Driven Back to Eden · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Driven Back to Eden by Edward Payson Roe.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to someone affectionately called 'Johnnie.'
Chapter 2
Driven Back to Eden
The family, having decided to leave the city for a healthier life, moves to a farm in Maizeville. They face the challenges of winter arrival, settling into an old farmhouse, and beginning their agricultural life with the help of neighbors like John Jones. The chapter details their initial steps in farming, including building a chicken coop, making maple sugar, pruning trees, and starting a garden, all while learning self-reliance and the value of hard work.
Chapter 3
A Problem
The narrator reflects on the challenges of raising children in a cramped New York City flat. His wife is growing thin and irritable, Bobsey is wild and hard to manage, Merton is sullen and smoking cigarettes, and Winnie is exposed to inappropriate material. The family's living conditions are inadequate, and the narrator realizes he must find a solution to give his children a better environment.
Chapter 4
II: I State the Case
Robert Durham, troubled by the corrupting influences of city life on his children, shares with his wife Winifred his growing conviction that the family must move to the country. He argues that farming, though unfamiliar, would provide healthier surroundings, meaningful work for the children, and a more secure future.
Chapter 5
New Prospects
The family decides to move to the country after much discussion, believing it will be best for the children's moral and physical well-being. Bobsey provides a divine justification, and each child expresses hopes for the new life: Merton wants adventure, Mousie a garden, Winnie chickens and freedom, and Bobsey a pig. The narrator begins planning the move, seeking a suitable location.
Chapter 6
A Momentous Expedition
The family forgoes Christmas treats to buy agricultural books and supplies, embarking on a joyful expedition to a Broadway store. Each child selects books suited to their interests, and the father promises Merton a gun on condition he avoids smoking. The outing reinforces their shared dream of country life, and they return home feeling happier than the city's theater-goers.
Chapter 7
A Country Christmas in a City Flat
The family celebrates Christmas in their city flat with gifts that reflect their upcoming move to the country, including a gun for Merton, flower seeds for Mousie, and china eggs for Winnie. Their Christmas dinner consists of vegetables they plan to grow. The narrator reflects on his research into farming, visiting Washington Market to learn about profitable crops, and concludes that the family must be realistic about the modest success they can expect from country life.
Chapter 8
VI: A Bluff Friend
The family prepares for their move to the country, studying seed catalogs and seeking advice from a blunt but honest market dealer, Mr. Bogart, who warns against novelties and recommends reliable varieties. The narrator learns the value of not taking offense and gains a trustworthy ally.
Chapter 9
Mr. Jones Shows Me the Place
Robert Durham travels to Maizeville to inspect the farm described in John Jones's letter. John Jones meets him at the station and drives him through the melting snow to the property. Jones, a gaunt but honest man, explains the farm's history, its fruit trees planted by the late Mr. Jamison, and the advantages of the location. Durham grows increasingly fond of the place, especially the old fireplace and the orchard. After a thorough inspection, he agrees to buy the farm pending his wife's approval, and then joins the Jones family for a hearty meal.
Chapter 10
Telling About Eden
The narrator returns home and recounts his adventures at the farm to his family, who react with excitement and enthusiasm. Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey are particularly animated, while Merton envisions hunting. Later, the narrator discusses the decision with his wife, who reveals she has already decided to support the move based on his enthusiasm. They reflect on their happiness together and finalize their choice to invest in the country home.
Chapter 11
IX: “Breaking Camp”
The family prepares to leave the city, treating their departure like a military campaign to inspire the children. They sell bulky furniture, pack carefully, and manage expenses. The father ties Bobsey to a chair to keep him out of trouble. The mother feels sentimental about leaving the home where her children were born, but the father reassures her that the country will be healthier for them, both physically and morally.
