A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia Read online

  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

  SHE LOOKED UP TO FIND LAFAYETTE SMILING AT HER]

  The Penn PublishingCompany Philadelphia1921Copyright1919 byThe PennPublishingCompany

  A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia

  Introduction

  Ruth Pernell and Winifred Merrill lived in Philadelphia. The city hadbeen 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 girlswere ardent supporters of the American cause, and admirers of thegallant young Frenchman, the Marquis DE Lafayette.

  Children in 1778 were much like those of to-day, and Ruth and herfriends, eager as they were for the war to end successfully, were fondof dolls and pets, and games and little plays. Yet they kept their earsopen, and when Ruth overheard what two British soldiers said she knewhow to make good use of her knowledge.

  In each of the other "Little Maid" books is the story of an Americangirl during the Revolution. The other stories are: "A Little Maid ofProvince Town," "A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony." "A Little Maidof Bunker Hill," "A Little Maid of Narragansett Bay," "A Little Maid ofTiconderoga," "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

  XV. A FAIRY STORY 142

  XVI. BETTY AND ANNETTE 151

  XVII. QUEEN BETTY 161

  XVIII. A GREAT RESOLVE 171

  XIX. THE VISIT 182

  XX. LAFAYETTE'S VISIT 193

  XXI. AT HOME 205

  Illustrations PAGE

  SHE LOOKED UP TO FIND LAFAYETTE SMILING AT HER _FRONTISPIECE_

  "'TIS A LADY COMING TO CALL" 33

  IT WAS A FAVORITE PLAY-HOUSE 95

  "THE FIRST OF MAY IS GARLAND DAY" 162

  THE BIG HORSE TROTTED DOWN THE STREET 190

  A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia