CHAPTER XXII.
TRIUMPHANTLY ACQUITTED.
WHEN Myles appeared in the court-room the next morning it was with a pale face and heavy eyes after the anxious weariness of his sleepless night. He brightened somewhat under the influence of Billings’ cheering presence and words, and was comforted by his lawyer’s cordial hand-grasp and confident manner.
The counsel for the company announced that he was satisfied to rest his case upon the evidence already in. Then Captain Ellis, addressing the jury, said:
“You have listened patiently, gentlemen, to the charges brought against my client and the testimony offered to prove them true. Now I beg to claim your attention for a very short time to the testimony which I shall produce to disprove those charges, and show them to be based in part, if not wholly, upon falsehood and perjury.”
The captain then gave a rapid sketch of the former relations existing between Myles Manning and Ben Watkins. In conclusion he said:
“I shall not undertake to disprove that my client acted foolishly or wrongly upon the evening of his arrival at this place, though I might easily show how he was tempted and led on from one act of folly to another by those who sought his ruin. I shall, however, endeavor to prove beyond a doubt that he never sought by a dishonest or dishonorable word or action to conceal his folly or undo its effects. He had already confessed it, and fully atoned for it, before this cruel charge was brought against him.”
The captain first called and examined several witnesses who testified that Ben Watkins had owed them sums of money amounting in all to several hundred dollars, and that all of these debts had been paid within a week.
Having disposed of these witnesses, Captain Ellis said:
“I shall now place my client on the stand in order that the gentlemen of the jury may hear his side of the story from his own lips. When he has told it, I shall bring proof that what he has said is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Myles’ account of all that had happened to him since his arrival at Mountain Junction was listened to with intense interest, though at some points a general expression of disbelief swept over the faces of his hearers. It was hard for them to believe that he could have overthrown Ben Watkins during the struggle between them in the superintendent’s office, for Ben looked the larger and stronger of the two young men.
Myles was, of course, subjected to a searching cross-examination by the other side, but he bore it unflinchingly, answering every question without hesitation, and without once contradicting himself.
When he was finally allowed to resume his seat, a buzz of approval came from the spectators, but it was promptly checked by the sheriff. Captain Ellis smiled as he heard it, and Billings nodded his head approvingly toward the spectators. It was evident to them that the tide of public feeling was turning in their favor.
Myles started as he heard the name of the next witness. It was Mr. Herbert Smedley, and Myles could hardly trust the evidence of his eyes when the handsome, self-possessed young fellow whom he had regarded as the wealthiest and most aristocratic of all his classmates nodded jauntily to him from the witness-stand. Myles could only remember how unkindly Bert had seemed to treat him when they last met, and wonder at his presence in this place. His surprise was increased when, in answer to Captain Ellis’ first question, he heard Bert declare himself to be the step-son of Mr. Saxon, the President of the A. & B. Road.
“Have you known Mr. Manning long?” was asked.
“Ever since we entered college together, nearly four years ago.”
“Was he known in college as an athlete?”
“I should say he was. He was the pride of the gymnasium.”
“Did he ever engage in wrestling-matches?”
“Whenever he had a chance. But he couldn’t find his match in college.”
“Did you ever see him wrestle with Mr. Watkins?”
“Who—Ben? Of course I did; and he threw him every time too.”
At this the buzz among the spectators almost broke out in open applause. Manning stock was evidently on the rise.
“Now,” said Captain Ellis, when the sensation produced by Bert Smedley’s testimony had subsided, “I shall call a witness by whom I hope to prove that part of my client’s story in which he described how the money that enabled him to pay his hotel bill came into his possession. Mr. William Biggs will please take the stand.”
At the sound of his name the big, uncouth-looking fellow whom Myles at once recognized as his cabin acquaintance, Bill, shuffled awkwardly toward the place pointed out to him. He was closely followed by the bull-dog Tige, who, however, was not noticed until he was seated close by his master’s side on the witness-stand.
“Put that dog out of the room,” commanded the judge, sternly.
The sheriff started forward to obey the order, but hesitated at Tige’s ominous growl and display of teeth.
“He won’t do no harm, Jedge. He’s a lamb, Tige is, onless he’s riled. But it’s resky to rile him,” said Bill, facing his Honor and quieting the dog at the same time.
So Tige was allowed to remain where he was, though every now and then he expressed his disapproval of the proceedings by a low growl.
Bill, who fortunately was able to read, identified the “Friend-in-Need” note, and described how it came into his possession.
