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
1. JEROME AND THE LION
2. THE SAINT WHO STOOD ON A PILLAR
3. THE SCOURGE OF GOD
4. THE VANDAL HORDE
5. KING CLOVIS BECOMES A CHRISTIAN
6. A CAMEL DRIVER BECOMES A PROPHET
7. WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A KNIGHT
8. BERTHA WITH THE BIG FOOT
9. STORIES OF CHARLEMAGNE
10. CHARLEMAGNE AND THE MAGIC RING
11. CHARLEMAGNE AND THE ROBBER
12. ROLAND BECOMES A KNIGHT
13. THE DEATH OF ROLAND
14. HOW NORMANDY CAME BY ITS NAME
15. OLAF, THE BOY VIKING OF NORWAY
16. THE CID WINS HIS NAME
17. THE LAST DAYS OF THE CID
18. THE LORELEI
19. THE MOUSE TOWER
20. THE DEVIL'S LADDER
21. GERDA'S RIDE TO HER WEDDING
22. PETER THE HERMIT
23. THE WIVES OF WEINSBERG
24. THE MEETING OF KING RICHARD AND SALADIN
25. ADVENTURES OF RICHARD, THE LION HEART
26. THE PRINCE OF TRAVELERS
27. WILLIAM TELL, THE SWISS PATRIOT
28. EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE
29. BIG FERRE KEEPS THE FORT
30. THE LEGEND OF THE STRASSBURG CLOCK
31. THE BURGHERS OF GHENT REFUSE TO BE HANGED
32. THE SACRIFICE OF ARNOLD WINKELRIED
33. THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC
34. BAYARD, THE KNIGHT WITHOUT FEAR AND WITHOUT REPROACH
35. THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD
36. DMITRI, THE PRETENDER
37. THE MAN WITH THE IRON MASK
38. STORIES OF PETER THE GREAT
39. MAZEPPA, THE CHIEF OF THE COSSACKS
40. THE CRIME OF CHARLOTTE CORDAY