Produced by Chris Curnow, Thomas Strong, Fox in the Stars
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
{Transcriber's Note: Obvious mis-spellings and printing errors have been
corrected. Table of Contents, List of Illustrations and page numbers,
each of which is not included in the original, are supplied.
Illustration captions marked with ° are supplied. All other
inconsistencies are as in the original.}
[Illustration]
True Stories of Wonderful Deeds
PICTURES AND STORIES FOR
LITTLE FOLK
[Illustration]
CHICAGO
M.A. DONOHUE & COMPANY.
407-429 DEARBORN STREET.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
THE ROYAL OAK 2
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE 5
NELSON AND HARDY 7
WATT AND THE KETTLE 9
QUEEN VICTORIA AND HER SOLDIERS 11
THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW 13
GRACE DARLING 15
DAVID LIVINGSTONE 17
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO 19
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 22
THE CORONATION OF KING EDWARD VII 24
WAR 26
A BOY'S HEROIC DEEDS 28
A CAT'S EXTRAORDINARY LEAP 31
A BRAVE QUEEN 33
KING ALFRED AND THE CAKES 36
NOT ANGLES, BUT ANGELS 38
HEREWARD THE WAKE 40
CANUTE 42
THE BRAVE MEN OF CALAIS 44
WAT TYLER 47
BRUCE AND THE SPIDER 50
RICHARD AND BLONDEL 53
THE WHITE SHIP 55
JOAN OF ARC 57
AFLOAT WITH A TIGER 59
QUEEN MARGARET AND THE ROBBERS 63
WILLIAM CAXTON 67
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY 69
THE "REVENGE" 73
THE PILGRIM FATHERS 75
GUY FAWKES 77
CROMWELL AND HIS IRONSIDES 79
THE SPANISH ARMADA 81
THE DEFENCE OF LATHOM HOUSE 84
THE OUTLAWED ARCHERS 86
ELIZABETH AND RALEIGH 88
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
KING CHARLES IN HIDING 1
KING CHARLES IN THE OAK 4
PRINCE CHARLES AT THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN 6
NELSON ON THE "VICTORY" AT TRAFALGAR 8
WATCHING THE BOILING KETTLE 10
QUEEN VICTORIA VISITS HER WOUNDED SOLDIERS 12
THE HIGHLANDERS ENTERING LUCKNOW 14
GRACE DARLING ROWS OUT TO THE WRECK 16
THE MEETING OF STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE 18
BRITISH SOLDIERS AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO 20
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 21
AFTERMATH OF BATTLE° 23
KING EDWARD VII AND QUEEN ALEXANDRIA 25
SPYING ON INDIANS° 27
SAVED FROM THE FLOOD 28
QUEEN BOADICEA 32
QUEEN BOADICEA AND HER SOLDIERS 35
KING ALFRED FORGETS THE CAKES 37
THE ENGLISH PRISONERS AT ROME 39
HEREWARD AND HIS MEN ATTACK THE NORMANS 41
CANUTE ORDERS THE TIDE TO STOP 43
QUEEN PHILLIPA PLEADS FOR THE MEN OF CALAIS 45
THE MEN OF CALAIS ARE SPARED° 46
WAT TYLER° 47
YOUNG KING RICHARD QUELLS THE REBELLION 49
BRUCE WATCHING THE SPIDER 51
RICHARD LION HEART FIGHTING IN THE HOLY LAND 52
BLONDEL SINGS BENEATH RICHARD'S WINDOW 54
PRINCE WILLIAM RETURNS TO SAVE HIS SISTER 56
JOAN AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY 58
AFLOAT WITH A TIGER° 60
THE ROBBERS DISCOVER QUEEN MARGARET AND THE PRINCE 64
THE ROBBER BRINGS HELP TO QUEEN MARGARET 66
CAXTON IN HIS PRINTING SHOP 68
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY° 69
MARTYRED FOR PRAYING° 70
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY AND THE DYING SOLDIER 72
DEATH OF SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE° 74
THE PILGRIM FATHERS ENTERING THE NEW WORLD 76
THE ARREST OF GUY FAWKES 78
CROMWELL LEADS HIS IRONSIDES TO BATTLE 80
DRAKE IS TOLD THAT THE ARMADA IS APPROACHING 82
THE LITTLE "REVENGE" FIGHTS FIFTY SPANISH GALLEONS 83
THE COUNTESS RECEIVES THE BANNERS 85
CLOUDSEY SHOOTS AN APPLE FROM THE HEAD OF HIS SON° 87
RALEIGH SPREADS HIS CLOAK BEFORE ELIZABETH 89
[Illustration: King Charles in Hiding]
=The Royal Oak=
There is in Shropshire a fine oak-tree which the country people there
call the "Royal Oak". They say it is the great-grandson, or perhaps the
great-great-grandson of another fine old oak, which more than two
hundred years ago stood on the same spot, and served once as a shelter
to an English king. This king was Charles II, the son of the unlucky
Charles I who had his head cut off by his subjects because he was a weak
and selfish ruler.
On the very day on which that unhappy king lost his head, the Parliament
passed a law forbidding anyone to make his son, Prince Charles of Wales,
or any other person, king of England. But the Scottish people did not
obey this law. They persuaded the young prince to sign a paper, solemnly
promising to rule the country as they wished; then they crowned him
king. As soon as the Parliament heard of this they sent Cromwell and his
Ironsides against the newly-crowned king and his followers, and after
several battles the Scottish army was at last broken up and scattered at
Worcester.
