[Illustration: SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE]
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A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE
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 PHILADELPHIA A LITTLE MAID OF OLD NEW YORK A LITTLE MAID OF VIRGINIA
ILLUSTRATED BY ELIZABETH PILSBRY
THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 1928
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COPYRIGHT 1920 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
A Little Maid of Old Maine
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INTRODUCTION
"A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE" is a true story of the brave effort of two girls to bring help to a little settlement on the Maine coast at the time of the War of the Revolution. Parson Lyon, the father of Melvina, was a friend and correspondent of Washington, and the capture of the English gunboat by the Machias men is often referred to in history as "The Lexington of the Seas," being the first naval battle after the Lexington encounter.
The story is based on facts, and its readers cannot fail to be interested and touched by the courage and patriotism of Rebecca and Anna Weston as they journeyed through the forest after the powder that was to make possible the conquest of America's foe.
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CONTENTS
I. A LIBERTY POLE 9 II. REBECCA'S SECRET 19 III. MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES 33 IV. AT MR. LYON'S 45 V. A BIRTHDAY 57 VI. LUCIA HAS A PLAN 68 VII. "A TRAITOR'S DEED" 79 VIII. "WHITE WITCHES" 90 IX. REBECCA'S VISIT 102 X. AN AFTERNOON WALK 112 XI. AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS 121 XII. WILD HONEY 133 XIII. DOWN THE RIVER 143 XIV. AN UNINVITED GUEST 152 XV. REBBY AND LUCIA 165 XVI. REBBY DECIDES 178 XVII. A PERILOUS JOURNEY 189 XVIII. TRIUMPH 205
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Little Maid of Old Maine by Alice Turner Curtis
- 2: Foster whistled even at his meals
- 3: Rebecca sighed as her father called her Rebby
- 4: And Lucia had told Rebecca something of such importance
- 5: Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table
- 6: You had best ask Luretta Foster
- 7: Melvina walked with great care
- 8: Melvina looked from Anna to Luretta questioningly
- 9: So Melvina reluctantly took off her slippers
- 10: Anna and Luretta had forgotten all about the sloop Polly
- 11: Melvina asking questions about woodland birds
- 12: Thinking Luretta must surely be there
- 13: Where Luretta was still waiting
- 14: But Anna did not wonder at this
- 15: And when she finished with Is Melvina safe
- 16: Here's my Danna safe and sound
- 17: Rebby was not so troubled to day
- 18: And lingered about hoping for a glimpse of Melvina
- 19: Lyon see her dressed as neatly as Melvina herself
- 20: Melvina looked from Anna to her mother
- 21: Luretta and Lucia were close behind her
- 22: While Anna and Luretta urged Rebecca to try them on at once
- 23: Weston appeared at the kitchen door
- 24: Would be escorted to Machias by an armed British ship
- 25: Anna and Luretta were both on the watch for him
- 26: Rebby pushed the big door open noiselessly
- 27: Remembering how Rebby liked their sharp flavor
- 28: Looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel
- 29: But Melvina was smiling and friendly
- 30: Melvina acknowledged laughingly
- 31: And Anna looked at Melvina admiringly
- 32: But Luretta looked flushed and angry
- 33: Rebby asked a little fearfully
- 34: You are a better medicine than thoroughwort tea
- 35: And perhaps guava jelly or sugared nuts
- 36: To tell Luretta about Trit and Trot
- 37: That you and Luretta are friends
- 38: Exclaimed the delighted Luretta
- 39: While on a stool beside her sat Melvina
- 40: This is where Melvina sits for her study hour
- 41: To Melvina they seemed only too short
- 42: But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton
- 43: And to this Rebby could agree smilingly
- 44: Rebby scalded the meal and stirred it carefully
- 45: And Rebby began to look about her more carefully
- 46: And then Rebby exclaimed Where is Danna
- 47: Anna climbed into the boat and picked up Trit
- 48: Hoping in that way to scramble to safety with Trit
- 49: Anna told him quickly of the capture of Trit
- 50: Rebby asked a little anxiously
- 51: I was just asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey
- 52: But Luretta was eager to talk about Trit
- 53: Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best
- 54: For a moment Rebby pretended not to hear
- 55: Rebby stood on the step breathless
- 56: More like Danna than Danna is like herself
- 57: It was so seldom that Rebby cried
- 58: Weston questioned Rebby carefully
- 59: That Rebby could not explain even to herself
- 60: And Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit
- 61: But Rebby slept but little that night
- 62: Rebby looked at her little sister admiringly
- 63: Where she had noticed a quantity of checkerberry leaves
- 64: When they told of the scarcity of powder and shot in Machias
- 65: Getchell had breakfast ready for them
- 66: Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree
- 67: Whispered Rebby with frightened eyes
- 68: And the Machias men had decided
- 69: Melvina and Anna left the church together
- 70: There was a favoring wind and the Unity
- 71: Rebecca often thought of her former friend
