Books with title The Story of the Crusades for Young Readers

Originally published in 1909 as a portion of the author’s larger “European Hero Stories,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 16 pages, describes, in simple language for young readers, the story of the Crusades—the series of military expeditions made by Europeans in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.CONTENTSI. Peter the Hermit Leads the First Crusade, 1096II. Richard the Lion-Hearted Leads the Third Crusade, 1189III. The Children’s Crusade, 1212Includes supplemental material:•Causes of the Crusades•About the Second and Fourth Crusades•About the Later Crusades•Results of the CrusadesSample passage:A marvelous thing now came to pass, for the children of France and Germany went on a crusade. Stephen, a French shepherd boy twelve years old, declared that Jesus had appeared to him and bidden him lead a company of children to rescue the Holy Sepulcher from the infidels. Other children joined him, and they went about from village to village, bearing crosses and candles, swinging censers, singing hymns, and crying “God wills it! God wills it!” Soon a great army of boys and girls, including the humblest shepherd lads and the children of wealthy nobles, started on a march for the Holy Land. No one could stop them. The king bade them return to their homes, but they only cried the more, “God wills it!” They broke away from their friends, from the very arms of their parents. The older folk knew not what to think. Some said this was a work of Satan to destroy the children. Others believed that it was the will of God that where armed men had failed, innocent children should succeed; and they dared not hold them back lest they should be fighting against God. About the author:Eva March Tappan (1854-1930) was a college professor and author from Massachusetts who specialized in writing children’s books about famous characters in history. Other works include “In the Days of Alfred the Great,” “In the Days of William the Conqueror,” and “In the Days of Queen Elizabeth.”

Originally published in 1900 as a chapter of the author’s larger work, “Leaders of the 19th Century with Some Noted Characters of Earlier Times,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 16 pages, describes in simple language the story of the social activist who served as a nurse during the U.S. Civil War and who founded the American Red Cross.Sample passage:She was always at the front. At Fredericksburg she slept in her tent, like the others, though it was in the dead of winter. At one time fifty soldiers were brought to her who had been wounded several days and had had no care. They were nearly starved and their clothes were frozen stiff. She ordered fires to be built, the snow to be cleared off and the soldiers to be laid on blankets around the fire. Then she ordered the men to pull down the chimney of an old house and heat its bricks to lay around the men. She could make comfort where there was nothing to make it of, for she had a head as well as a heart.

Originally published in 1904 as a chapter of the author’s larger work, “Ten Little Indians,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 24 pages, describes, in simple language for young readers, the story of the Native American girl who saved Jamestown colonist John Smith from death at the hands of her father, the chief of the Powhatan Indians, and who was later seized as a hostage by the English.Sample passage:The clubs of two powerful warriors were raised. In a moment more, the captive would have been cruelly killed if the chief’s little daughter had not spoken. She was not more than twelve years old. “Father,” she begged, “save this poor man’s life. Save it for my sake.” The stern Powhatan loved the child as the apple of his eye, but he would not change the order he had given. Pocahontas saw it was of no use to plead. She flew to Smith’s side and took his head in her arms. If the cruel blow fell, it must kill her as well as the prisoner.About the Author:Mary Hazelton Blanchard Wade (1880-1936) was the author of numerous books for young readers, most notably the “Our Little Cousin” series.

Originally published in 1903 as a section of the authors’ larger “Stories of Great Artists,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 16 pages, describes, in simple language aimed at young readers, the life and work of Italian painter and architect Raphael.Sample passage:In almost every one of his pictures Raphael has painted a lovely child. You may have seen the young St. John in the” Madonna of the Chair” and the little angels in the “Sistine Madonna.” The story is told that this wonderful picture was painted at first without the angels. Raphael one day found two little boys resting their arms on a ledge under the picture. They were looking up at the child Jesus and the lovely mother. He was so pleased with this, that he at once painted their portraits as angels in the picture.About the authors:In the early 1900s Olive Browne Horne and Kathrine Lois Scobey were elementary school teachers in Illinois. The are also the authors of “Stories of Great Musicians.”

