The Project Gutenberg EBook of Golden Deeds, by Anonymous

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Title: Golden Deeds
Stories from History

Author: Anonymous

Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25476]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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GOLDEN DEEDS

STORIES FROM HISTORY

[Illustration]

RETOLD FOR LITTLE FOLK

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY

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CONTENTS

How Horatius Kept the Bridge
William Tell
Catherine Douglas
Casabianca
Handel, the Great Musician
The Story of Columbus
Antonio Canova
Damon and Pythias
Charlemagne and the Charcoal-burner

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How Horatius Kept the Bridge

More than two thousand years ago Rome was ruled over by some kings
called the Tarquins. As they were wicked men, the Roman people rose up
against them, and drove them out of the city. The banished kings then
went to Tuscany, where Lars Porsena took up their cause, and gathering
an army together, went to help them force an entrance into Rome again.

The city could only be entered by crossing the river Tiber, and there
was but one wooden bridge over which the army could pass. Then the
leader of the Romans, who was called the Consul, cried out to his
followers to destroy the bridge.

"But," he added sadly, "I fear they will be upon us before we have time
to hew it down."

At this a Roman called Horatius came forward and offered to stand at the
farther end of the bridge, to keep the Tuscans at bay while it was being
destroyed.

"The pathway is so narrow," said he, "that if two others will help me,
we can stop the whole army from advancing. So who will keep the bridge
with me?"

Two other brave Romans, called Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius, at
once answered the call of their comrade, and these three gallant men
went to defend the passage, while the rest hastened to destroy the
bridge.

When the Tuscans saw the three men standing ready to meet the whole
army, they laughed aloud