A Little Maid of Ticonderoga

A Little Maid of Ticonderoga tells the story of Faith Carew, a spirited ten-year-old girl living in the Vermont Wilderness near Lake Champlain during the early days of the American Revolution. Faith’s life is deeply connected to the natural world around her—she delights in the brook, animals, and the woods that surround her family’s mill. When Esther Eldridge, a thin and delicate girl from the nearby village of Brandon, visits, Faith eagerly tries to share her wilderness life, but Esther is more interested in sweets and comforts. Their visit takes a tense turn when a bear invades the kitchen, causing panic and revealing differences between the girls. Despite some mischief and misunderstandings, Faith offers Esther a treasured string of blue beads as a token of friendship before Esther falls ill and eventually leaves.

Faith’s parents decide she should spend the winter with her Aunt Priscilla in Ticonderoga to attend school and be with cousins. Accompanied by Kashaqua, a kind Indian woman who gifts Faith fine moccasins and guides her safely through the woods and across Lake Champlain, Faith embarks on a journey that introduces her to new people and challenges. At Aunt Priscilla’s house, Faith meets Louise Trent, a shy and lame shoemaker’s daughter who becomes a close friend after Faith’s kindness helps her improve her circumstances. Faith also attends school, where she encounters the proud and somewhat unkind daughters of English officers, Caroline and Catherine Young, who play a mean trick on her.

Faith’s curiosity leads her to explore Fort Ticonderoga’s secret passageways with the help of Nathan Beaman, a knowledgeable local boy who shares stories of the fort’s history and the hopes of American settlers. After a frightening moment when Faith becomes lost in the fort’s passages, Nathan guides her safely back. Faith’s experiences deepen her understanding of the tensions between American settlers and English soldiers, as well as the social divides in the village.

Back home, Faith faces teasing from the Young sisters but finds comfort in her friendship with Louise and the support of her Aunt Priscilla and family. The community prepares for the challenges of the coming winter and the political unrest that surrounds them. Faith receives skates and learns to skate with friends, while encounters with English soldiers on the ice heighten the sense of danger. Faith also learns about a secret entrance to Fort Ticonderoga, a knowledge she shares cautiously with trusted adults.

As the American Revolution intensifies, Faith and Esther write a secret letter to Colonel Ethan Allen, a respected leader of the Green Mountain Boys, asking for help to take the fort. Faith bravely delivers the letter to Seth Warner at a cave near Lake Dunmore, enduring a tiring journey. The story culminates with the capture of Fort Ticonderoga without firing a shot, a moment of triumph for the settlers. Faith visits the fort and is warmly greeted by Colonel Allen, reaffirming her role in the unfolding history.

Throughout the narrative, Faith grows from a nature-loving child into a courageous and responsible participant in her community’s struggle for freedom. Her friendships, especially with Esther and Louise, highlight themes of kindness, loyalty, and overcoming social barriers. The story balances moments of suspense, such as the bear encounter and Faith’s getting lost in the fort, with warm depictions of family life, community gatherings like quilting bees, and the hopeful spirit of a young girl eager to make a difference.