Originally published in 1888 as a section of the author’s larger “A History of the United States and Its People,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 12 pages, recounts, in simple language for young readers, the story of the 1812-1814 war between the United States and Great Britain.Sample passage:During Jefferson’s administration the English government was involved in a long war with Napoleon, who had made himself Emperor of the French, and had conquered a great part of western Europe. During this war England was in need of seamen for the navy. The officers of the English navy were allowed to “impress” British seamen from merchant-vessels; that is, to force them to serve on men-of-war (armed sailing ships). But England had also long claimed the right to impress her own subjects when found on ships of other nations. Every man born in Great Britain who sailed before the mast in an American vessel was liable to be seized by an English man-of-war. More than this, English naval officers were allowed to judge whether a man was a native of England or not, and thousands of natives of America were impressed on British ships. It was very exasperating to Americans to have their ships stopped on the high seas and searched, and their citizens forced to serve in the navy of a foreign power. But England was all-powerful on the sea, and the United States had to bear with such insults or give up sailing ships.During this war between England and France, which shook the whole civilized world, our country (the United States) tried to be neutral. But England wished to interrupt our trade with the countries under control of France, while Napoleon issued orders to check our trade with England. The decrees which these two powers issued one after the other became so severe at last that our ships could not sail to any port without the greatest danger of being seized by the cruisers of one or the other power. As the English were much stronger at sea than the French, they did us the more harm.About the Author:Edward Eggleston (1837-1902) discovered a gift for writing when he was a high school student in Indiana. His militant opposition to slavery, however, caused him to refuse an offer to attend the University of Virginia. In 1871 he began a career as a popular novelist, but eventually his interest shifted from fiction to history. As president of the American History Association in 1900, he set forth his conception of the ideal history as primarily a record of the culture of a people, not merely or even chiefly a record of politics and war.

Originally published in 1901 as a portion of the author’s larger “Four Old Greeks,” and equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 50 pages, this Kindle edition tells, in simple language for young readers, the story of Hercules, the Greek mythological hero of superhuman strength and courage.SAMPLE PASSAGE:It was a hard thing to kill the hydra. It was like a great snake with a hundred heads. It lived in deep mud. All day Hercules fought with it. The hydra bit him, and the mud held his feet, so that he had to pull and strike at once. The sun was hot and burned his face. But at last the hydra was dead. Hercules walked out of the swamp and threw himself upon the grass, too tired to stand. He lay there all night. In the morning he was stiff. His legs, and arms, and back ached. But when he sat up he saw the dead hydra and he forgot his backache and laughed with joy.

Originally published in 1906 as a portion of the author’s larger “Stories of the Four Great Composers for Young People,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 30 pages, describes the life and work of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.Sample passage:Homely in looks, awkward in manners, shy in company and with the falsehood or the uncertainty fastened upon his truth-loving soul, we wonder that the young musician should win a single friend. But, once seated at the piano the ills of the mind and of the body seemed to fall away; his eyes dilated and glowed and his expressive face took on the rightful look of genius.At length came the long delayed realization of all his hopes. Mozart had heard of him and invited him to play! But thinking the boy had been drilled for the occasion, the great master listened indifferently, and, to Beethoven’s utter dismay, was turning aside, when, quickly reading the master’s thought, the boy begged that he be given a theme. Seeing his anxiety Mozart kindly complied, and Ludwig set about his task with confidence. Well he knew his skill at improvising! The theme given was in the shape of a fugue proceeding by half tones and containing a countersubject of double fugue.Beethoven set about the task excitedly yet carefully, with due regard to rule and played with such beauty, skill and originality, winding up with a labyrinth of melodies in the given themes that Mozart listened in amazement. Here was a great unknown from Bonn! In great excitement the prince of music tip-toed into the next room and whispered to some friends there gathered: “Pay attention to him; he will one day make the world speak of him.”