Charles fled and hid in a wood, where some poor wood-cutters took care
of him and helped him. He put on some of their clothes, cut his hair
short, and stained his face and hands brown so that he might appear to
be a sunburnt workman like them. But it was some time before he could
escape from the wood, for Cromwell's soldiers were searching it in the
hope of finding some of the king's men. One day, Charles and two of his
friends had to climb into the tall oak to avoid being caught. They had
with them some food, which proved very useful, for they were obliged to
stay in their strange hiding-place for a whole day. The top of the
oak-tree had been cut off some few years before this time, and this had
made the lower branches grow thick and bushy, so that people walking
below could not easily see through them. It was a fortunate thing for
Charles, for while he was in the tree, he heard the soldiers beating the
boughs and bushes in the wood as they searched here and there, and even
caught glimpses of them through the leaves as they rode about below.
When they had gone, without even glancing up into the tall oak-tree, he
came down, and rode away from the wood on an old mill-horse, with his
friends the wood-cutters walking beside him to take care of him as best
they could. The saddle was a poor one, and the horse's pace jolted
Charles so much, that at last he cried out that he had never seen so bad
a steed. At this the owner of the horse jestingly told him that he
should not find fault with the poor animal, which had never before
carried the weight of three kingdoms upon its back. He meant, of course,
that Charles was king of the three kingdoms of England, and Scotland,
and Ireland.
Carried by the old horse, and helped by the poor wood-cutters, Charles
at last reached the house of a friend. Here he hid for a time, and then
went on to try and escape from the country. This time, so that he might
not be discovered, he was dressed as a servant, and rode on horseback,
with a lady sitting on a cushion behind him, as was then the fashion.
After several more dangers he managed to get on board a ship and sailed
away to France.
[Illustration: KING CHARLES IN THE OAK]
=Bonnie Prince Charlie=
Prince Charlie was the grandson of King James II, who was driven away
from the throne of England because he was a selfish man and a bad ruler.
The young prince tried to win the crown back again. He came over to
Scotland from France, with only seven followers; but soon a great many
of the Scots joined him, for he was so gay, and handsome, and friendly,
that all who saw him loved him. They called him "Bonnie Prince Charlie".
But though the prince and his followers were very brave, they had no
chance against the well-trained soldiers of King George of England. They
won a few victories; then they were thoroughly beaten in the battle of
Culloden. Thousands of brave Scots were slain, and the prince had to fly
for his life.
After this, for many weeks, he hid among the moors and mountains from
the English soldiers who were trying to find him. He lived in small
huts, or in caves, and many times had nothing but the wild berries from
the woods to eat. Once he stayed for three weeks with a band of robbers,
who were very kind to him; and though the king offered a large sum of
money to anyone who would give him up, not one of his poor friends was
false to him.
At last, a young and beautiful Scottish lady, named Flora MacDonald,
helped him to escape. She gave him woman's clothes, and pretended that
he was her servant, called Betty Burke. Then she took him with her away
from the place where the soldiers were searching, and after a time he
reached the sea, and got safely away to France.
[Illustration: PRINCE CHARLIE AT THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN]
=Nelson and Hardy=
Lord Nelson was one of the greatest seamen that ever lived. He commanded
the British fleet at the battle of Trafalgar, when the navies of France
and Spain were beaten, and England was saved from a great danger. He did
not look like a famous admiral on board his ship, the _Victory_, that
day. He was a small man, and his clothes were shabby. He had lost one
arm and one eye in battle; but with the eye which remained he could see
more than most men with two, and his brain was busy planning the course
of the coming fight. Just before it began, he went over his ship, giving
orders to the crew, and cheering them with kind words, which touched the
hearts of the rough men, who loved their leader and were proud of him.
"England expects every man to do his duty" was the last message he sent
them. Every man did his duty nobly that day, though the battle was
fierce and long; but it was the last fight of the brave commander. He
was shot in the back as he walked the deck with his friend Captain
Hardy, and was carried below.
He lay dying for several hours, but, in spite of his great pain, his one
thought was of the battle. "How goes the day with us?" he asked of
Hardy; and when told that many of the enemies' ships were taken, he
cried eagerly, "I am glad. Whip them, Hardy, as they have never been
whipped before." Later, when his friend came to tell him that the
victory was won, Nelson pressed his hand. "Good-bye, Hardy!" said he, "I
have done my duty, and I thank God for it." These were the last words of
one of England's bravest sons.
[Illustration: NELSON ON THE "VICTORY" AT TRAFALGAR]
=Watt and the Kettle=
There was once a little Scotch boy named James Watt. He was not a strong
child, and could not always run and play with other boys, but had often
to amuse himself at home. One holiday afternoon little James amused
himself in this way. He held a saucer over the stream of steam which
came from the spout of a boiling kettle, and as he watched he saw little
drops of water forming on the saucer. He thought this was very strange,
and wondered why it happened, for he did not know that steam is just
water changed in form by the heat, and that as soon as it touches
something cold it turns again into water. He asked his aunt to explain
it, but she only told him not to waste his time. If she could have
foreseen the work which her nephew would do when he became a man, she
would not have thought he was wasting his time.
