RUTH OF BOSTON

A Story of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

BY
JAMES OTIS

NEW YORK -:- CINCINNATI -:- CHICAGO
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

Copyright, 1910 by
JAMES OTIS KALER
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London

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FOREWORD

The purpose of this series of stories is to showthe children, and even those who have already takenup the study of history, the home life of the colonistswith whom they meet in their books. To this endevery effort has been made to avoid anything savoringof romance, and to deal only with facts, so faras that is possible, while describing the daily lifeof those people who conquered the wilderness whetherfor conscience sake or for gain.

That the stories may appeal more directly to thechildren, they are told from the viewpoint of a child,and purport to have been related by a child. Shouldany criticism be made regarding the seeming neglectto mention important historical facts, the answerwould be that these books are not sent out ashistories,—although it is believed that they will awakena desire to learn more of the building of the nation,—andonly such incidents as would be particularlynoted by a child are used.4

Surely it is entertaining as well as instructive foryoung people to read of the toil and privations inthe homes of those who came into a new world tobuild up a country for themselves, and such homelyfacts are not to be found in the real histories ofour land.

James Otis.

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CONTENTS