Preface [iii-iv]
The following pages are intended to depict the Heroism of Boyhood, and especially to exhibit the heroism of moral worth. In former times, a man, to be a hero, was expected to slay his thousands, to found empires, and to subjugate nations. But now, better taught by the experience of the past, we understand that true heroism may consist in performing our duty in that state of life unto which it may please God to call us. There is a heroism in refraining from evil, in speaking the truth, in the exercise of humanity, in devoting ourselves to some difficult task for the sake of others, and in the vindication of principle. The great and good of all countries and in all ages afford instances of this in their early days; and in [iv] selecting a few of these from authentic sources. I feel confident in performing a service to the Boys of England, and even to England herself; as the greatness of a nation does not consist so much in armies, in fleets, in extended conquests, or unbound wealth, as in the exercise of the high virtue of our nature, in deeds of love, gentleness, honour, honesty, and truth.
Peter Parley.
Christmas, 1864.
The preface is signed with “Peter Parley”; the book was a Peter Parley’s Annual, which William Martin edited.
Contents
Story of David, the Son of Jesse 1The Story of Cyrus 7
The Boy-King – Edward the Sixth 18
The Boyhood of Oliver Cromwell 21
David Livingstone 26
John Kitto 34
The Mysterious Artist – Sebastian Gomez 46
Boyish Heroism of Sir William Jones 57
The Little Truant – Jaques Amyot 62
Amiable Heroism of Louis XVII 85
Heroic Devotion of a Tyrolese Boy 91
The Truthful Scotch Boy; or, Sawney Macpherson 95
The Little Hunchback – Alexander Pope 99
School Friendship 113
The Little Drummer-Boy 116
Mozart, the Young Musician 119
Reuben Percy 131
Turenne, the Little Soldier 133
The Courageous Boy 149
Boyhood of the Great Colbert 151
The Heroism of Truth – George Washington 157
Albert, the son of William Tell 164
Benjamin Franklin, the Young Printer 174
Joseph Hume, the Fisherman’s Son 194
Heroic Devotion of Two Mexican Youths 199
The Boyhood of Linnæus 201
The Heroism of Trust – Sir Humphrey Davy 219
Winckelmann, the Learned Cobbler 229
Lord Nelson 257
George Stephenson – The Heroism of Perseverance 266