Wat Tyler
: True Stories Of Wonderful DeedsIn our days, all people in our land, except prisoners, are free to go
where they will, and to do what work they please. In olden times it was
not so. Then, the poorer people were treated like slaves by the nobles;
they had to work hard for their masters, and they were not allowed to
move from one place to another without asking leave.
This was hard, and it made the people very angry. In the days of the
bo
the nobles no longer. They banded themselves together in a large army,
chose a man named Wat Tyler for their leader, and marched to London.
The Mayor of London tried to stop them, by pulling up the drawbridge
which crossed the river Thames, but they forced him by threats to let it
down again. Then they rushed through the streets of London, frightening
all the people they met by their wild looks and cries. They broke open
the prisons, and set the prisoners free, and burned the palaces of the
nobles, but they killed no man and robbed none.
The nobles were much alarmed. With young King Richard at their head,
they rode out to meet this army, and to ask the people what they wanted.
"We want to be free, and we want our children to be free after us," said
Wat Tyler.
"I promise you that you shall have your wish, if you will return quietly
to your homes," said the king.
At this, the people shouted with joy, and all might have been well; but
the mayor, seeing Wat Tyler raise his hand, and fearing that he was
going to strike the king, drew his sword, and killed the leader of the
people.
Then the joyful shouts changed to cries and growls of anger. Arms were
raised, and the crowd began to press forward. In a minute the little
band of nobles would have been attacked, but the boy-king saw the
danger. Boldly riding to meet the angry people, he put himself at their
head. "What need ye, my masters?" cried he. "I am your captain and your
king. Follow me."
The crowd stopped, surprised by this bold act; the loud cries ceased,
and swords and staves were lowered. These rough men did not wish to harm
their young sovereign, but to free him from the nobles who gave him evil
counsel. They were greatly pleased to find him upon their side, and,
with perfect trust and loyalty, they followed where he led; and so for a
time the danger was past.
More
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Trotty Veck And His Daughter Meg
"TROTTY" seems a strange name for an old man, but it was given to Toby Veck because of his always going at a trot to do his errands; for he was a ticket porter or messenger and his office was to take letters and messages for people who were in too... Trusty John
Once upon a time there was an old king who was so ill that he thought to himself, "I am most likely on my death-bed." Then he said, "Send Trusty John to me." Now Trusty John was his favorite servant, and was so called because all his life he had ... Truth and the Traveler
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Soon Jimmy Rabbit's friends arrived at his party in throngs. And soon Nimble Deer's antlers bristled with hats and coats of many kinds and colors. "I must look like a Christmas tree," Nimble thought. "I wish Jimmy Rabbit and his friends would c... Up To The Ceiling
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From the Japanische Marchen und Sagen, von David Brauns (Leipzig: Wilhelm Friedrich). There was once a worthy old couple who lived on the coast, and supported themselves by fishing. They had only one child, a son, who was their pride and joy, a... Urashima
Urashima was a fisherman of the Inland Sea. Every night he plied his trade. He caught fishes both great and small, being upon the sea through the long hours of darkness. Thus he made his living. Upon a certain night the moon shone brightly, m... Valentine's Day
In the western counties, the children, decked with the wreaths and true-lover's knots presented to them, gaily adorn one of their number as their chief, and march from house to house, singing-- Good morrow to you, Valentine! Curl your... Valor
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Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled a king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself divided the work between them. To the first queen ... Vervain
The herb vervain was formerly held of great efficacy against witchcraft, and in various diseases. Sir W. Scott mentions a popular rhyme, supposed to be addressed to a young woman by the devil, who attempted to seduce her in the shape of a handsome y... Viggo And Beate
Translated by Mrs. Gudrun Thorne-Thompson THE DOLL UNDER THE BRIER ROSEBUSH There was once a girl, and her name was Beate. On her birthday her father had given her a beautiful straw hat. Her mother had given her a pair of yellow shoes and the... Violette
Ourson at eight years of age was tall and strong, with magnificent eyes and a sweet voice; his bristles were no longer stiff but his hair was soft as silk, and those who loved him could embrace him without being scratched, as Passerose had been th... Violette's Sacrifice
When the dinner hour came, Violette arose, dressed herself and entered the dining-room where Agnella and Passerose were awaiting her. Ourson was not there. "Ourson is not with you, mother," said Violette. "I have not seen him," said Agnella. ... Virgilius The Sorcerer
Long, long ago there was born to a Roman knight and his wife Maja a little boy called Virgilius. While he was still quite little, his father died, and the kinsmen, instead of being a help and protection to the child and his mother, robbed them of t... Visiting
"Good morning, Monday! Tell me how is Tuesday?" "Very well, Dame Wednesday. Please to tell Miss Thursday, Also little Saturday, To call on Mister Sunday." ... Waiting For Dinner
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Over the broad, fair valley, Filling the heart with fear, Comes the sound of tramping horses, And the news of danger near. 'Tis the enemy approaching, One can hear the muffled drum, And the marching of the soldiers, A... Was It The Field Fairy?
