The stories in this volume have been collected from many sources in the endeavour to illustrate the wide range of heroism in the lives of brave and noble women, and with the hope that these records of splendid or quiet courage will open the eyes of young readers to the many forms which heroism wears, and furnish a more spiritual scale of heroic qualities. HAMILTON W. MABIE. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. ALCESTIS. Adapted from "Stories from the Greek Tragedians," by the Rev. Alfred J. Church 3 II. ANTIGONE. Adapted from "Stories from the Greek Tragedians," by the Rev. Alfred J. Church 18 III. IPHIGENIA. Adapted from "Stories from the Greek Tragedians," by the Rev. Alfred J. Church 33 IV. PAULA. Written and adapted from "The Makers of Modern Rome," by Mrs. Oliphant, "Martyrs and Saints of the First Twelve Centuries," by Mrs. E. Rundle Charles, and other sources 43 V. JOAN OF ARC. Adapted from "Joan of Arc, the Maid," by Janet Tuckey 57 VI. CATHERINE DOUGLAS. From the Poetical Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti 101 VII. LADY JANE GREY. Adapted from "Child-life and Girlhood of Remarkable Women," by W.H. Davenport Adams 132 VIII. POCAHONTAS. Adapted from "Pocahontas," by Elizabeth Eggleston Seelye, assisted by Edward Eggleston 146 IX. FLORA MACDONALD. Adapted from "The Heroines of Domestic Life," by Mrs. Octavius Freire Owen 174 X. MADAME ROLAND. Adapted from "Madame Roland," by John S.C. Abbott 190 XI. GRACE DARLING. Written and adapted from various sources 230 XII. SISTER DORA. Adapted from "Virgin Saints and Martyrs," by S. Baring-Gould 241 XIII. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. Written and adapted from various sources 266 Heroines Every Child Should Know HEROINES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW I ALCESTIS Asclepius, the son of Apollo, being a mighty physician, raised men from the dead. But Zeus was wroth that a man should have such power, and so make of no effect the ordinance of the gods. Wherefore he smote Asclepius with a thunderbolt and slew him. And when Apollo knew this, he slew the Cyclopés that had made the thunderbolts for his father Zeus, for men say that they make them on their forges that are in the mountain of Etna.