Chapter 12
Scenes on the Wharf
The family spends their last night in the city flat like camping out, then rises at dawn to make final preparations for departure. They take a horsecar to the boat, where the father establishes headquarters in the upper cabin. He takes Merton to check on their goods, negotiates a favorable rate with the captain, and later takes the children on the afterdeck to observe the bustling commerce. The weather turns ominous, but the father keeps his fears to himself. The children are fascinated by the wharf scenes, including canal boats with families living aboard. The father encourages Merton to explore and learn independently, and notes with hope that Mousie's interest in the world is reviving.
Chapter 13
A Voyage Up the Hudson
The family embarks on a steamboat voyage up the Hudson River, departing the city in a storm. The narrator uses the journey to teach his children about courage and forward-looking attitudes, contrasting the excitement of the voyage with the vulgar stories of Melissa Daggett. They observe the machinery, listen to a cattle dealer's conversation about country food, and eventually settle into a stateroom as the storm intensifies.
Chapter 14
A March Evening in Eden
The family arrives at Maizeville Landing in a blizzard and is met by John Jones. Despite the storm, they decide to press on to their new farm. The journey becomes perilous as they lose their way, and John Jones disappears into the snow, leaving the family frightened and stranded before a light appears.
Chapter 15
Rescued and at Home
The family is rescued by Mr. Jones and arrives at their new farmhouse in a blizzard. They experience the warmth and safety of their new home, explore the rooms, and share a moment of gratitude and family bonding around the fire. Winifred expresses her contentment and the family settles in for the night.
Chapter 16
Self-Denial and Its Reward
The family wakes to John Jones's help moving their belongings. Merton faces a moral choice between hunting rabbits and helping his father, ultimately choosing duty over pleasure. His self-denial is rewarded with apples and a successful rabbit hunt later.
Chapter 17
Our Sunny Kitchen
The family settles into the farmhouse, with the narrator buying rubber boots and provisions. Mr. Jones helps move furniture, and the narrator seeks his practical advice. Mrs. Jones provides a dinner featuring a rabbit potpie made from Merton's catch, and the family enjoys their first meal together in the new kitchen, which is set up with a stove from New York. The narrator plans to use the sunny east window for growing plants.
Chapter 18
Making a Place for Chickens
The family works together to clean out a space in the barn for Winnie's chickens, with the father leading the effort to create a warm, dry, and light-filled home for the poultry. The chapter also touches on game laws, the importance of protecting songbirds, and the family's growing comfort in their new home as they settle into rural life.
Chapter 19
Good Bargains in Maple Sugar
Mr. Jones helps the family clean the basement and advises on chickens, then reveals a root cellar full of produce from the Jamison estate. He suggests tapping sugar maple trees for syrup, offering his son Junior's help in exchange for sugar. The children eagerly embrace the new project.
Chapter 20
Butternuts and Bobsey's Peril
The family engages in maple sugaring with Junior's help, collecting sap and boiling it down. Bobsey falls into the creek and is swept away by the current, creating a moment of peril.
Chapter 21
XIX: John Jones, Jun.
The chapter begins with a dramatic rescue: Bobsey is swept away by the swollen Moodna Creek, and Junior heroically dives in to save him. After the rescue, the family's gratitude deeply moves the bashful Junior, who avoids further praise. The narrative then shifts to the family's spring work—clearing brush, pruning, and gathering sap—as the father instills lessons of hard work, restraint, and the value of saving and enriching the land.
Chapter 22
XX: Raspberry Lessons
In this chapter, the narrator applies his winter reading on pruning and farming, beginning to trim fruit trees with the help of Winnie and Bobsey. Mr. Jones arrives and provides practical, hands-on advice for managing blackcap and red raspberry patches, including pruning, suckering, and staking. He also discusses an upcoming auction for livestock and chickens, and the narrator insists on paying Mr. Jones for his time and expertise.