When James Watt grew up, he was as much interested in steam and its
wonderful power, as he had been as a boy. He was sure it could be made
of great service to men. It was already used for driving engines, but
the engines were not good, and it cost much money to work them. Watt
thought they could be improved, but it was long before he found out the
way to do this. Often, he sat by the fire watching the lid of the kettle
as it was made to dance by the steam, and thinking of many plans; and at
last a happy thought came to him. His plan enabled great improvements to
be made in the working of engines, and now steam drives our trains and
ships, our mills and factories, and is one of our most useful servants.
[Illustration: WATCHING THE BOILING KETTLE]
=Queen Victoria and her Soldiers=
Queen Victoria was always proud of her brave soldiers. In time of war,
she gave orders that news of them was to be sent to her every day, and
when the generals returned home, they were commanded to visit her, and
to tell her of the bravery of the troops.
During the long war with the Russians in the Crimea, the British
soldiers suffered greatly from the freezing winds, and rain, and snow,
of that cold land. When Queen Victoria heard of this, she and her
children worked with their own hands to make warm clothing for them. A
great many of the wounded and sick men were sent home in ships, to be
nursed in the English hospitals, and the Queen paid several visits to
the poor fellows as they lay there. Moving from one bed to another, she
cheered them with hopeful words, and listened gladly to their stories of
the battles in which they had fought. When she saw that the hospitals
were crowded, and not very comfortable, she told Parliament that better
ones ought to be provided, and after a time this was done, and the fine
hospital of Netley was built, of which the Queen laid the first stone.
Once, Queen Victoria herself gave medals to some wounded and disabled
soldiers who had fought very bravely. Some of these men could not raise
their arms to salute their queen; some could not walk, but had to be
wheeled in chairs to her side; but all were proud to receive their
medals of honour from her hands.
"Noble fellows," she wrote of them afterwards, "I feel as if they were
my own children."
[Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA VISITS HER WOUNDED SOLDIERS]
=The Relief of Lucknow=
During the time of the terrible Indian Mutiny, when most of the native
troops rose against their British rulers, and vowed to kill every white
person in the land, many cruel deeds were done. A great number of white
people were slain before the British troops could come to their rescue,
but in some places they managed to hold out until help reached them.
This was the case in the city of Lucknow, where the British governor
with a small body of troops, and a great many women and children, took
refuge in the Government House from a vast host of rebels who came to
attack them. Many of the brave defenders were killed by the shot and
shell of the enemy. Many others, and especially the little children,
fell sick and died, for the heat was very great, and there was no good
water to be had. Then, after many days, a small body of white soldiers
fought their way into the city, and brought help and hope to the rest of
the party. They were only just in time. Had they come a few days later
they would have found the Government House a heap of ruins, and their
friends dead, for the rebels were making a mine under the building and
meant to blow it up with gunpowder. But alas! the newcomers were not
strong enough to fight their way out of Lucknow with a crowd of helpless
women and children and sick folk, so they, too were now shut in. For two
months longer they held out. Then at last, when they had almost lost
hope, the great Sir Colin Campbell with his brave Highlanders and other
soldiers defeated the rebels, and brought the band of sick, starving,
and weary people safely away.
[Illustration: THE HIGHLANDERS ENTERING LUCKNOW]
=Grace Darling=
On a small rocky island, off the north coast of England, there is a
lighthouse. A man named William Darling was once keeper of this
lighthouse, and his daughter Grace lived with him. Every day Grace
Darling helped her father to trim the lamps, so that at night they might
shine brightly, and warn sailors to steer their ships away from the
dangerous rocks, upon which they would have been dashed to pieces.
One stormy night Grace woke with the sound of screams in her ears. The
screams came from the sea, so she knew that some ship must be in
distress. She roused her father, but they could see nothing in the
darkness. When daylight came, they found that a ship had been wrecked
upon the rocks some way off, and a few people were clinging to the
masts. Grace wished to go at once in a boat to save them; but at first
her father hung back, for the wind and sea were wild, and he feared
that the small boat would be overturned by the great waves. Then Grace
ran to the boat, and seized an oar, for she could not bear to let the
poor men die without trying to save them; and the father could not let
his brave, daughter go alone, so he followed, and they rowed off.
It was hard work pulling against the strong sea, and several times the
small boat was almost sunk. But at last it reached the wreck, and
William Darling managed to land upon the rock, and with great care and
skill helped the half-frozen people into the small boat. Then they were
taken to the lighthouse, where Grace warmed and fed them, until the
storm ceased, and they could return to their homes.
[Illustration: GRACE DARLING ROWS OUT TO THE WRECK]
=David Livingstone=
At one time many people believed that the middle of Africa was a sandy
desert, where nothing could live but camels and ostriches. But they were
mistaken. The great traveller, David Livingstone, journeyed into this
unknown country, and he found that it was not a desert but a beautiful
land, where many tribes of black people dwelt. He also saw that these
people were often seized by strangers, and taken away to be sold as
slaves. This sight filled him with sadness, and he made up his mind to
put a stop to this cruel traffic. He worked hard, tracing the courses of
the rivers, finding the best tracts of land, and teaching the natives.
Then he urged his countrymen to send others after him to settle in this
fair country, to help the natives to learn useful trades, and to drive
away the slave-merchants.
