She was now fourteen years old, and Ruth Elmer's most intimate friend, and the first picture in the album was a good photograph of herself, taken in Bangor.

The others were only tin-types taken in the neighboring town of Skowhegan; but Ruth thought them all beautiful.
The next morning was gray and chill, for it was late in November.

The first snow of the season was falling in a hesitating sort of a way, as though it hardly knew whether to come or not, and it was still quite dark when Mrs.Wing woke Mark and Ruth, and told them to hurry, for the stage would be along directly.

They were soon dressed and down-stairs, where they found breakfast smoking on the table.

A moment later they were joined by their parents, neither of whom could eat, so full were they of the sorrow of departure.