Chapter 23
The "Vandoo"
The family attends a farm auction (a 'vendue') where Mr. Jones helps them bid on livestock and goods. They acquire a cow with a calf, an old horse, a wagon, harness, chickens, and houseplants. Junior reveals a tender side by buying plants for Mousie. Back home, the narrator struggles with the ill-tempered cow Brindle but gradually tames her through kindness, proving his theory that animals respond to gentle treatment.
Chapter 24
Early April Gardening
The family begins their spring gardening, planting onions, radishes, beets, and peas with the help of the children. Mr. Jones advises on soil and timing, and the chapter ends with the promise of a bonfire.
Chapter 25
A Bonfire and a Feast
The family prepares for a bonfire to clear brush and produce fertilizing ashes. The narrator reflects on the primal human connection to the land, recalling a wealthy former employer who found his greatest joy in farming. After the bonfire, they roast potatoes in the embers, and the narrator uses the event to teach the children about fire safety. The next day, Mr. Jones helps plow the garden and gives detailed instructions on planting potatoes for a better crop.
Chapter 26
No Blind Drifting
The narrator establishes a simple accounting system to track farm expenses and income, involving the family in the process to foster understanding and self-denial. They adopt a frugal yet wholesome diet, prioritize the mother's labor, and begin homeschooling the children, settling into a quiet routine.
Chapter 27
Owls and Antwerps
The family learns a moral lesson about judging neighbors after Merton shoots and wounds a screech owl, which they discover is a beneficial creature. They also uncover their Antwerp raspberries with Mr. Jones's guidance, preparing for the spring season.
Chapter 28
A Country Sunday
The family attends church for the first time in the country, enjoying the spring landscape and a welcoming sermon. Afterward, they explore their wood lot and creek, reveling in nature's beauty. The chapter also details their farm work: tending raspberries, planting vegetables, and managing chickens, with Winnie excited about hatching chicks and the family dealing with garden pests.
Chapter 29
Strawberry Visions and “Pertaters”
The narrator plans to expand strawberry cultivation as a family-friendly crop, consulting Mr. Bogart for advice on varieties and methods. With Mr. Jones's help, he prepares a two-acre plot for corn and potatoes, deciding to plant Early Rose potatoes early to later set strawberries on the enriched ground. The family works together planting potatoes, with evening cutting bees enlivened by songs and stories, while Mousie and others appreciate the beauty of spring blossoms.
Chapter 30
Corn, Color, and Music
The family plants corn, peas, beans, and vegetables in early May, enjoying the spring weather and the beauty of the countryside. They take a brief respite from labor to plan a fishing and sailing trip on the river, and Mousie's flowering plants are set out in the garden.
Chapter 31
We Go A-Fishing
The family enjoys a day of fishing at Moodna Creek, with the children catching fish and exploring. After a minor grounding incident, they return home to a happy evening. The next day, Merton requests to plant melons, and the father devises a plan to interplant them with corn.
Chapter 32
XXX: Weeds and Working for Dear Life
The family faces an overwhelming invasion of weeds in their garden and fields. Mr. Jones teaches them efficient weeding techniques, emphasizing careful hand-weeding followed by hoeing. The children are enlisted to help, but a discipline incident occurs when Winnie and Bobsey neglect their work. The chapter ends with the joy of finding wild strawberries.
Chapter 33
Nature Smiles and Helps
The family enjoys a restful Saturday evening after hard labor, and a gentle rain on Sunday brings relief to their crops and garden. The narrator reflects on nature's help, and the family spends the day in gratitude. After the rain, they resume work, dealing with weeds, pests like green worms and potato bugs, and harvesting early strawberries and peas. The chapter emphasizes the rewards of diligent farming and the constant vigilance required to protect crops.
Chapter 34
XXXII: Cherries, Berries, and Berry-Thieves
The family encounters a dangerous neighbor family, warned by Mr. Jones to steer clear. Despite the threat, the narrator resolves to show kindness while keeping his children away. The chapter details preparations for fruit harvesting, including packaging from Mr. Bogart, and the first shipment of cherries and raspberries. While the family is away, Merton confronts the neighbor children stealing fruit, leading to a fight and vandalism of Mousie's flowerbed and chicken coops, until Junior's arrival scares them off.
