Ruth Alberta Brown was the author of children’s stories in the beginning of the 20th century. Her stories include ‘Heart of Gold’, ‘Tabitha at Ivy Hall’, ‘Tabithas Vacation’ and ‘The Lilac Lady’. ‘Tabitha at Ivy Hall’ is one of the most famous and beloved stories. Excerpt from the book: ‘Perhaps the boy in the tree guessed her thoughts, for once more he lowered his feet and kicked viciously at her as he chanted:
"Tabby Catt, Tabby Catt, Drink some milk and make you fat, Skinny, scrawny Tabby Catt."
The faded calico bonnet caught on his toes and he tossed it high in the air, letting it fall far out in the dust of the road. Never pausing to see what was the fate of her possessions, the child let out one scream of animal rage, and with a tiger-like spring caught the feet of her enemy and jerked the coward off his perch’.