For some years he was quite alone, with his black servants, in the midst
of this wild land. His friends grew anxious, and sent Mr. Stanley,
another great traveller, to look for him. Stanley marched for nearly a
year before he found Livingstone. The old explorer was white and worn
with sickness and hardship, and he was overjoyed to clasp once more the
hand of a white man, and to hear again the English tongue. But he would
not return to England. He said his work was not yet done, and he set out
once more on his travels. It was his last journey. One morning his
servants found him dead upon his bed. Since that time much has been done
to make Central Africa a prosperous land. Other white men have followed
where Livingstone led, and wherever they have settled, the wicked
slave-trade has been stopped.
[Illustration: THE MEETING OF STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE]
=The Battle of Waterloo=
Fields of waving corn, green woods, fruitful orchards, a pretty
farmhouse and a few cottages--such was the plain of Waterloo. And there,
on a summer Sunday, nearly a hundred years ago, was fought a famous
battle, in which the British troops under the Duke of Wellington beat
the French army, and broke the power of the great Napoleon for ever.
"We have them," cried Napoleon as he saw the British drawn up before
him. He thought it would be easy to destroy this army, so much smaller
than his own, before their friends the Prussians, who were on the way to
help them, came up. But he was mistaken. Wellington had placed his
foot-soldiers in squares, and though the French horsemen, then the
finest soldiers in the world, charged again and again, these little
clumps of brave men stood fast. On his favourite horse "Copenhagen",
Wellington rode to and fro cheering his men. "Stand firm, my lads,"
cried he. "What will they say to this in England?"
Not till evening, when the Prussians came, would he allow them to charge
the French in their turn. Then, waving his cocked hat over his head, he
gave the order, "The whole line will advance", and the impatient troops
dashed forward. The French bravely tried to stand against this terrific
charge, but they were beaten back, and the battle of Waterloo was ended.
Sixty thousand men lay dead or wounded under the fruit-trees, and among
the trampled corn and grass at the end of that terrible day.
[Illustration: BRITISH SOLDIERS AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO]
[Illustration: THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE]
=The Charge of the Light Brigade=
Forward the Light!
Such was the order given during a great battle to the leader of a band
of six hundred British soldiers. Forward! And there in front was a line
of cannon ready to shoot them down as they came, while on the hills on
either side of the valley were the guns and riflemen of the Russians.
"Surely someone has blundered! My men are sent to certain death,"
thought the leader of the Light Brigade.
"Forward! Attack!"
The order was repeated, and with the obedience of well-trained soldiers
the Brigade started.
"Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred."
On every side thundered the enemy's guns, and shot and shell fell thick
and fast, but on through all rode the brave horsemen, on till they
reached the cannon at the end of the valley. The smoke of the enemy's
fire closed round and hid them from their watching comrades, but now and
again the scarlet lines could be seen cutting down those who tried to
stop their charge.
"Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd."
[Illustration: AFTERMATH OF BATTLE°]
And then only, when the strange order had been obeyed, when their duty
had been nobly done in the face of death, did the Light Brigade--all
that was left of it--turn to ride back. Alas! there were not then six
hundred. Barely two hundred brave men, wounded, and blackened by smoke
and powder, reached the British camp. The rest of the noble band lay
dead or dying in the valley of Death.
"When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!"
=The Coronation of King Edward VII=
Never had a country a more popular king than King Edward VII, nor a more
gracious queen than Queen Alexandra, and never was a happier day for the
English people than that on which King Edward was crowned. A few days
before the date fixed for the Coronation the king suddenly became ill,
and a great gloom fell over the country, for it was feared that he might
never be crowned. But though his illness was severe he soon began to get
better, and when he was out of danger the hearts of his subjects were
filled with joy and thankfulness. Guns were fired, church-bells pealed,
and glad shouts and cheers rang out from the happy crowds which lined
the streets of London, through which the king and queen, in the midst of
their gay procession, drove to Westminster Abbey.
Inside the gray old Abbey was one of the most brilliant gatherings the
world has ever seen. Princes and princesses from other lands were there,
in their robes of state; peers and peeresses, in velvet, and ermine, and
glittering diamonds; grave statesmen; and soldiers in their gay
uniforms.
It was a grand and solemn scene when, before them all, the aged
Archbishop of Canterbury drew near to the King, and with trembling hands
placed the crown upon his head.
"The Lord give you a fruitful country, and healthful seasons, victorious
fleets and armies, and a quiet Empire." These are the words that the old
man said when he had crowned the king, and each one of us will pray that
all these blessings may indeed rest upon King Edward VII, and the great
Empire over which he rules.
[Illustration: KING EDWARD VII AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA]
=WAR.=
Over the broad, fair valley,
Filling the heart with fear,
Comes the sound of tramping horses,
And the news of danger near.
'Tis the enemy approaching,
One can hear the muffled drum,
And the marching of the soldiers,
As on and on they come.
Soon the air is rent in sunder,
Bullets flying sharp and fast,
Many stout hearts fail and tremble,
Every moment seems their last.
On the ground lie dead and dying,
Young and old alike must fall;
None to come and aid the sufferer,
Fight they must for freedom's call.
Many are the anxious loved ones
Praying for the war to cease,
Waiting for the right to conquer,
Bringing freedom, rest, and peace.
