urniture.

She got up and dressed slowly, wondering if her mother missed her very
much, and if Hero would go scratching and whining to her door in search
of his little mistress. Aunt Deborah's house was much larger than the
little brick house which was Ruth's home in Philadelphia, and as Ruth
came slowly down the wide stairs she thought what a fine house it would
be for little girls to live in; there seemed so much room and so little
furniture.

Aunt Deborah lived alone, but the Withely farm adjoined hers, and Farmer
Withely took care of her farm and stock.

"Good-morning, Ruth," said Aunt Deborah with her sunny smile, as her
little niece came into the big kitchen to find breakfast awaiting her.
"I trust thy pleasure in being here is as great as mine in having thee.
And I have great news for thee. Thy dear father came over from Valley
Forge a week ago, and was sorry enough to find thee not here. And he had
great tidings for me. He says that France has now joined with America in
the war against England, and Washington hopes for great aid from so
powerful an ally."

"Oh, Aunt Deborah! Won't my father come again?" responded Ruth. "May I
not go to Valley Forge to see him?"

"It may be that he will come again," Aunt Deborah replied thoughtfully.
"And who knows but he may come with Lafayette! For General Washington is
sending scouting parties about the country to discover the plans of the
English. So any day we may see the troops of either army come marching
up the road."

Ruth was almost too excited to eat her breakfast after listening to
Aunt Deborah's news, and even the sight of the pink lustre cup from
which Lafayette had drunk seemed of little consequence. If English
soldiers came marching that way Ruth knew well that their purpose would
be to capture American scouting parties, and she became more eager than
ever to go to Valley Forge, and again asked Aunt Deborah if she could
not go. But Aunt Deborah promptly responded that such a visit was
impossible.

"Tis a ride of over ten miles, and a ford to cross," she said. "Farmer
Withely has no spare time at present to take thee; besides that, General
Washington does not care for visitors."

Ruth looked so disappointed that Aunt Deborah added: "And who knows what
day Lafayette may ride this way again? It may even be this very morning!
Take thy doll and walk to the church; from there thou canst see both
ways. If the English redcoats come along the river road thee must