These “Hero Tales” are not biographies of the men about whom they are told, neither has any attempt been made to join them into a connected historical narrative. They are just stories from the past told with constant thought of the stage of mental development of the children for whom they are intended. Each story has a hero, each is full of action, and the author has tried to tell each one in clear and simple language. The author has also tried to make each story teach its intended lesson without any moralizing on his part. The history of the past can never become a vital thing to us until the men of the past are live, flesh and blood men. It is the author’s hope that these “Hero Tales from History” will help to make threescore great figures from our past something more than names to the children who may enjoy this book. SMITH BURNHAM. CONTENTS PAGE MIGHTY MEN OF LONG AGO MOSES, THE GREATEST LAW-GIVER, AND THE MEEKEST MAN 1 DAVID, THE GIANT-KILLER KING 6 HOMER, THE HERO POET OF ANCIENT GREECE 10 SOCRATES, THE “GRAND OLD MAN” OF GREECE 15 ALEXANDER, THE BOY WHO CONQUERED THE WORLD 20 FOUR FAMILIAR SAYINGS OF JULIUS CÆSAR 24 HEROES OF THE MIDDLE AGES THE CHRISTMAS CROWNING OF CHARLEMAGNE 32 ALFRED, THE GREATEST OF THE SAXON KINGS 37 HOW WILLIAM OF NORMANDY CONQUERED A KINGDOM 42 LION-HEARTED RICHARD AND WOLF-HEARTED JOHN 47 JOAN OF ARC AND THE LILIES OF FRANCE 52 FOUR LEADERS IN THE OLD WORLD SHAKESPEARE, THE GREATEST MAKER OF PLAYS 58 HOW CROMWELL CHANGED PLACES WITH THE KING 61 NAPOLEON, THE CORSICAN BOY WHO RULED EUROPE 65 NELSON, THE HERO OF TRAFALGAR 72 DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS COLUMBUS, THE MAP-MAKER WHO FOUND A NEW WORLD 78 MAGELLAN, THE MAN OF THE STRAITS 84 CORTES, THE CONQUEROR 89 DE SOTO, A GOLD HUNTER IN SOUTHERN SWAMPS 96 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, ENGLAND’S FIRST GREAT SAILOR 102 SIR WALTER RALEIGH, THE FAVORITE OF GOOD QUEEN BESS 109 HENRY HUDSON, THE MAN WHO PUT HIMSELF ON THE MAP 115 LA SALLE AND THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI 120 LIVINGSTONE, THE WHITE MAN OF THE DARK CONTINENT 126 PEARY, A HERO OF THE GREAT WHITE NORTH 137 COLONISTS AND PIONEERS