E.S.
[Illustration: SPYING ON INDIANS°]
A BOY'S HEROIC DEEDS.
May 31st, 1889, is a day that will long be remembered with horror by the
people in the beautiful valley of the Conemaugh, in Pennsylvania. On
that date occurred the terrible disaster which is known to the world and
will be named in history as the "Johnstown Flood."
[Illustration: SAVED FROM THE FLOOD.]
For many days previous to that date it had been raining hard, and great
floods extended over a vast region of country in Pennsylvania, New York
and the District of Columbia. Never before had there been such a fall of
rain in that region within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The
waters in the river and creeks of that beautiful valley rose rapidly and
overflowed their banks, while the people looked on in wonder, but
seemingly not in fear. Suddenly there appeared to their wondering gaze a
great bay horse galloping at break-neck speed and bearing a rider who
waved his hands to them and cried: "South Fork dam will burst. To the
hills for your lives." Only a few heeded his words of warning, while
many mocked and jeered. On dashed the rider to warn still others of the
impending danger, and, alas, to be himself and horse dashed to death by
the massive timbers of a falling bridge. South Fork dam did break, and
the mighty waters of Conemaugh Lake were hurled with resistless force
upon the doomed people of that beautiful valley. The terrible details of
the appalling disaster would fill several volumes larger than this. On
rushed the mighty waters, sweeping onward in their flood dwellings,
churches and buildings of every description, whether of wood, brick or
stone, until Johnstown was reached and destroyed. The town was literally
lifted from its foundations. Thousands of men, women and children were
caught up and swirled away in the pitiless flood, and their agonizing
but vain appeals for help could be heard amidst the mighty roar of the
waters. Many acts of heroism were performed by brave men and women--yes,
and boys--in rescuing victims of the flood. Only one of them concerns us
here. Charles Hepenthal, a schoolboy, seventeen years of age, who was on
his way to Bellefonte from his home at East Liberty, Pa., on the evening
of the flood, stood quietly among the passengers on the express train,
as they crowded to view the terrible havoc done by the flood. As the
flood reached the train, at Sang Hollow, a small frame house came
pitching down the mad tide, an eddy floated it in, near to the train, so
close that the wailing cries of an infant were heard, piercing their way
through the roar. Charles Hepenthal's heart was touched and his courage
was equal to the emergency. He determined to rescue that little wailing
waif from a watery grave. Strong men urged him to desist, insisting that
he would only sacrifice his own life for nothing--that it was impossible
for any one to survive in the surging waters. But the boy was resolved.
He cut the bell cord from the cars, tied it fast to his body, and out
into the whirling gulf he went; he gained the house, secured the infant
and returned through the maddened waters with the rescued babe in his
arms. A shout went up from the passengers on the train. "Wait!" he
cried; "there is still another in the house, I must save her!" and,
seizing a plank to use as a support, he plunged again into the surging
waters. Ah! his struggle this time was harder, for his precious load was
heavy. In the floating house on his first visit he found a little girl,
apparently ten years old, disrobed and kneeling beside her bed, on which
lay the screaming infant, praying to her Father in heaven to save her
and her baby brother from the fury of the flood. "God has heard my
prayer," she cried, as Charles entered the door. "Oh, save the baby,
quick," and then fainted away on the floor. When Charles had landed the
babe in safety and returned again for the girl, he found her still
unconscious on the floor, and the water was fast flowing in at the door.
In another minute she would have been drowned. But the brave boy's manly
arms were soon around her, and with his precious load the young hero
fought his way back to land and was given three times three cheers and a
"tiger" by the passengers of the day express.
A CAT'S EXTRAORDINARY LEAP.
In the latter part of 1880, at a time when the Washington monument had
reached a height of 160 feet, an adventurous and patriotic cat ascended
the interior of the shaft by means of the ropes and tubing. When the
workmen arrived at the upper landing the next morning, and began to
prepare for the day's work, pussy took fright and, springing to the
outer edge, took a "header" of 160 feet to the hard earth below. In the
descent which was watched closely by two score of men, the cat spread
herself out like a flying squirrel and alighted on all fours. After
turning over on the ground a few times in a dazed manner, she prepared
to leave the grounds and had gotten almost beyond the shadow of the
monument, when a dog belonging to one of the workmen pounced upon her
and killed her, she, of course, not being in her best running trim,
after performing such an extraordinary feat. One of the men procured the
body of the dead feline, smoothed out her silky coat, and turned the
remains over to a representative of the Smithsonian Institution, who
mounted the skin and placed it under a glass case. The label on the case
tells this wonderful story in a few words: "This cat on September 23,
1880, jumped from the top of Washington's monument and lived."
[Illustration: Queen Boadicea]
=A Brave Queen=
Long ago, when this country was a wild land, there lived a beautiful and
brave queen named Boadicea.
Her husband, the king, was dead, but she had two daughters whom she
loved very much.
Boadicea was queen of a part of Britain. There were no large towns in
her land, but there were forests of fine trees, and fields of corn, and
wide stretches of grass-land where many cattle and sheep roamed and fed.
Her people were called Iceni. They were tall and strong, with blue eyes
and yellow hair. The men were brave fighters and good hunters. They
hunted the bears and wolves which lived in the forests, and they fought
the foes of their beautiful queen.