Then Captain Ellis read the note aloud, and handed it to the clerk of the court to be filed as evidence.
The appearance of Bill and Tige on the witness-stand was as good as a circus to the spectators, and they appreciated it thoroughly.
Now they wondered what new sensation was in store for them, but they were not allowed to wonder long. The opposing counsel had hardly finished his cross-examination of Bill, whose answers were such as to completely baffle him, when Captain Ellis said:
“Now, your Honor and gentlemen of the jury, I am about to place upon the stand a person who was actually present at the famous wrestling-match so graphically described by both my client and Mr. Watkins. As their accounts differ very materially from each other, it is possible that the testimony of this witness may indicate which version of the affair is the true and which the false one. Is Jacob Allen in court? and, if so, will he please step forward?”
There was a moment of waiting, during which the spectators exchanged looks of surprise. Then, from the extreme back part of the room, Jacob Allen, the leader of the late strike, the man for whose arrest a reward was offered, appeared among them, and the crowd made way for him to pass.
As he stepped to the stand and turned a fearless gaze upon those before him, the lawyer for the company sprang to his feet and said:
“I object, your Honor, to the testimony of this man being received. His recent outrages have placed him in the position of a criminal for whose apprehension the company that I have the honor to represent offers a large reward, and for whom officers are now in search. In the name of the President of the A. & B. Railroad Company, I demand his immediate arrest.”
“Your Honor,” said Captain Ellis, “if I am not mistaken, Mr. Allen has in his possession a paper that not only relieves him from all fear of arrest, but grants him unconditional pardon for any alleged act of wrong committed against the A. & B. Railroad Company.”
“If you have such a paper as this gentleman suggests, I shall be pleased to examine it,” said the judge, turning to Allen.
The latter handed him a letter, which the judge read carefully. When he had finished it, he said:
“This letter not only contains a withdrawal of all charges against Jacob Allen, together with that of the reward offered for his apprehension, but it restores him to his old position as conductor on the A. & B. Road. It is signed by Walker B. Saxon, President, with whose signature I am perfectly familiar. Under these circumstances I shall be obliged to admit the testimony of this witness as legal evidence.”
So Jacob Allen was sworn, and allowed to tell his story. He told first how Myles Manning had rescued his boy from imminent peril, and how, out of gratitude, he had given him a pass that would insure him courteous treatment at the hands of any striker he might meet. He denied that Myles had ever afforded any information or aid to the strikers. He mentioned meeting the young reporter on the street the evening after that of little Bob’s rescue and hearing him inquire if he had seen any thing of Mr. Watkins. He told how, upon learning from him that the assistant superintendent was in his office, Mr. Manning had asked him to wait there a minute until he should return, and had entered the railroad building.
“Did you wait?” asked Captain Ellis.
“Yes, sir; I waited until I heard such a scuffling and crashing of furniture up there in the office that I felt it was time to go up and see if anybody was getting hurt.”
“What did you see?”
“I didn’t see any thing, for the light was out, but as I reached the office door, which was open, I heard Mr. Manning say, as nearly as I can repeat his words,
“‘Ben Watkins, I hope you realize that you are whipped, and that I have saved you from committing a State-prison offence. I don’t know why you wanted to set fire to this building, but it looks as if you wished to destroy the contents of that safe in such a way that the blame should be laid upon the strikers. I don’t know what those contents are, but they must be of value to the company. It is evident that you are not fit to be trusted with them. If you will put them back, lock the safe, and give me the key to keep until your uncle returns, I will then give it back to you. As I don’t want to see an old classmate disgraced, I will agree to say nothing of this night’s work so long as you do not compel me to.’
“Then I heard Mr. Watkins agree to do as Mr. Manning said, and with that I heard them both get up from the floor. They lighted a lamp, and I saw that the books and papers from the safe were scattered all around. Mr. Watkins picked them up, put them back in the safe, locked it, and handed the key to Mr. Manning. Then Mr. Manning started to leave the office, and I slipped out ahead of him so quietly that neither of them suspected I had been there.
“When Mr. Manning came down I gave him the bit of a pass I had written for him. Then he hurried away. An hour or so after that, as I was going home, I saw Mr. Watkins stop at the post-office door as if he were mailing a letter.”
All this had been listened to with breathless interest, and when Allen ceased speaking a sound like a great sigh of relief rose from the spectators. They all knew Jacob Allen to be a man of such sterling honesty that “as honest as Jake Allen” had become a saying in the town. He had never been known to tell a lie, and it was not likely that he was telling one now.
