THE author of this work makes no pretense of originality in the telling of these stories of olden times. They have been gleaned from many sources, and are the common heritage of all who love to write them anew and hear them again. Only the words belong to the story teller; the story itself is as old as the race.

In the lapse of years and with the much telling of these stories there is no longer a line between fact and fiction. How much is true and how much is false does not matter; the story itself is the thing, and one need not worry whether it really happened or not. Much of it is palpable fiction, but much of it is true. Let us not be too critical of a story when it is a few hundred years old.

At any rate, the stories herein contained are a part of the great inheritance that the boys and girls of this day have received from the past, and to which they are entitled in all fullness and freedom. If the reading of them shall add anything to the enjoyment or to the information of those who are always young in heart because they always thrill at romance and adventure, the writer of these old time tales will be amply repaid.

LAWTON B. EVANS

JEROME AND THE LION

THE SAINT WHO STOOD ON A PILLAR

THE SCOURGE OF GOD

THE VANDAL HORDE

KING CLOVIS BECOMES A CHRISTIAN

A CAMEL DRIVER BECOMES A PROPHET

WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A KNIGHT

BERTHA WITH THE BIG FOOT

STORIES OF CHARLEMAGNE

CHARLEMAGNE AND THE MAGIC RING

CHARLEMAGNE AND THE ROBBER

ROLAND BECOMES A KNIGHT

THE DEATH OF ROLAND

HOW NORMANDY CAME BY ITS NAME

OLAF, THE BOY VIKING OF NORWAY

THE CID WINS HIS NAME

THE LAST DAYS OF THE CID

THE LORELEI

THE MOUSE TOWER

THE DEVIL'S LADDER

GERDA'S RIDE TO HER WEDDING

PETER THE HERMIT

THE WIVES OF WEINSBERG

THE MEETING OF KING RICHARD AND SALADIN

ADVENTURES OF RICHARD, THE LION HEART

THE PRINCE OF TRAVELERS

WILLIAM TELL, THE SWISS PATRIOT

EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE

BIG FERRE KEEPS THE FORT

THE LEGEND OF THE STRASSBURG CLOCK

THE BURGHERS OF GHENT REFUSE TO BE HANGED

THE SACRIFICE OF ARNOLD WINKELRIED

THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC

BAYARD, THE KNIGHT WITHOUT FEAR AND WITHOUT REPROACH

THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD

DMITRI, THE PRETENDER

THE MAN WITH THE IRON MASK

STORIES OF PETER THE GREAT

MAZEPPA, THE CHIEF OF THE COSSACKS

THE CRIME OF CHARLOTTE CORDAY