Charlie Bone.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was shocked how much I enjoyed this book. It has interesting well developed characters. Ruth, the heroine, has some of the usual teenage problems that perplex young women - no matter what the era! I kept thinking of my grandmother who would be 5 years older than Ruth. The cover art made me laugh when I remembered Grammy telling me that was how young women dressed for work and school at the time. Meanwhile, I was hoping to wear blue jeans to junior high! Grammy also told me about her first experiences riding in a car - like Ruth she described it as "flying". Cars made my grandmother very nervous throughout her life - or was it my grandfather's driving! I look forward to reading more of Ruth's adventures in the rest of the series. Happy Reading! Joan

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

eponymous-ey sentence:
p4: "They call it the Red Mill."

No, not an ogre after all.

The inclusion of that spelling bee contest is so ironic.

[Dee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother, a child of The Depression, grew up in a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Her family lived in an apartment building where she had an elderly spinster neighbor who loved books. She gifted my 6th grade mom a first edition series (1913) of six Ruth Fielding books. Mother read them numerous times and saved them for the future. When I was old enough to appreciate them, they became a favorite series for me long before I discovered Nancy Drew! Unfortunately, they were lost in a flooded basement storage locker when I was in college.

[Pamela Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a later volume in this series at a flea market and decided to start at the beginning. First off, this is available for free download on Project Gutenberg - I picked up volume 2 on Google Play.

Ruth is your basic plucky orphan, but there is nuance to her character - she is three-dimensional - and I like her. She is shy and modest but has presence of mind in an emergency. I like the way she struggles a bit with herself to overcome the modesty and act.

I am a fan of the series books of this time and type and have written about them on my blog which you can find at Pams-Pictorama.com. A few examples can be found at: https://wordpress.com/posts/pams-pict... and a slightly later example: https://pams-pictorama.com/2020/02/23....

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet and fun story; I read it about thirteen years ago.
This book stands well by itself. The quality of writing suffers as the series progresses. Sweet Ruth becomes more of a flapper later on, to the point of wanting a career after marriage and motherhood, a very progressive view at the time these books were written. That said, I still love the first book and have read a number of the sequels, some of which are better than others. So far I have found nothing bad or objectionable per se, but often impertinence toward authority is excused. It would be best for conservative girls to read this in the middle teens instead of in preteen years.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on a 'girls mystery' tear. They can be compared to some of the themed cosy mysteries, and of course they're the contemporaries of Nancy Drew. God bless Google and Project Gutenberg -- I'd tried in years past to locate some of these books and didn't have the resources to find them.

Not a bad beginning to this series. I'll look for more.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good example from the period - Ruth, an orphan, goes to live with her crotchedly old uncle in a small town. She meets wonderful friends and becomes beloved. Oh, and a crippled girl walks and Ruth gets her hearts desire....wait for it....boarding school! So the other books will follow her there, of course. And eventually she'll marry Tom. But I still enjoy them!

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother's first cousin gave me several boxes of books when we cleaned out her mother's house. These were heavily represented. I liked them all.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An orphan arrives on a train, brings happiness to an old couple, and gets a new dress; while also solving a (mild) mystery and making unlikely friends. It's like a watery Anne of Green Gables meets Nancy Drew. The "mystery solving" was pretty mild and the "kindred spirits" felt a little too easy, but I still enjoyed the story and the richness of the vocabulary.

I was a little thrown off in the beginning when they referred to Ruth as "a little girl" when the boy in the story (a "couple years older") was riding a motorcycle, and Ruth herself was prepping to get into high school. So, I'm guessing that makes her about 14 in this story.

I did enjoy the language though. I think this was written at the end of the 1920s? I loved the use of quotations on the kids' slang, such as so-and-so was "put out" by the turn of events. And the words they used (in a novel written for young folks) had me questioning my own education. I read this on my phone and there were a few times I had to highlight a word to check the definition.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It was very wholesome and, like I said, it gave me Green Gables vibes. Perhaps a little too slow-paced for some modern readers, but I found it relaxing.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the sort of thing I expected when I picked up Betty Gordon at Bramble Farm; or, The Mystery of a Nobody: plucky young orphan goes off to stay with unknown uncle and makes good in spite of adversity. There are hair breadth scapes, rescues, and the transformation of a cross-grained invalid as well as saving the family fortune (so to speak) and making friends with the grumpy uncle as well. Our first clue to Ruth's sterling personality is her refusal to cry on the train, freshly orphaned though she is. The second is the mastiff's affection for her on first sight.

Ruth is finishing middle school, and is therefore about 14. Her friend Helen is her own age, and yet drives the family car when the mood takes her, and very expertly too! Ah 1913. Of course in those days there was no need to get a driving licence, until about 1935.

There is naturally a whole series of these books, available on Project Gutenberg, and all involve a mild "mystery" of sorts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I usually like youth fiction books, but this one was not as well written as even most of the book from the time. The characters were inconsistent. I probably won't read any more of the Ruth Feilding books

[LeslecturesdeMylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire de Ruth, ses combats, l'amitié qu'elle rencontre au détour d'une route et le voyage que l'on fait avec elle.
16/20 - https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2...

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool insight into daily life during the early 20th century

[Melisande · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://accrocdeslivres.blogspot.com/...

[Jane]

I tried this a few years ago and didn't like it, probably because of the "country" tone of some of the characters (I hate dialect in children's books). It was MUCH better on rereading, and I'm glad I've collected most of the series now.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth is a great role model of humility, compassion, hard work, and endurance.

[Michele Chorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series for me and I am looking forward to reading the next Ruth Fielding novel.

[Danie]

cool

[Giberteens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alicia

[Dayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming slice of life in the early 20th Century that would most likely raise eyebrows and be censured by the "politically correct" to our detriment.