Allen’s cross-examination was long and severe, but it failed to alter his statements by a single word.
Captain Ellis himself took the stand for the purpose of testifying to the sending back of the safe-key by Myles the moment he heard of the superintendent’s return.
Finally a hotel bell-boy testified that, late on the night of Mr. Manning’s arrival at the house, Mr. Watkins had sent him to the telegraph office with a short dispatch.
A copy of the message sent to the Phonograph accusing Myles of intoxication was read by Captain Ellis, and the operator testified to having sent it late that night and that it was in Watkins’ handwriting.
With this the examination of witnesses came to an end, and the counsel for the company rose to make his closing argument. He dwelt at length on Myles’ behavior when he first came to the town, claiming that it alone was sufficient to prove him capable of other acts of folly and even crime. He also attacked the character of the chief witness for the defence, Jacob Allen, and said that his late actions now rendered him unworthy of belief even under oath. He trusted that in weighing the value of the testimony given by Mr. Watkins and the person accused of this great crime the jury would consider their respective positions in life. The one, he said, was a gentleman filling a most important position, in which he enjoyed the fullest confidence of his superiors, while the other was but a reporter, whose business was the fabrication of interesting stories. After talking for nearly an hour in this style, and arousing the violent wrath of Billings, the prosecuting lawyer concluded with an expression of confidence that the jury would find a verdict for the plaintiff, and sat down.
Now came the turn of Captain Ellis. In a manly, straightforward address that lasted half an hour he gave the history of the case, and showed how, by a perfectly natural course of events, an innocent and unsuspecting person had become involved in a tangled web of circumstantial evidence that caused him to be accused of a crime. He pointed out clearly that a desire for revenge and an urgent need of money, together with an offered opportunity for taking it, might readily have led Ben Watkins to rob the safe and then seek to fasten the crime upon another. He told the story of Myles’ splendid act in saving from disaster the train with the 50th Regiment on board, and asked the jury if they thought it possible for a person who would commit the one act, to be capable of performing the other. He referred to the remarkable character for honesty and truthfulness that Jacob Allen had borne for years. He answered his opponent’s slur upon reporters by speaking of them as gentlemen whose position was as honorable and important as that of any class of men in the world, and he finally ended by saying that he was willing to rest his case with the jury upon the merits of its evidence alone.
The judge summed up the main points of the case in a few brief and clearly worded sentences. Then he informed the jury that they might retire and consider their verdict.
Without leaving their seats the twelve jurymen, who had watched the case with a deep interest, whispered together for a moment. Then the foreman rose and said:
“May it please the Court, we do not find it necessary to retire, as our minds are already fully made up, and we are unanimously agreed as to the verdict.”
A breathless silence reigned over the court-room. Myles felt as though his very heart had ceased its beating, while Ben Watkins’ face assumed a deathly pallor.
“Very well, Mr. Foreman,” replied the judge, “the Court awaits your verdict.”
“It is, ‘Not guilty,’” said the foreman, speaking in a loud, clear voice.
At these words the young reporter’s overstrained nerves gave way, and burying his face in his arms on the table before him, he gave one great gasping sob of joy.
The next instant Billings grasped his hand, crying out as he shook it:
“IT’S ALL RIGHT OLD MAN. YOUR SPACE HAS BEEN MEASURED AND THE FULL BILL IS ALLOWED.” (Page [343].)
“It’s all right, old man. Your space has been measured and the full bill is allowed.”
“Silence!” roared the sheriff; “silence in court!”
But for the next minute or two he might as well have commanded the wind to keep silence. The spectators couldn’t help cheering, and as many of them as could get near him just had to shake hands with Myles Manning.
As soon as a little quiet was restored and he could make himself heard the judge ordered the sheriff to arrest Ben Watkins on the charge of perjury. That officer attempted to obey the order, but it was too late; Ben had disappeared. Taking advantage of the momentary confusion that followed the verdict he had slipped from the court-room. Five minutes later he was on board a fast train westward bound; nor from that day to this has any thing been heard from him directly. He is supposed to be in one of the new mining regions of the far West, but as the railroad company have not seen fit to prefer a charge against him for robbing their safe, nobody has cared to look him up.
As for Myles, the world never seemed so bright and joyous to him as when he stepped from that court-room honorably acquitted of the dreadful charge that had threatened to cloud his whole life. Accompanied by Billings, Captain Ellis, and Bert Smedley, he walked to the hotel, and almost every person they met on the way stopped to shake hands with him, or greeted him with a bow and a smile.
