Historic Boys Their Endeavours, Their Achievements, and Their Times   By: Elbridge Streeter Brooks (1846-1902)

Their Endeavours, Their Achievements, and Their Times.

by

E. S. BROOKS.

Illustrated by R. B. Birch and John Schönberg.

[Illustration: MARCUS ANNIUS VERUS,

AFTERWARD THE EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS.

( From a bust in the Capitoline Museum. )]

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London: Blackie & Son, 49 & 50 Old Bailey, E.C. Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dublin. 1886.

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PREFACE.

The world's historic boys and girls have been many. In every age and clime may be found notable examples of young people who, even before they reached manhood or womanhood, have for good or evil left their impress on their time.

From these the author of this volume has selected the careers of a dozen young fellows of different lands and epochs, who, even had they not lived out their "teens," could have rightly claimed a place in the world's annals as Historic Boys. They are such also as show that, from the earliest ages, manliness and self reliance have ever been the chief groundwork of character, and that in this respect the boy of the nineteenth century in no way differs from his brother of the second or the ninth. To bravely front danger, difficulty, or death, if need be, for principle or right, is as commendable and as heroic in the boy brought up amid the surging and restless life of London to day, as in the lads who trod the narrow streets of Jerusalem, or Rouen, of Florence, or old Rome centuries ago.

These stories of boy life, in the stirring days of old, have been based upon historic facts and prepared with a due regard to historic and chronologic accuracy. Nine of the twelve stories have already appeared in St. Nicholas magazine, but these have been revised and amplified for their present use, while the remaining three were specially prepared for this volume.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. MARCUS OF ROME: THE BOY MAGISTRATE, 1

II. BRIAN OF MUNSTER: THE BOY CHIEFTAIN, 25

III. OLAF OF NORWAY: THE BOY VIKING, 44

IV. WILLIAM OF NORMANDY: THE BOY KNIGHT, 65

V. BALDWIN OF JERUSALEM: THE BOY CRUSADER, 83

VI. FREDERICK OF HOHENSTAUFEN: THE BOY EMPEROR, 104

VII. HARRY OF MONMOUTH: THE BOY GENERAL, 126

VIII. GIOVANNI OF FLORENCE: THE BOY CARDINAL, 154

IX. IXTLIL' OF TEZCUCO: THE BOY CACIQUE, 178

X. LOUIS OF BOURBON: THE BOY KING, 196

XI. CHARLES OF SWEDEN: THE BOY CONQUEROR, 218

XII. VAN RENSSELAER OF RENSSELAERSWYCK: THE BOY PATROON, 242

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Marcus Annius Verus, afterwards Emperor, from a bust in the Capitoline Museum, Frontispiece

Roman Lictors, 7

Annia, the Sister of Marcus, and her pets, 20

"The boy chieftain knelt and kissed the hem of the darling little maiden's purple robe," 36

The Castle of Falaise Birthplace of William the Conqueror, 70

"'So, hollo, my lord duke,' said Hubert, 'what taketh thee abroad in this guise so early?'" 77

"'Thou the king!' he exclaimed; 'thou that Baldwin of Jerusalem whom men do call the hero of the Jordan!'" 88

Conrad the Emperor quitting the Crusade, 101

"'Cross at thy peril, Baron Kapparon,' cried Frederick of Hohenstaufen," 108

Prince Henry picks up the gage of the Percies' defiance. "'This shall be my duty,' he said," 140

Hualpilli the Lord of Tezcuco reveals himself, "'Now who shall say me nay?' he asked," 184

"I'll make them rue their words ere this day's sun cross the dome of the Smoking Hill," 190

Cradle of Charles the boy King of Sweden, 219

Eagle Flag of Sweden, 237

"'Suppawn and malck and rulliches, with chocolate and soft waffles, you know,' said Mistress Margery," 252

"The throng of tenants greeted him with a rousing birthday cheer," 256

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