The Elsie novels are part of a multi-volume series. "Elsie's Vacation and After Events" starts as Captain Raymond's eldest child, Max, joins the Navy. The Captain and his family then board the "Dolphin" and set sail along the Delaware River, later stopping in Trenton and Philadelphia. The Captain tells his children stories of past battles in American revolutionary history as they pass various landmarks, such as Forts Mercer and Mifflin on the New Jersey shore. Grandma Elsie, also aboard the "Dolphin" tells the children about Philadelphia, Carpenter's Hall, and the "Declaration of Independence." The family visits locations of revolutionary historical events--Whitemarsh, Germantown, Barren Hill, and Valley Forge before continuing southward on the "Dolphin." Later in the story, Grandma Elsie falls ill and needs to recover in her childhood home. The family's Christian background weaves into the plot and illustrates the strong disciplinary values that have been instilled in the children.