School in the Kentucky hills goes from August to the last Friday before Christmas. After that the snows are too high, and later, the thawing rivers too full, for the Fairchild children to make it safely to the little schoolhouse in the woods. Now that Althy is fourteen, father proposes that she teach the younger children, through these long winter months, in the parlor. Althy quickly rises to the occasion, while Bonnie, Debby, Emily and Chris, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, accept the novel plan. There will be a host of efforts, diversions, and enjoyment, as well as growing respect for Althy and renewed purpose for Bonnie, before this fourth Fairchild family story draws the series to its satisfying close. Paperback, 150 pages.