Originally published in 1897 as a section of the author’s larger “Four Great Americans,” this easy-to-read Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 40 pages, is ideal for young readers of all ages.Includes supplemental material:• A Brief Summary of the Life of Benjamin Franklin• About LightningFrom the author’s Preface: “Benjamin Franklin achieved greatness by always making the best use of such opportunities as came in his way. He was not afraid of work. He did not give up to discouragements. He did not overestimate his own abilities.… There is no man to whom we Americans owe a greater debt of gratitude. Without his aid the American colonies would hardly have won independence.”CONTENTSI. The WhistleII. SchooldaysIII. The Boys and the WharfIV. Choosing a TradeV. How Franklin Educated HimselfVI. Farewell to BostonVII. The First Day in PhiladelphiaVIII. Governor William KeithIX. The Return to PhiladelphiaX. The First Visit to EnglandXI. A Leading Man in PhiladelphiaXII. Franklin’s Rules of LifeXIII. Franklin’s Services to the ColoniesXIV. Franklin’s Wonderful KiteXV. The Last YearsAbout the Author:After a long career in education, James Baldwin (1841–1925) went on to become a widely published textbook editor and children’s author, writing more than 50 books. His influence was widely felt because at one time it was estimated that of all the schoolbooks in use in the United States, over half had been written or edited by him.

Originally published in 1900 as part of the author’s larger “Four American Pioneers,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 60 pages, recounts, in simple language for young readers, the story of U.S. frontiersman, soldier, and politician Davy Crockett.CONTENTSI. A Neglected ChildII. A Homesick BoyIII. A RunawayIV. A Hired HandV. A HouseholderVI. A SoldierVII. A Leading CitizenVIII. A Bear HunterIX. A CongressmanX. A TravelerXI. A Daring AdventurerXII. A Hero of the AlamoSAMPLE PASSAGE:The Mexicans cannonaded the Alamo from various points. One morning Crockett was awakened by a shot against the part of the fort in which he was sleeping. He dressed hurriedly and ran to the wall, gun in hand. He saw that, opposite the fort, a cannon had been charged and the gunner was stepping up with lighted match.Crockett took careful aim, fired, and the man fell. Another took his place. Thimblerig, who was with Crockett, handed him another rifle. The second gunner met the same fate. Five men tried in turn to light that cannon. All fell before the deadly fire of Crockett. The others were seized with fear and ran off, leaving the loaded cannon. The sharpshooters of the fort kept watch, and any one venturing within gunshot of the fort had little chance of escaping.

Originally published in 1898 as part of the author’s larger “Four American Patriots,” this Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 60 pages, recounts, in simple language for young readers, the story of “Old Hickory,” who fought in the War of 1812 and became the seventh President of the United States.CONTENTSI. BirthII. BoyhoodIII. The Young Prisoner of WarIV. The LawyerV. The District AttorneyVI. The CongressmanVII. Storekeeper, Judge, and PlanterVIII. “Old Hickory”IX. The Creek WarX. The Battle of New OrleansXI. Governor of FloridaXII. The HermitageXIII. President of the United StatesXIV. Death at the HermitageSAMPLE PASSAGE:The members of Congress from the South gave a great banquet, to which they invited President Jackson. He heard some of the guests say that if Congress would not change the tariff law, the states that did not like the law might withdraw from the Union. What did that mean? Jackson knew very well that it meant that our country should be divided into many little republics instead of being one great republic, as George Washington and others had intended when they signed the Constitution of the United States.When the time came to make speeches, the President rose to offer a toast. All leaned eagerly forward. They thought he would say something against the tariff. But the Man of the Iron Will looked down the long lines of brilliant men and exclaimed: “Our Federal Union, it must be preserved!” These words caused much dismay among the guests. They saw that the President would oppose any attempt to secede from the Union.About the Author:Alma Holman Burton was the author of numerous books on history for young readers, including “The Story of Our Country,” “The Builders of Our Nation,” and “The Story of the Indians of New England.”