Chapter 35
XXXIII: Given His Choice
Robert Durham leads a group of neighbors to confront the troublesome Bagley family, giving them an ultimatum to reform or face legal consequences. The chapter highlights community solidarity and the enforcement of law and order.
Chapter 36
Given a Chance
The narrator offers Bagley a chance to reform, providing food and work instead of punishment. Bagley accepts, begins working, and the family starts to help his household. The chapter emphasizes hard work, patience, and moral rehabilitation.
Chapter 37
We Shall All Earn Our Salt
The chapter details a long, eventful day on the farm during the raspberry and cherry harvest. Mr. Durham pays Bagley and his children for their work, then faces a summer shower to deliver fruit to market. He establishes strict rules for Bagley's children, separating them from his own, and manages the workforce through a sudden thunderstorm. The family shares their cherry pudding with the Bagleys, and the day ends with a sense of shared purpose and hard work.
Chapter 38
A Thunderbolt
In the midst of a busy July, the family works hard harvesting crops and fruit, with Mr. Bogart's regular payments bringing hope. A severe thunderstorm strikes, terrifying the children, and lightning sets the barn on fire.
Chapter 39
Rallying from the Blow
After a devastating lightning strike burns down the barn, the family and neighbors rally together to recover. Robert Durham remains optimistic, revealing that the buildings were insured. The chapter details the practical steps taken to salvage the farm: saving compost, planting fodder corn, weeding the garden, and selling produce to generate income. The family learns to prioritize selling over personal consumption, and the community's support underscores the theme of neighborliness.
Chapter 40
August Work and Play
The family engages in August farm work, including setting strawberry plants, selling produce, and disciplining the children for stealing a melon. The narrator teaches lessons of honesty and generosity, shares melons with the Bagley family, and the boys build an eel weir in Moodna Creek.
Chapter 41
A Trip to the Seashore
The family enjoys a well-earned August outing to Coney Island, taking the steamer Mary Powell from Maizeville Landing. They are joined by Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Junior. After a day of bathing, lunch, and minor mishaps (Bobsey gets tumbled by a wave), they return home to find Bagley has faithfully guarded the farm. The chapter also covers the potato harvest, fruit sales, and plans to visit Houghton Farm for barn-building ideas.
Chapter 42
A Visit to Houghton Farm
The family visits Houghton Farm, a model agricultural estate, where they marvel at its scientific farming methods, purebred livestock, and advanced facilities. The narrator reflects on the contrast between large-scale capital-intensive farming and his own family's small, self-reliant approach, reaffirming his contentment with their modest farm. The chapter ends with preparations to rebuild their barn using insurance money.
Chapter 43
Hoarding for Winter
As autumn approaches, the family prepares for winter by building a new barn with a manure cellar, poultry house, and pigsty. They harvest and store vegetables, save seeds, and set out strawberry plants. Mr. Jones teaches Robert how to cut and bind corn, demonstrating practical neighborly kindness.
Chapter 44
Autumn Work and Sport
The chapter describes the family's autumn activities, including building a barn and poultry house, preparing for winter, gathering nuts, hunting, and beginning school. The father balances work and play, emphasizing the value of both physical labor and education.
Chapter 45
Thanksgiving Day
The family celebrates Thanksgiving with a festive dinner, reflecting on their rural life and the reformation of the Bagley family through neighborly kindness.
Chapter 46
We Can Make a Living in Eden
The first year on the farm draws to a close with the family celebrating the killing of pigs, preparing for winter, and enjoying new winter pleasures. On New Year's morning, Robert reviews the farm's finances with the family, concluding that they have made their living together and are healthier and happier than in the city.
Chapter 47
List of Illustrations
A handwritten letter serves as the sole illustration for this chapter.
