A LITTLE MAID OF OLD PHILADELPHIA
by
ALICE TURNER CURTIS
Author of
A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY A LITTLE MAID OF BUNKER HILL A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA A LITTLE MAID OF OLD CONNECTICUT A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE
Illustrated by Edna Cooke
[Illustration: SHE LOOKED UP TO FIND LAFAYETTE SMILING AT HER]
The Penn Publishing Company Philadelphia 1921 Copyright 1919 by The Penn Publishing Company
A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia
Introduction
Ruth Pernell and Winifred Merrill lived in Philadelphia. The city had been for some time in the hands of General Howe and the British army. Ruth's father was with Washington at Valley Forge, and the little girls were ardent supporters of the American cause, and admirers of the gallant young Frenchman, the Marquis DE Lafayette.
Children in 1778 were much like those of to-day, and Ruth and her friends, eager as they were for the war to end successfully, were fond of dolls and pets, and games and little plays. Yet they kept their ears open, and when Ruth overheard what two British soldiers said she knew how to make good use of her knowledge.
In each of the other "Little Maid" books is the story of an American girl during the Revolution. The other stories are: "A Little Maid of Province Town," "A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony." "A Little Maid of Bunker Hill," "A Little Maid of Narragansett Bay," "A Little Maid of Ticonderoga," "A Little Maid of Old Connecticut."
Contents
I. HERO IS LOST 9
II. GILBERT AND LAFAYETTE 19
III. RUTH VISITS GENERAL HOWE 28
IV. AUNT DEBORAH IS SURPRISED 37
V. RUTH DECIDES 43
VI. A DIFFICULT DAY 53
VII. GILBERT'S PLAY 62
VIII. BETTY RUNS AWAY 72
IX. BETTY'S ADVENTURE 84
X. THE LOST PROGRAMME 92
XI. A LONG ROAD 102
XII. A LONG RIDE 113
XIII. HOME AGAIN 123
XIV. THE CANDY DISAPPEARS 133
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia by Curtis
- 2: Responded Aunt Deborah reprovingly
- 3: Winifred was just a month older than Ruth
- 4: Winifred was sure that Gilbert was right
- 5: Aunt Deborah had spread the table for dinner
- 6: Aunt Deborah did not speak for a moment
- 7: Aunt Deborah sighed to herself
- 8: But we must not let Aunt Deborah know
- 9: Holding up the brown silk skirt
- 10: Mistress Ruth Dilling ham Pernell
- 11: She managed to make a not ungraceful curtsy
- 12: And the door swung open and Aunt Deborah
- 13: Before she was dressed Aunt Deborah opened the door
- 14: And Aunt Deborah was looking at her reprovingly
- 15: ' said Aunt Deborah approvingly
- 16: Winifred responded in an anxious whisper
- 17: And Winifred now crawled out from her hiding place
- 18: After Winifred had gone Ruth ate her porridge
- 19: It was evident that Aunt Deborah was greatly pleased
- 20: And that she had a pony exactly like Fluff
- 21: Lafayette was to ride on Fluff
- 22: Aunt Deborah greeted her smilingly
- 23: Pernell also praised Gilbert's cleverness
- 24: For there was Winifred wearing Mrs
- 25: Merrill read the programme admiringly
- 26: Followed by Washington and Lafayette
- 27: Pernell listened without a word until Ruth
- 28: And Betty had also disappeared
- 29: CHAPTER XTHE LOST PROGRAMME The scarlet coat
- 30: As she and Winifred came near home
- 31: Whose open door faced the big maple
- 32: Pernell and Aunt Deborah both smiled their approval
- 33: Pernell could reply the young officer appeared at the door
- 34: Pernell smiled and nodded her consent
- 35: While Fluff nibbled at the grass
- 36: Said Winifred as Fluff moved his head about quickly
- 37: And Fluff perhaps was deep in this wilderness
- 38: Perhaps Fluff will come and find me
- 39: CHAPTER XIIIHOME AGAIN Winifred awakened suddenly
- 40: Pernell extinguished the candle
- 41: While Winifred stood beside her watching admiringly
- 42: Pennell went to the shed with the little girls
- 43: Pennell did not always tell the stories
- 44: Pennell had helped them make it
- 45: Pennell was nearly as troubled as Ruth and Winnie
- 46: Gilbert smiled as he picked it up
- 47: For she knew Gilbert laughed at fairies
- 48: Slipping her arm around Winifred
- 49: Rejoined Annette condescendingly
- 50: I'm sure Ruthie was only fooling
- 51: Then I'll have Ruthie for my helper
- 52: All excepting Ruth and Annette
- 53: And Jason chuckled with satisfaction at the thought
- 54: Pennell was sitting in a low chair near the window
- 55: Pennell declared that her foot was much better
- 56: Pennell looked at her little girl in surprise
- 57: And Ruth was eager to reach Southwark
- 58: Captain Harlow called a servant
- 59: Pennell was quite sure that Ruth was not ill
- 60: Pennell looked at Ruth in surprise
- 61: Pennell finished the white linen dress
- 62: The English have not captured Lafayette
- 63: Aunt Deborah replied thoughtfully
- 64: To find Aunt Deborah standing beside the bed
- 65: Then Aunt Deborah smiled at Ruth
- 66: Perhaps I shall never see Lafayette again
- 67: Pennell at the first opportunity
