George Washington's Spy by Elvira Woodruff

Author:Elvira Woodruff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2010-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

DAYS PASSED IN THE HEWSON HOUSEHOLD, and the mood had turned as gray as the ash in the bucket beside the hearth. Little Patience continued to burn with fever. Her mother refused to leave her side. The servants whispered among themselves at their worry that the pox had descended upon the house. And all the doctor could say was “only time will tell.”

Meanwhile, the sky over Boston filled with snow clouds, and the house on Milk Street grew dark and drafty. Wood was in short supply in the city, and even the wealthy could no longer afford to have a fire in every room.

Katie and the twins sat before the sewing room hearth, where the Hewson girls worked on their embroidery samplers. As the distant boom of cannon fire sounded from outside the windows, Master Hewson was quick to assure everyone that there was nothing to worry about.

“General Howe and the King’s men are keeping the city safe from the rebels,” he told them. “Our colonies will soon be restored to order under His Majesty’s law.”

“He doesn’t have a clue about what’s going to happen,” Lily whispered as the three spoke quietly among themselves.

“I wish we could go home,” Emma whispered back glumly.

“Can’t we just leave now and go look for Matt?” Katie whispered.

“You heard what Mistress Hewson said. The streets are too dangerous. And when we do leave, you’ll have to be able to run. You can barely stand now,” Lily reminded her.

Katie looked down at her ankle, which was blue and swollen, with a nasty, oozing cut running across the top. She still cried out in pain every time she took a step. No, they weren’t going anywhere for a while.

To pass the time, the Hewson sisters taught Katie and the twins to sing songs in rounds and to play Mr. Red Cap, Cat and Mouse, and other fun games. They even made a game of trading hair ribbons. Katie tore a bright yellow bow off her dress and traded it for one of Charity’s blue velvet hair ribbons, which she wore as a headband to hold back her curls. They told one another their favorite stories and roasted chestnuts on the hearth.

“Katie, would you like to help me work on my sampler?” asked Charity.

“I’ve never used a needle and thread before,” Katie told her.

“A girl of seven years, and you don’t know how to sew!” Faith exclaimed.

“’Tis most unfortunate,” added Hope, clicking her tongue. “She shall never find a husband.”

“You needn’t worry, Katie,” Charity assured her. “For I shall teach you everything I know.”

While Charity taught Katie how to thread a needle, Lily taught Mercy a secret handshake that she and her friends had made up back home.

“You lock pinkies and touch thumbs,” Lily said, demonstrating. “And you can only use it with your very best friends.”

Mercy smiled as they locked pinkies and touched thumbs. “Best of friends?” she whispered.

“Best of friends,” Lily whispered back.

The other girls resumed their storytelling and singing. But no matter how many

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