A Little Maid of Province Town

								


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A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN
By
ALICE TURNER CURTIS
Author Of
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
Illustrated by Wuanita Smith
THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
Philadelphia
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COPYRIGHT
1913 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER                          PAGE

     I.  Anne Nelson                1

    II.  Anne Wins a Friend        14

   III.  Anne's Secret             27

    IV.  Anne and the Wolf         39

     V.  Scarlet Stockings         51

    VI.  Captured by Indians       62

   VII.  Out to Sea                73
VIII.  On the Island             86

    IX.  The Castaways             97

     X.  Safe at Home             107

    XI.  Captain Enos's Secrets   119

   XII.  An Unexpected Journey    129
XIII.  Anne Finds Her Father    143

   XIV.  A Candy Party            157

    XV.  A Spring Picnic          177

   XVI.  The May Party            186
XVII.  The Sloop, "Peggy"       195
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ILLUSTRATIONS



                                 PAGE
The Creature Sprang to Its Feet     1
A Blanket Fell Over Her Head       65
She Worked Steadily               111
"This Is From Boston"             162
The Boat Began to Tip             194
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A Little Maid of Province Town
CHAPTER I
ANNE NELSON

"I don't know what I can do with you, I'm sure!" declared Mistress
Stoddard, looking down at the small girl who stood on her door-step gazing
wistfully up at her.
"A man at the wharf said that you didn't have any little girls," responded
the child, "and so I thought----"
"'Twas Joe Starkweather told you, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Stoddard.
"Well, he's seven of his own to fend for."
"Seven little girls?" said Anne Nelson, in an almost terror-stricken
voice, her dark eyes looking earnestly into the stern face that frowned
down upon her. "And what would become of them if their mother should die,
and their father be lost at sea?"
"Sure enough. You have sense, child. But the Starkweathers are all boys.
Well, come in. You can take your bundle to the loft and leave it, and
we'll see what I can find for you to do. How old are you?"
"Eight last March," responded Anne.
"Well, a child of eight isn't much use in a house, but maybe you can save
me steps."
"Yes, indeed, Mistress Stoddard; I did a deal to help my father about the