They made spears to fight with, and strange carts called war-chariots to
fight in. These chariots were drawn by swift horses, and, upon the
wheels, long sharp knives were fixed. The Iceni drove the chariots very
fast among their foes, and the knives cut down and killed many of them.
The Romans from over the sea were the most dangerous enemies of Boadicea
and her people.
In those days the Romans were the best fighters, and the strongest and
wisest people in the world. They came in ships to Britain. They had been
told that it was a good country, and they hoped to take it for
themselves. Some of them came to Boadicea's land, and took a part of it
and of her riches. And when she tried to stop them from doing this, they
seized her and the two princesses and beat them cruelly.
This wicked act made the Iceni very angry. From all parts of the land,
fierce fighting-men came marching in haste to avenge themselves on their
enemies, bringing with them their spears and their war-chariots. When
all were gathered together, they fell upon the Romans.
There were so many of them, and they were so fierce, that the Romans
could not stand against them. Thousands were killed, and the rest ran
away to their ships.
But there were many more Romans in other parts of Britain, and when
these heard how their friends had been beaten, they came marching in
haste to punish the Iceni.
The Iceni did their best to get ready to defend themselves, but many of
their brave men had been slain and others were wounded and weary, so
they could not hope again to win a victory over their strong foes.
Before the battle, Queen Boadicea, with her fair hair waving in the
wind, stood before her soldiers and spoke to them. She told them of the
wrong which the Romans had done, and begged them to fight bravely for
their country. Then she got into her chariot, and with her daughters
lying at her feet, drove to and fro, so that all might see them.
And the soldiers shouted, and promised to fight to the end for their
brave queen.
They did fight long and bravely, until most of them were killed, but
their foes were too strong for them. When Queen Boadicea saw that her
brave soldiers were beaten, she drank some poison which killed her. She
thought it better to die than to be again taken prisoner by the cruel
Romans.
[Illustration: QUEEN BOADICEA AND HER SOLDIERS]
=King Alfred and the Cakes=
Once, when good King Alfred of England was forced to flee from his
strong foes the Danes, he hid himself in a wood. In this wood, there was
a small cottage, and Alfred asked the woman who lived there if he might
go in and rest.
Now the woman did not know the king, but she saw that he was an English
soldier, and that he was very tired, so she let him come in and sit in
her kitchen.
Upon the hearth before the fire, some cakes were baking, and the woman
told the stranger that if he watched them, and took care that they did
not burn, she would give him some supper. Then she went away to do her
work.
At first, King Alfred watched the cakes carefully; when they were well
cooked on one side he turned the other to the fire. But, after a time,
he began to think of his country, and of his poor people, and then he
forgot his task.
When the woman came back, the cakes were black and burnt. "You are an
idle fellow," cried she angrily. "You would be quite ready to eat the
cakes, but you will not take the trouble to watch them."
While she was loudly scolding, her husband came home. He knew King
Alfred. "Hush, wife!" cried he. "It is our noble lord the king!"
When the woman heard this, she was much afraid, and she begged Alfred to
forgive her.
The king smiled, and said: "I will gladly forgive you for your scolding,
good wife, if you will forgive me for spoiling your supper."
[Illustration: KING ALFRED FORGETS THE CAKES]
=Not Angles, but Angels=
In old days the people of England were not all free, as they are now.
Sometimes young men, and women, and little children were sold as slaves,
and had to work hard for their masters.
Many of these slaves were sent to Rome, for the Romans thought the tall,
fair Angles very beautiful, and liked to have them as their servants.
Once, a wise and good preacher, named Gregory, was walking through the
market-place in Rome, when he saw a group of slaves standing there,
waiting to be bought. Among these slaves were some pretty boys with long
yellow hair, and blue eyes, and white skin. This was a strange sight to
Gregory, for most of the people in his land had dark hair, and brown
skin.
"Who are these boys?" asked he of a man who was standing by.
"They are Angles from over the sea," replied the man.
"Surely not Angles, but Angels," said the preacher, looking kindly into
the boys' faces. "Do they come from England?"
"From heathen England, where men do not know the true God," said the
man.
"Some day they shall be taught to know God, and then indeed they shall
be angels," said Gregory.
Now Gregory did not go away and forget this. When he became a great man
and Bishop of Rome, he sent a good preacher, named Augustine, to
England, to preach to the people there, and to teach them to be
Christians.
[Illustration: THE ENGLISH PRISONERS AT ROME]
=Hereward the Wake=
When William of Normandy came over the sea, and took the crown of
England, many English people would not call him king. The young lord
Hereward was one of these. He and his men made for themselves a "Camp of
Refuge" among the reeds and rushes on the marshes. All day they lay
there, hidden from view by the mists which rose from the watery ground,
and at night they came out, and attacked the Normans in their tents, and
burned their towns.
Hereward was called "the Wake" because he was so watchful and wide-awake
that the Normans could not catch him. They were always trying to find
him, but they did not know the safe paths over the marshes which he and
his men used, and when they tried to cross, they sank with their horses
in the soft muddy ground, and had to turn back.
But at last a false friend of the English showed them the way to the
"Camp of Refuge", and then Hereward had to flee to save his life. He
went with a few friends to the sea-shore, and there he found some
fishermen who were going to sell fish to the Norman guards in an English
town.