The good news had already travelled far beyond Mountain Junction. Billings had dispatched two messages from the court-room, one to Mrs. Manning and one to the Phonograph. Captain Ellis had sent one to the colonel of the 50th Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., and Bert Smedley had sent one to Mr. Saxon. Answers to these began to arrive soon after the party reached the hotel. The first was,
“We never for a moment doubted result. Come home quickly.
“Kate.”
From Mr. Haxall came the words:
“The Phonograph is proud of its representative, and congratulates itself as heartily as it does you.”
A dispatch from the general officers of the A. & B. Railroad contained the words:
“This company would not have brought suit against you had it not felt certain of defeat. Accept heartiest congratulations, and come home with Bert as soon as you reach New York.
“Walker B. Saxon, President.”
The fourth message to come flying over the wires to Myles was:
“The 50th rejoices over your victory, and is under orders to celebrate—Fizz, Boom, Ti-gah! Signed, Pepper, Colonel, and a thousand other friends.”
The fast express of that afternoon bore Myles and his three faithful friends away from the scene of the young reporter’s recent trials and triumphs. As it left the Mountain Junction station it was followed by a hearty round of cheers from a crowd of people. They were led by Jacob Allen and little Bob and by Bill Biggs and Tige, the bull-dog.
Billings had seen to it that the Phonograph should have a full description of the trial and its glorious ending. When Myles read it the next morning it was with a greater pride than he had taken in that other account of himself published some ten days before, but it was a pride tempered with humility and sincere gratitude.
As the train rolled into the New York station it was greeted by the familiar cheer of the 50th Regiment. There, in full uniform, drawn up in perfect line, was Captain Ellis’ company, to whom had been accorded the honor of welcoming home the new honorary member of the regiment. His name is inscribed upon the roll as “Myles Manning, the hero of Mountain Junction.”
Myles, Bert, and Billings, breakfasted with President Saxon of the A. & B. Road. When the first-named of these guests ventured to ask this friend why he had taken such an interest in him and his affairs, the other smilingly answered:
“For Bert’s sake, and because he asked me to, in the first place; afterward, because you proved yourself worthy of it. I knew of you through Bert long before you found it necessary to leave college, but when, on the very day that you did leave it, he came to me and asked me to do something for you, I said that I must first know you personally and study your character.”
“And to think,” said Myles, turning to Bert, “that I should have so misjudged you, and considered you as only a friend in prosperity who would desert a fellow in his time of need!”
“I wish,” remarked Billings, plaintively, “that somebody would arrest me, and give me a chance to prove how truly good I am. My failing seems to be that I am beyond all hope of suspicion.”
At the Phonograph office Myles was received with hearty congratulations.
Of all his triumphs his welcome home was the greatest and best. His mother’s happy tears, Kate’s proud smiles, and his father’s “I am well satisfied with you, my son,” were more than worth the trials that had won them.
••••••••
All this happened some years ago, and since then time has worked many changes. Van Cleef, for instance, is one of the cleverest and best-informed editorial writers on the Phonograph, of which Rolfe is managing editor, and the original and only Billings is the valued Washington correspondent. Myles Manning remained on the paper until he had made an enviable reputation for himself as a space writer and stood at the head of the reporters’ list. Then he resigned to accept a fine position as a foreign writer for one of the great illustrated magazines.
His articles appear in the magazine, illustrated by charming sketches signed “K. M.”; for his sister Kate travels with him wherever he goes. Every now and then they find time to visit their parents in London, where Mr. Manning, entirely recovered from his blindness, is the trusted financial agent of the A. & B. Railroad Company of New York.
With all his prosperity, and with all the freedom of action that his magazine allows him, Myles never for a moment forgets that he is still “under orders.” He has won a reputation for prompt obedience to them, and his superior officers consider that they cannot praise him more highly than by saying:
“Myles Manning never fails us. He can always be depended upon to carry out our instructions to the very letter.”
THE END.
PUBLICATIONS OF G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
The Big Brother Series. Comprising:
| I. | —The Big Brother. A Story, for Boys, of Indian War. By George Cary Eggleston. Octavo, illustrated, cloth extra | $1 25 |
| II. | —Captain Sam; or, The Boy Scout of 1814. By G. C. Eggleston. Illustrated. Octavo, cloth | $1 25 |
“Sam, as the leader of a company of boys, does admirable service for General Jackson, and after passing through manifold plots, and conquering bristling treacheries, he is made a real captain by commission, and receives the thanks of the commanding general.”—Boston Traveller.
