A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia   By: Alice Turner Curtis

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

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

CHAPTER I

HERO IS LOST

"Where do you suppose Hero can be, Aunt Deborah? He isn't anywhere about the house, or in the shed or the garden," and Ruth Pernell's voice sounded as if she could hardly keep back the tears as she stood in the doorway of the pleasant kitchen where Aunt Deborah was at work.