ver road that led straight to Mat son's Ford, beyond
which the road led on to Valley Forge.

As they came in sight of the river the big horse stopped, and in a
moment Fluff was beside the farmer's cart. Aunt Deborah smiled down at
the little girls.

"'Tis best that thee turn toward home now. And I thank thee both for
coming so far with me. 'Twill not be long now, Ruth, before I hope to
see thee at Barren Hill. And thee, Winifred, will be welcome also
whenever thou canst give me the pleasure of a visit."

Before Aunt Deborah had finished speaking Ruth was out of the pony
carriage and standing on the step of Farmer Withe's cart holding up a
package.

"Here is something I made for you, Aunt Deborah," she said. Aunt Deborah
reached down and received the small carefully wrapped package.

"Thank thee, dear child," she said, and Ruth stood by the roadside and
waved a good-bye as the brown horse trotted off at a more rapid pace than
he had traveled through the town.

"I wish we could have gone farther," she said regretfully as she went
back to her seat beside Winifred.

"Well, we can. We'll turn up that shady road and see where it goes,"
responded Winifred. "What did you give your aunt?"

"A needle-book. Mother helped me make it. It is of blue flannel, with
embroidered edges, and shaped like a small book, with Aunt Deborah's
initials on the cover," said Ruth. "Would it not be pleasant if you
could visit Aunt Deborah when I do?"

Winifred feared that such a visit would not be possible. But the two
little friends talked of many things as Fluff trotted along the narrow
country road, hardly more than a lane, and sheltered by closely growing
trees. Now and then the road came out into an open space, and there
would be many violets growing close to the roadside. Then the girls
sprang from the cart and gathered handfuls of the fragrant blossoms,
while Fluff nibbled at the grass, or twisted his head to watch his young
mistress. The wild honeysuckle was also in bloom along a sloping
pasture, and Ruth was eager to gather it to take home to her mother. She
climbed up the rough slope, followed by Winifred, and they soon had
large bunches of the delicate blossoms. From the top of the little hill
that they had climbed they could see the distant line of the blue river,
and after roaming about for a time they decided it was time to return to
Fluff and start for home. The pony whinnied a little impatiently and
shook his head at them a