A Little Maid of Old Maine   By: Alice Turner Curtis

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

COPYRIGHT 1920 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY

A Little Maid of Old Maine

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.

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

ILLUSTRATIONS

SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE Frontispiece PAGE "WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK" 34 "BUT WHICH ONE IS TO BE MINE?" 77 HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED! 127 A MAN CAME AROUND THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE 175

A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE

CHAPTER I

A LIBERTY POLE