“THEY PUSHED THE RAFT OUT INTO THE CURRENT AND BEGAN GLIDING SILENTLY ALONG THE SHORE.”
(Reduced from “The Big Brother Series.”)
| III. | —The Signal Boys; or, Captain Sam’s Company. A Tale ofthe War of 1812. By G. C. Eggleston. Illustrated. Octavo, cloth | $1 25 |
| IV. | —The Wreck of the Red Bird. A Story of the Sea Islands. ByG. C. Eggleston. Illustrated. Octavo | $1 25 |
| “A wholesome, readable story.”—Chicago Times. | ||
| V. | —Boys of Other Countries.—Stories for American Boys. ByBayard Taylor. Illustrated. Octavo | $1 25 |
| Nobody knows better than this author does how to tell a good story, and there arenot many persons who have better stories to tell.”—N. Y. Evening Post. | ||
| The set, five volumes in a box | $6 00 | |
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS, New York and London.
Heroes of the Nations.
EDITED BY
EVELYN ABBOTT M.A., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
A series of biographical studies of the lives and work of a number of representative historical characters about whom have gathered the great traditions of the Nations to which they belonged, and who have been accepted, in many instances, as types of the several National ideals. With the life of each typical character will be presented a picture of the National conditions surrounding him during his career.
The narratives are the work of writers who are recognized authorities on their several subjects, and, while thoroughly trustworthy as history, will present picturesque and dramatic “stories” of the Men and of the events connected with them.
To the Life of each “Hero” will be given one duodecimo volume, handsomely printed in large type, provided with maps and adequately illustrated according to the special requirements of the several subjects. The volumes will be sold separately as follows:
| Cloth extra | $1 50 |
| Half morocco, uncut edges, gilt top | 1 75 |
| Large paper, limited to 250 numbered copies for subscribers to the series. These may be obtained in sheets folded, or in cloth, uncut edges | 3 50 |
The first group of the Series will comprise twelve volumes, as follows:
Nelson, and the Naval Supremacy of England. By W. Clark Russell, author of “The Wreck of the Grosvenor,” etc. (Ready April 15, 1890.)
Gustavus Adolphus, and the Struggle of Protestantism for Existence. By C. R. L. Fletcher, M.A., late Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.
Pericles, and the Golden Age of Athens. By Evelyn Abbott, M.A., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
Alexander the Great, and the Extension of Greek Rule and of Greek Ideas. By Prof. Benjamin I. Wheeler, Cornell University.
Theoderic the Goth, the Barbarian Champion of Civilization. By Thomas Hodgkin, author of “Italy and Her Invaders,” etc.
Charlemagne, the Reorganizer of Europe. By Prof. George L. Burr, Cornell University.
Henry of Navarre, and the Huguenots in France. By P. F. Willert, M.A., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford.
William of Orange, the Founder of the Dutch Republic. By Ruth Putnam.
Cicero, and the Fall of the Roman Republic. By J. L. Strachan Davidson, M.A., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
Louis XIV., and the Zenith of the French Monarchy. By Arthur Hassall, M.A., Senior Student of Christ Church College, Oxford.
Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Adventurers of England. By A. L. Smith, M.A., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.
Bismarck. The New German Empire: How It Arose; What It Replaced; And What It Stands For. By James Sime, author of “A Life of Lessing,” etc.
To be followed by:
Hannibal, and the Struggle between Carthage and Rome. By E. A. Freeman, D.C.L., LL.D., Regius Prof. of History in the University of Oxford.
Alfred the Great, and the First Kingdom in England. By F. York Powell, M.A., Senior Student of Christ Church College, Oxford.
Charles the Bold, and the Attempt to Found a Middle Kingdom. By R. Lodge, M.A., Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford.
John Calvin, the Hero of the French Protestants. By Owen M. Edwards, Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Oliver Cromwell, and the Rule of the Puritans in England. By Charles Firth, Balliol College, Oxford.
Marlborough, and England as a Military Power. By C. W. C. Oman, A.M., Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.
Julius Cæsar, and the Organization of the Roman Empire. By W. Warde Fowler, M.A., Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
| NEW YORK 27 AND 29 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET | LONDON 27 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND |
| Kaloolah. The Adventures of Jonathan Romer. By W. S. Mayo. The “Framazugda” edition. Reset, and very fully illustrated by Alfred Fredericks, and handsomely printed in quarto, cloth extra | $2 50 |
“STIR ONE STEP,” I EXCLAIMED, “AND YOU DIE.”