Jack and his sister Nina were two little orphans who had to beg from door to door for their food and a place to sleep. One day a man named Simon told them if they would work for him he would give them a home. Jack and Nina thought Simon must... Washington And The Cowards
BY WASHINGTON IRVING (ADAPTED) During the evacuation of New York by Washington, two divisions of the enemy, encamped on Long Island, one British under Sir Henry Clinton, the other Hessian under Colonel Donop, emerged in boats from the deep wooded ... Washington At Yorktown
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BY HENRY CABOT LODGE (ADAPTED) Washington as soon as Fort Duquesne had fallen hurried home, resigned his commission, and was married. The sunshine and glitter of the wedding day must have appeared to Washington deeply appropriate, for he certainl... Wat Tyler
In our days, all people in our land, except prisoners, are free to go where they will, and to do what work they please. In olden times it was not so. Then, the poorer people were treated like slaves by the nobles; they had to work hard for their m... Watt And The Kettle
There was once a little Scotch boy named James Watt. He was not a strong child, and could not always run and play with other boys, but had often to amuse himself at home. One holiday afternoon little James amused himself in this way. He held a sau... Waukewa's Eagle
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The ev'ning red, and the morning gray, Are the tokens of a bonny day. Winter's thunder Is the world's wonder. From Lancashire. As the days grow longer, The storms grow stronger; As the days lengthe... What Became Of Owen Parfitt?
In the early part of the eighteenth century a family named Parfitt were living in a small town in the West of England called Shepton Mallet. We are not told how many children they had, but some probably died young, for the only two we hear about a... What Brownie Wanted
Nimble Deer had stopped at Brownie Beaver's pond to get a drink. Just as he raised his head from the water he spied Brownie a little way off, on the bank, gnawing at a box alder tree. "Good evening!" Nimble called to him. "Good evening!" Brow... What Came Of Picking Flowers
There was once a woman who had three daughters whom she loved very much. One day the eldest was walking in a water-meadow, when she saw a pink growing in the stream. She stooped to pick the flower, but her hand had scarcely touched it, when she ... What Could The Farmer Do?
BY GEORGE WILLIAM OGDEN There was an old farmer who had a cow, Moo, moo, moo! She used to stand on the pump and bow, And what could the farmer do? Moo, moo, moo, moo, Moo, moo, moo! She used to stand on... What Happened To Bulka In Pyatigorsk
From the Cossack village I did not travel directly to Russia, but first to Pyatigorsk, where I stayed two months. Milton I gave away to a Cossack hunter, and Bulka I took along with me to Pyatigorsk. Pyatigorsk [in English, Five-Mountains] is ca... What Happened To Dumps
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We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (First Ep. of John, iii. 14.) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, ... What Temperance Brings
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It was the day after the Fourth of July, and daddy told the children that he must surely tell them about the little birds and what they thought of the wonderful Independence Day. "Didn't they like it?" asked Evelyn. "No," said daddy. "They... What The Cat And Hen Did
Four little children were playing in their garden one day. There were Mollie and Jamie and Betty and Teddy. 'MRS. TOMKINS.'"] They were so busy making mud-pies that they did not see "Mrs. Tomkins," the old cat, when she came and mewed, and m... What The Flowers Told Martha
Martha was visiting her grandmother, who lived in the country. At the back of the farmhouse was a very large porch, and in the front of that a garden in which grew all kinds of flowers. One afternoon, when everyone else was taking a nap, Marth... What The Goodman Does Is Always Right
I WILL tell you a story that was told to me when I was a little boy. Every time I think of this story it seems to me more and more charming; for it is with stories as it is with many people--they become better as they grow older. I have no doub... What The Rainbow Thinks Of The World
"The fairies were giving a luncheon party for the birds, and they wanted to have a great, big surprise," said daddy. "The birds which were invited were the robins, the orioles, the bluejays, the humming-birds. "'Now, birdies,' said the fairy ... What The Rose Did To The Cypress
Once upon a time a great king of the East, named Saman-lalposh, had three brave and clever sons--Tahmasp, Qamas, and Almas-ruh-baksh. One day, when the king was sitting in his hall of audience, his eldest son, Prince Tahmasp, came before him, an... What To Say To The New Mune
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A CHRISTMAS STORY In a village that was close to the great forest, though it had already become the suburb of a large town, lived a little girl named Hansi Herzchen. She was the seventh child of a family of seven, and she lived at No 7 ---- Str... When I Was A Little Boy
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I am going to tell you a story about a poor young widow woman, who lived in a house called Kittlerumpit, though whereabouts in Scotland the house of Kittlerumpit stood nobody knows. Some folk think that it stood in the neighbourhood of the Debat... Whispering In School
"Do not whisper" is a rule You will find in every school, And the reason here is given In a rhyme: For children all will chatter About any little matter-- And there'd be a dreadful clatter, ... Whittington And His Cat
In the reign of the famous King Edward III there was a little boy called Dick Whittington, whose father and mother died when he was very young, so that he remembered nothing at all about them, and was left a ragged little fellow, running about a c... Who Are These?
... Who Is It?
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BY CAROLYN WELLS. A is for the Antelope, A beast that I have never met; They say he jumps the skipping-rope And makes a charming household pet. Well, as to that I cannot say; But A is for him, anyway....