Peggy Owen, Patriot: A Story for Girls Read online

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  "CAN I BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE?"]

  Peggy Owen Patriot

  A Story for Girls

  BY

  Lucy Foster Madison

  Author of

  "Peggy Owen" "Peggy Owen at Yorktown" "Peggy Owen and Liberty"

  Illustrated by H.J. Peck

  The Penn Publishing Company Philadelphia MCMXVII

  COPYRIGHT 1910 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY

  "I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes With the memorials and things of fame That do renown this city."

  Introduction

  In "Peggy Owen," the preceding book of the series, the heroine, a littleQuaker maid, lives across from the State House in Philadelphia. Byreason of this she becomes much interested in the movements of theContinental Congress, and when her father, in spite of his religion,takes up arms for the Whigs she too becomes an ardent patriot. WhileDavid Owen is with the army before Boston, Peggy and her mother find akinsman of his--William Owen, a colonel in the English army--a prisoner inthe city's new jail.

  They succeed in having him released on parole, and take him into theirhome, where he requites their kindness by selfishness and arrogance,even killing Peggy's pet dog, Pilot. He is exchanged at length, butbefore leaving he brings one James Molesworth to the house, claimingthat he does not like to leave them unprotected. This man Peggydiscovers to be a spy.

  Upon the advance of the British toward Philadelphia Peggy and her mothergo to their farm on the banks of the Wissahickon. Here they are almostdenuded of supplies by foragers, one party of which is headed by theirown kinsman, Colonel Owen. American troopers arrive, and a sharpskirmish takes place, in which Colonel Owen is wounded. While caring forhim word is received that David Owen is a prisoner in Philadelphia, andill of a fever. General Howe proposes to have him exchanged for oneThomas Shale, and Peggy rides to Valley Forge to secure the consent ofGeneral Washington. Owing to the fact that the man is a spy and adeserter the exchange cannot take place, and, in a blaze of anger atfinding her cousin so comfortable while her own father lies ill, Peggydenounces him, and forces him to accede to the proposal that he beexchanged for her father. The book closes with the evacuation ofPhiladelphia by the British.

  The present volume shows the Owens at Washington's camp in northern NewJersey. Peggy's further adventures are continued in "Peggy Owen atYorktown" and "Peggy Owen and Liberty."

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. On the Road to Philadelphia 11 II. The Home-Coming 24 III. An Old Time Advertisement 37 IV. A Girl's Sacrifice 48 V. Up in the Attic 61 VI. Tea at Headquarters 69 VII. A Summer Soldier 87 VIII. Peggy's Resolve 98 IX. The Tale of a Hero 107 X. Peggy Teaches a Lesson 119 XI. Peggy Pleads for Drayton 129 XII. Another Chance 141 XIII. Good News 151 XIV. The Camp at Middlebrook 159 XV. Harriet 176 XVI. The Two Warnings 188 XVII. A Letter and a Surprise 205 XVIII. Stolen Thunder 222 XIX. A Promise and an Accusation 232 XX. A Regretted Promise 247 XXI. The Reckoning 258 XXII. A High-Handed Proceeding 269 XXIII. In the Lines of the Enemy 281 XXIV. The Reason Why 291 XXV. The Alert That Failed 303 XXVI. The Battle With the Elements 319 XXVII. A Haven After the Storm 335 XXVIII. A Taste of Partisan Warfare 346 XXIX. Peggy Finds an Old Friend 361 XXX. An Interrupted Journey 376 XXXI. How the News was Received at Camp 387 XXXII. On the Altar of His Country 401 XXXIII. A Great Surprise 419 XXXIV. Home 429