See also the companion volume Heroines that Every Child Should Know [no. 1.3.17]
Introductory Note to “Heroes Every Child Should Know” [v]
The endeavor has been made in this volume to bring together the heroic men of different races, periods and types; and in the selection of material the most attractive, intelligent and authoritative literature has been drawn upon. In cases in which the material selected belongs distinctively to the best literature, no changes have been made, although narratives have been abbreviated; in cases in which the material has a historical rather than a distinctively literary quality, the text has been treated for “substance of doctrine,” and omissions have been freely made, and connecting words, phrases and even sentences have been introduced to give the narrative clear connection and completeness. […]
H.W.M.
Introduction [xi-xvii]
[xi] “If there had been no real heroes there would have been created imaginary ones, for men cannot live without them. The hero is just as necessary as the farmer, the sailor, the carpenter and the doctor; society could not get on without him. There have been a great many different kinds of heroes, for in every age and among every people the hero has stood for the qualities that were most admired and sought after by the bravest and the best; and all ages and peoples have imagined or produced heroes as inevitably as they have made ploughs for turning the soil or ships for getting through the water or weapons with which to fight their enemies. To be some kind of a hero has been the ambition of spirited boys from the beginning of history; and if you want to know what the men and women of a country care for most, you must study their heroes. To the boy the hero stands for the highest success: to the grown man and woman he stands for the deepest and richest life.”
Contents
Introduction xiI. Perseus. Adapted from “The Heroes,” by Charles Kingsley 3
II. Hercules. By Kate Stephens 26
III. Daniel. From Book of Daniel, Chapter vi., Verses 1 to 24 43
IV. David. From I. Book of Samuel, Chapter xvii 46
V. St. George. Adapted from “Martyrs and Saints of the First Twelve Centuries,” by Mrs. E. Rundle Charles 52
VI. King Arthur. Adapted from “Stories from Le Morte d’Arthur and the Mabinogion,” by Beatrice Clay 59
VII. Sir Galahad. Adapted from “Stories from Le Morte d’Arthur and the Mabinogion,” by Beatrice Clay; followed by “Sir Galahad,” by Alfred Tennyson 77
VIII. Siegfried. Adapted from “Heroes of Chivalry and Romance,” by A. J. Church 89
IX. Roland. Adapted from “Stories of Charlemagne and the Peers of France,” by A. J. Church 109
X. King Alfred. Adapted from “Old English History,” by E. A. Freeman 127
XI. The Cid. Adapted from “Chronicle of the Cid,” from the Spanish, by Robert Southey 144
XII. Robin Hood. Adapted from “Book of Romance,” edited by Andrew Lang; including a version of the popular ballad, “Robin Hood and the Butcher” 170
XIII. Richard the Lion-Hearted. Adapted from “The Crusaders,” by A. J. Church 189
XIV. Saint Louis. Adapted from “The Crusaders,” by A. J. Church 208
XV. William Tell. Adapted from “Stories from History,” by Agnes Strickland 227
XVI. Robert Bruce. Adapted from “Tales of a Grandfather from Scottish History,” by Sir Walter Scott 250
XVII. George Washington. Adapted from “Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington,” by G. W. Parke Custis 274
XVIII. Robert E. Lee. From “Letters and Recollections of General Lee,” by Captain Robert E. Lee 289
XIX. Abraham Lincoln. Adapted from “The True Story of Abraham Lincoln,” by Elbridge S. Brooks 309
XX. Father Damien. Adapted from “Father Damien: A Journey from Cashmere to His Home in Hawaii,” by Edward Clifford 320