Produced by David Garcia, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) A WARWICKSHIRE LAD [Illustration: Birthplace of Shakespeare] A WARWICKSHIRE LAD THE·STORY·OF·THE·BOYHOOD OF·WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by GEORGE · MADDEN · MARTIN Author of "Selina," "Emmy Lou," etc. [Illustration] D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK LONDON MDCCCCXVI COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY P. F. COLLIER & SON, INC Printed in the United States of America LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Birthplace of Shakespeare _Frontispiece_ PAGE "Will clambered up on the settle to think it all over" 17 "Dad bends to tweak the ear of Will" 23 "'Ay, but those are brave words, Hammie,' says Gammer" 35 "'Save us! What's that!' cried Gammer" _facing page_ 40 "'Ay, boy, you shall see the players'" 45 "'An' I shall be a player, too,' ... says Willy Shakespeare" 53 "His mother stepping now and then to the lattice window" 57 "Bound for Grandfather's at Snitterfield they were" 67 "For instance he knew one Bardolph ... the tapster at the tavern" 73 "Hidden away among the willows ... he spends the morning" 79 "The two have run away ... to wander about the river banks" _facing page_ 86 "He ... trudged up the path and peered in at the open door" 89 "'When the masterful hand, groping, seizes mine, I shall know it'" 93 "This strange thing called Death...." _facing page_ 98 "Dad ... sat staring in moody silence" 101 "Tall, sturdy Will Shakespeare could buy up cattle ... as well as the butcher's son" 109 A WARWICKSHIRE LAD I Little Will Shakespeare was going homeward through the dusk from Gammer Gurton's fireside. He had no timorous fears, not he. He would walk proudly and deliberately as becomes a man. Men are not afraid. Yet Gammer had told of strange happenings at her home. A magpie had flown screaming over the roof, the butter would not come in the churn, an' a strange cat had slipped out afore the maid at daybreak--a cat without a tail, Gammer said-- Little Will quickened his pace. Dusk falls early these December days, and Willy Shakespeare scurrying along the street is only five, and although men are not afraid yet---- So presently when he pulls up he is panting, and he beats against the stubborn street door with little red fists, and falls in at its sudden opening, breathless.