The fishermen took Hereward and his men into their boats, and covered
them with straw; then they set sail. The Norman guards bought the fish
as usual, and had it served for dinner. While they were eating it, the
English soldiers came quietly from the boats, and killed most of them
before they could get their swords to defend themselves. When the
English people in the place saw this, they gladly joined Hereward and
made him master of their town.
[Illustration: HEREWARD AND HIS MEN ATTACK THE NORMANS]
=Canute=
There was once a king of England, named Canute, who was a brave and
clever man. But he had many lords in his court who were very foolish.
They feared their master, and wished to please him, and because they
knew that he was somewhat vain of his strength and cleverness, they
thought he would like to be told that he was great, and wise, and
powerful.
So they praised him every day, and told him that all he did and all he
said was good. They said he was the greatest king on earth, and there
was nothing in the world too hard for him to do if he chose. At last
King Canute tired of their vain words.
One day, as he walked with his lords on the sea-shore, one of them told
him that even the waves would obey him.
"Bring a chair," said Canute, "and place it close to the water."
The chair was brought, and set upon the sand, and the king sat down and
spoke to the waves.
"I command you to come no farther," cried he.
But the waves came on and on, until they wetted Canute's feet, and
splashed his chair.
Then the king rose and went to his lords, who were standing a little way
off, staring at their master, and talking in low tones about his strange
conduct.
"Learn from this to keep your tongues from idle praise," said he
sternly. "No king is great and powerful but God. He only can say to the
sea: 'Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther.'"
[Illustration: CANUTE ORDERS THE TIDE TO STOP]
=The Brave Men of Calais=
Many years ago, King Edward III of England took the town of Calais from
the French king. He could not take it by force, for the walls were very
strong, but he succeeded by another plan. He placed his soldiers all
round the walls, and would let no one go into the town to take food to
the people. Inside the walls, the people waited bravely, but at last all
their food was eaten, and then they knew that if they tried to hold the
town any longer they would starve.
So the governor sent word to King Edward that he would give up the city,
and begged him to have mercy on the people.
But Edward was angry. "Tell your masters," said he to the messenger,
"that I will not spare the people unless six of the chief men come out
to me, with their feet bare, and ropes around their necks."
At this sad news, the poor starving people cried aloud. But soon six
brave men were found who were ready to die for their countrymen, and,
with their feet bare and ropes around their necks, they went out to the
place where King Edward was waiting, with Queen Philippa and the English
nobles.
"Great king!" said the men, "we bring you the keys of our town, and we
pray you to have mercy on us."
But the king would not listen. "Take them away and cut off their heads,"
he cried angrily. And when his nobles begged him to spare such brave
enemies he would not listen to them.
[Illustration: QUEEN PHILIPPA PLEADS FOR THE MEN OF CALAIS]
Then Queen Philippa, whose heart was filled with pity for the poor men,
fell upon her knees.
"My lord," she cried, "if you love me, give me the lives of these men."
King Edward could not bear to see his beautiful queen in tears upon the
ground, so he raised her, saying: "Lady, I wish you had not been here,
for I cannot say you nay. Take the men, they are yours."
Then Queen Philippa joyfully led the brave men away, and gave them food
and clothes, and sent them back to their friends. So they, and all the
people of Calais, were saved.
[Illustration: THE MEN OF CALAIS ARE SPARED°]
[Illustration: WAT TYLER°]
=Wat Tyler=
In our days, all people in our land, except prisoners, are free to go
where they will, and to do what work they please. In olden times it was
not so. Then, the poorer people were treated like slaves by the nobles;
they had to work hard for their masters, and they were not allowed to
move from one place to another without asking leave.
This was hard, and it made the people very angry. In the days of the
boy-king Richard II, a great many workmen made up their minds to obey
the nobles no longer. They banded themselves together in a large army,
chose a man named Wat Tyler for their leader, and marched to London.
The Mayor of London tried to stop them, by pulling up the drawbridge
which crossed the river Thames, but they forced him by threats to let it
down again. Then they rushed through the streets of London, frightening
all the people they met by their wild looks and cries. They broke open
the prisons, and set the prisoners free, and burned the palaces of the
nobles, but they killed no man and robbed none.
The nobles were much alarmed. With young King Richard at their head,
they rode out to meet this army, and to ask the people what they wanted.
"We want to be free, and we want our children to be free after us," said
Wat Tyler.
"I promise you that you shall have your wish, if you will return quietly
to your homes," said the king.
At this, the people shouted with joy, and all might have been well; but
the mayor, seeing Wat Tyler raise his hand, and fearing that he was
going to strike the king, drew his sword, and killed the leader of the
people.
Then the joyful shouts changed to cries and growls of anger. Arms were
raised, and the crowd began to press forward. In a minute the little
band of nobles would have been attacked, but the boy-king saw the
danger. Boldly riding to meet the angry people, he put himself at their
head. "What need ye, my masters?" cried he. "I am your captain and your
king. Follow me."
The crowd stopped, surprised by this bold act; the loud cries ceased,
and swords and staves were lowered. These rough men did not wish to harm
their young sovereign, but to free him from the nobles who gave him evil
counsel. They were greatly pleased to find him upon their side, and,
with perfect trust and loyalty, they followed where he led; and so for a
time the danger was past.
