A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia

Name: A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia
Author: Alice Turner Curtis

by Alice Turner Curtis

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Language: en3,268 downloads on Project Gutenberg

Subjects

United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction Pennsylvania -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction

In: Historical Novels·Children & Young Adult Reading·American Literature

Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #22370.

About this book

A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia is a juvenile historical narrative set in 1778, when British forces under General Howe occupied the city. The story opens with Ruth Pernell, a ten‑year‑old whose father fights alongside Washington, and her friend Winifred Merrill, both ardent supporters of the American cause. Their immediate concern is the disappearance of Ruth’s beloved dog, Hero, which they suspect may have been taken by a British soldier. The opening scenes blend domestic chores, school‑house lessons, and playful doll‑making with the tension of an occupied city, establishing a plot that follows Ruth’s attempts to locate her pet while navigating the expectations of her caretakers and the presence of the enemy.

The prose reflects the late‑19th‑century style of Alice Turner Curtis, with a measured, didactic tone and frequent dialogue that mirrors the speech patterns of the period. The narrative is interspersed with detailed descriptions of clothing, household routines, and the social customs of Quaker‑influenced Philadelphia, giving readers a vivid sense of the era. Young readers who enjoy historical settings, especially those that portray everyday life during the American Revolution, will find the book’s blend of adventure, moral lessons, and period detail engaging.

Characters in A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia

Ruth PernellTen‑year‑old colonial girl, dark hair in a simple ribbon, white muslin dress, brown leather shoes, modest bonnet
Winifred MerrillYoung colonial girl, light brown hair tucked under a blue cap, plain cotton dress, aproned, small wooden shoes
Marquis DE LafayetteYoung French officer, powdered wig, blue coat with gold epaulettes, tricorn hat, slender moustache, confident posture

The opening · free to read

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."

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