A Little Maid of Ticonderoga

one of the sloping hillsides of the Green Mountains. Below the cabin was her father's mill; and to Faith it always s

s quickly as she could, for her mother had already called her twice, and Faith had just reached the top of the stairs

e stairs, wondering to herself why grown people who could always do exactly

setting a bowl of steaming porridge on the end of the table besi

, looking out through the o

ather will come to-day," she said. "

erday. It will be a fine thing for you to have a little girl for a companion. But sh

ked on real roads, and here she will not even see a road; and I know many pleasant paths where we can walk, and I can tell her the names of different tree

sides that, there are many bears coming out into the clearings these fine autumn days. But Mr. Eldridge is a good shot, and I am seeking trouble in naming In

e grant of land, a "New Hampshire Grant," it was called, which ran toward the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Faith had no playmates, and when Mr. Eldridge, of the town of Brandon, had sent

ng among the corn, were ripening in the early September sunshine. She looked about carefully, and selected a yellow pumpkin. "This is about as large as my head," she said

the shell for a work-baske

our Aunt Prissy was greatly pleased with the one

iconderoga and visit Au

one must be set across the strait," replied her mother. "But look,

Mr. Eldridge is walking, too! Oh, mother! See the fine hat she has on!" and Faith ran to the open

looked up toward the open do

then the travelers were close at hand, and Mrs. Carew wa

your neighbor Stanley's house, five miles east," said Mr. El

fixed on Mrs. Carew. Faith looked at her admiringly, wishing that her own eyes were black, a

say, "and she will try and make you so happy

rs. Carew into the pleasant kitchen. Faith watched her eagerly; she wondered why Esther looked abo

out from behind the big wood-box an

n and smoothing its pretty head. "I named it 'Bounce'

th noticed that she was very thin, and that her

had heard her father say that "Mr. Eldridge's little maid

" she answered, sitting down in the lo

untying the broad scarlet ribbon and taking off Esther's hat. She smoothed back the dark hair with a tender

'll set it in the window to cool and then you can take

s lap, and Faith sat down o

a work-basket for you," said Faith. "Did

eem much interested. But she asked e

one as soon as they are bak

l it may not be wise for her to eat

sther, "and I love sweets. I had a fine cake when I le

g. Esther did not say that the "fine cake" had been sent as a gift to Faith. But her face f

uickly. "Is not the pumpkin cool eno

her, setting the yello

d Esther, with a little sigh, left the comforta

ined, laying it carefully on a wooden plate. Then she removed the seeds and the pulp, putting the pulp in a big yellow bowl, and scraping the inside of the pumpkin shell. "Th

?" she questioned eagerly. "How

ow pumpkin shell, and lookin

" thought Faith, a little scornfully, set

Mrs. Carew's description of pumpkin cakes, a

ook, Esther. I am sure you wou

sther in a listless tone, going back to the rockin

and how father raises the water-gate," suggested Faith, who was begin

h a regretful sigh, and f

"That rippling, singin

" she said. "Why should I list

ars, and about little foxes who come down to drink, and about birds...." Faith stopped suddenly, for Esther was

ponded. "Do you think your mother will b

it would be to have a girl friend to talk with, but if Esther thought she was

silence, then Esther said suddenly: "Does your mot

s," repli

afternoon. Do. Tell her it will keep me from being lonesome. For my father will be going to

sk her," Fai

ith more interest than she had shown since her arrival. "Do

l resolved to say no m

. Then we could play keep-house in the afternoon, and have

know," sa

to the house. Several times she reminded Faith of her promise about the maple candy. Faith had expected that

Champlain and trust to good fortune to find a canoe or boat in which he could cross the narrow strait to Ticonderoga. He would

little maid," he said to Mrs. Carew,

with him, and watched him str

rock-candy," said Esther as t

mill, and the two little g

e, the kettle is all clean, and I know where the molasses jug is," and before Faith could remin

'll spill it," cautioned F

es back," urged Esther, and the two girls lifted the jug and turned the maple syrup into the kettle

the syrup for candy. As she piled on the wood, she heard a scrambling noise at the door, and a sudden scream from Esther: