CHAPTER VI.
It was still early in the evening when the _Dolphin_ reached her wharf at Philadelphia, where her passengers found friends and relatives waiting to give them a joyful reception.
A few days passed very pleasantly in visiting these friends and places of interest in the city, particularly such as were in one way or another connected with the events of revolutionary times.

Then they went up the Delaware in their yacht.
Their first halting-place would be at Trenton, and naturally the talk, as they went up the river, was largely of the revolutionary events which had taken place there and at other not far distant points.

Grandma Elsie was again the narrator.
"In November of 1776," she began, "our country's prospects looked very dark.

On the 16th, Fort Washington, on the east bank of the Hudson, and near New York City, fell into the hands of the enemy and its garrison of nearly three thousand men were made prisoners of war.
"On the 20th Cornwallis crossed the Hudson at Dobbs Ferry and with his six thousand men attacked Fort Lee.

The garrison hastily retreated, leaving all their baggage and military stores, and joined the main army at Hackensack, five miles away.
"Then Washington, who had with him scarcely three thousand men, began a retreat toward the Delaware, hoping to obtain reinforcements in New Jersey and Pennsylvania which would enable him to make a stand against the invaders and give them battle.
"But his troops had become much dispirited by the many recent disasters to our arms, delayed payment of arrears by Congress, causing them great inconvenience and suffering, and lack of proper food and clothing, and the presence of the enemy, who now had possession of New Jersey and seemed likely soon to take Philadelphia.
"Just at that time, as I have said, there seemed little hope for our country.