[Illustration: YOUNG KING RICHARD QUELLS THE REBELLION]
=Bruce and the Spider=
Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, sad and weary, lay upon the floor of a
lonely cave among the hills. His mind was full of anxious thoughts, for
he was hiding from the English soldiers, who sought to take him--alive
or dead--to their king. The brave Scots had lost many battles, and Bruce
began to fear that he would never make his dear country free.
"I will give up trying," said he.
Just then a spider, hanging from the roof of the cave, by a long thread,
swung before the king's eyes, and he left his gloomy thoughts to see
what the little creature would do.
The spider began to climb its thread slowly, pulling itself up little by
little; but it had gone only a short way, when it slipped and fell to
the end once more.
Again and again it started to climb, and again and again it slipped
back, until it had fallen six times.
"Surely the silly little creature will now give up trying to climb so
fine a thread," thought Bruce. But the spider did no such thing. It
started on its upward journey yet a seventh time, and this time it did
not fall. Up it went, inch by inch, higher and higher, until at last it
reached the roof, and was safely at home.
"Bravo!" cried the king. "The spider has taught me a lesson. I too will
try until I win."
Bruce kept his word. He led his brave men to battle, again and again,
until at last the English were driven back to their own land, and
Scotland was free.
[Illustration: BRUCE WATCHING THE SPIDER]
[Illustration: RICHARD LION HEART FIGHTING IN THE HOLY LAND]
=Richard and Blondel=
In a gloomy prison, in a foreign land, lay Richard I, King of England.
He had been with some other kings to a great war in the Holy Land, where
he had won battles, and taken cities, and gained much honour. Men called
him Richard Lion-heart, because he was as brave as a lion in fighting,
and his soldiers loved him and would follow him into any danger. One
strong city, called Acre, held out for nearly two years against the
armies of the other kings, but when Richard arrived it gave way almost
at once.
Because of his bravery, and his many victories, all men praised King
Richard, and this made some of the other kings hate him, for they were
jealous that he should have more honour than they. When he was on his
way back to England, one of these envious men seized him secretly, and
threw him into prison.
And now poor Richard could fight no more, nor could he see the blue sky,
and the green fields which he loved. One day, as he sat sad and lonely
in his prison, he heard a voice singing, beneath the window. He started.
"Surely," said he, "that is the voice of my old friend Blondel, and that
is the song we used to sing together." When the song was ended, the king
sang it again in a low voice. Then there was a joyful cry from the man
outside, and Richard knew that it was indeed his friend.
Blondel had journeyed many days seeking his lost master. Now he hastened
to England, and told the people where to find their king, and very soon
Richard was set free, and went back to his own land.
[Illustration: BLONDEL SINGS BENEATH RICHARD'S WINDOW]
=The White Ship=
The night was dark, and a stormy wind was blowing, when the _White Ship_
set sail from the shore of France. Prince William of England and his
sister and their young friends were going back to their own land, after
a visit to the French king.
The English king, Henry I, with his courtiers, had sailed earlier, and
had now almost reached home. But the prince would not go with them, he
wished to make merry before starting.
There had been eating, and drinking, and dancing, and singing on board
the _White Ship_, and everyone was merry.
But the sailors had drunk so much wine that they could not see to steer
aright. Soon there was a crash, and the ship trembled. It had struck a
rock, and was sinking.
Then the sounds of merriment were changed to cries of fear. "Save us!"
shrieked the terrified people. "Save the prince," cried the captain,
"the rest of us must die!" There was only one small boat on the ship,
and Prince William was put into this, and rowed away. But he had not
gone far, when he heard his sister crying to him to save her.
"Go back!" shouted he. The boat was rowed back, but when it came near
the ship, so many people jumped into it, that it was overturned and all
in it were drowned.
Soon the _White Ship_ sank also, and of all the gay company upon it only
one man was saved.
When King Henry heard that his only son was dead, he was very sorrowful,
and it is said that no man ever again saw a smile upon his face.
[Illustration: PRINCE WILLIAM RETURNS TO SAVE HIS SISTER]
=Joan of Arc=
In a village in the green country of France, there once lived a girl
named Joan. She spent her days in sewing and spinning, and in minding
her father's sheep.
At that time there was a sad war in France, and the English had won many
battles. Joan was grieved to hear of the trouble of her country. She
thought of it night and day, and one night she dreamt that an angel
came, and told her to go and help the French prince.
When Joan told her friends of this dream, they laughed at her.
"How can a poor girl help the prince?" asked they.
"I do not know," replied Joan; "but I must go, for God has sent me." So
she went to the prince, and said: "Sir, my name is Joan. God has sent me
to help you to win the crown of France."
They gave Joan a suit of white armour, and a white horse, and set her at
the head of the army. She led the soldiers to fight, and the rough men
thought she was an angel, and fought so bravely that they won many
battles.
Then the prince was crowned King of France.
When this was done, Joan felt that her work was over. "I would that I
might go and keep sheep once more with my sisters and my brothers; they
would be so glad to see me," pleaded she. But the king would not let her
go. So Joan stayed; but her time of victory was past. Soon, she was
taken prisoner by the English, and cruelly burned to death. She died as
bravely as she had lived, and her name will never be forgotten.
[Illustration: JOAN AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY]
AFLOAT WITH A TIGER.