(Reduced from “Kaloolah.”)
Of this celebrated work more than 25,000 copies have been sold in this country, exclusive of a number of unauthorized English editions, and it is justly entitled to enduring popularity. A new edition was demanded, and the present generation of readers may be congratulated on the circumstances that have led to the republication of one of the most curious, ingenious, and fascinating romances ever produced, Mr. Fredericks’ illustrations are full of the spirit of the story and excellent in design.
The author’s style is easy, flowing, and delightfully entertaining. He tells his story with a certain humorousness that imparts a charm to all his writings.
“One of the most admirable pictures ever produced in this country.”—Washington Irving.
“The most singular and captivating romance since ‘Robinson Crusoe.’”—Home Journal.
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS, New York and London.
| Chivalric Days and Youthful Deeds. By E. S. Brooks. Profusely illustrated | $2 00 |
CHIVALRIC DAYS tells the story of certain notable scenes and occasions in the world’s history in which the boys and girls of the long ago had both part and lot.
“I AM THE ROYAL PILOT’S MATE,” HE REPLIED.
(From “Chivalric Days.”)
“Chivalric Days” contains: Cinderella’s Ancestor; The Favored of Baal; The Gage of a Princess; The Tell-Tale Foot; “The Rede of the Elves”; The Boys of Blackfriars; The Cloister of the Seven Gates; The Story of the Field of the Cloth of Gold—I. How Rauf Bulney Spoiled His Crimson Cloak; II. How the Kings Met in the Golden Valley; III. How Margery Carew Got Her Glittering Chain; IV. How the Queens Dined without Eating;—“Monsieur, the Captain of the Caravel”—I. The Gentlemen Volunteers; II. In English Waters; III. The Battle;—The Little Lord of the Manor.
| By Margaret Vere Farrington. With 29 Illustrations by Fredericks and others. 8vo, cloth | $2 00 |
This volume has been prepared with the hope of interesting Young America in the legends of the land of his forefathers, while those who are fond of “Idyls of the King” may gain a better historical understanding of the Arthur romance.
| Historic Boys: Their Endeavors, Their Achievements, and Their Times. By E. S. Brooks. 29 full-page illustrations. Beautifully printed and bound | $2 00 |
“‘DOES THE “SCOURGE OF THE DANES” SHRINK THUS AT A MAIDEN’S VOICE?’”
(From “Historic Boys.”)
HISTORIC BOYS has been written with a twofold purpose: to increase the interest of young readers in historical study, and to show that, even from the earliest ages, manliness and self-reliance have been the chief groundwork of character, and that opportunities for action exist to-day with the boys and girls of this nineteenth century, even as they did ages ago with young Marcus in the forum of Rome, or with young Harry of Monmouth striving for victory on the bloody field of Shrewsbury.
The tales include: Marcus of Rome, the boy magistrate of sixteen (a.d. 137); Brian of Munster, the boy chieftain (a.d. 948]; Olaf of Norway, the boy viking (a.d. 1010); William of Normandy, the boy knight of twelve (a.d. 1040); Baldwin of Jerusalem, the boy crusader (a.d. 1147); Frederick of Hohenstaufen, the sad little beggar prince (a.d. 1207); Harry of Monmouth, the brilliant boy general of seventeen (a.d. 1402); Giovanni of Florence, the boy cardinal (a.d. 1490); Ixtlil of Tezcuco, the fierce young captain (a.d. 1515); Louis of Bourbon, the headstrong boy king (a.d. 1651); Charles of Sweden, the boy conqueror (a.d. 1699); Van Rennsselaer of Rennsselaerswyck, the patriotic boy patroon (a.d. 1777).
SERGEANT TAYLOR RESCUING LIEUTENANT KING.
(Reduced from “Uncle Sam’s Medal of Honor.”)
| Uncle Sam’s Medal of Honor. An account of some noble deeds for which it has been conferred in the United States. By Theo. F. Rodenbough, Bvt. Brigadier-General, U. S. A. The United States Medal of Honor, which was instituted by Congress at the instance of Washington, is the only authorized military decoration for valor in this country, and this volume has been planned to present some of the most stirring and dramatic incidents connected with the history of the Medal. The narratives are in many cases related by the actors. With seventy illustrations. Large 12mo | $2 00 |
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York and London.