WIDE DID THE GREEK HOSTS GATHER

ANDROMACHE IN CAPTIVITY

TELEMACHUS KNELT WHERE THE GRAY WATER BROKE ON THE SAND

THE ESCAPE FROM THE SHIPWRECK

HE SAW THE MARK OF A NAKED FOOT ON THE SAND

ROBINSON RAN TO THE WHITE PRISONER AND CUT HIS BONDS

ALAS! OF ALL THE SHIPS I SEE, IS THERE NEVER ONE THAT WILL BRING MY
LORD HOME?

THE CURTAIN AT THE DOORWAY WAS DRAWN ASIDE

THEN DID CHRISTIAN DRAW HIS SWORD

MIRANDA WATCHING THE STORM

THE FAIRIES SING TITANIA TO SLEEP

BENDING DOWN A BRANCH OF THE LABURNUM-TREE

"IT WON'T DO," SAID BARBARA, TURNING HER BACK

"AND HERE'S HER CROWN!" CRIED ROSE

SHE SPOKE OF WHAT SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND

HE WAS WANTED TO HOLD THE JUG OF MILK

HE TOOK THE CURRANT TART, AND ... THREW IT AT HIS NURSE

ROSAMOND RAN UP TO IT WITH AN EXCLAMATION OF JOY

WIDOW DOROTHY CAREFUL MADE A CURTSEY

THE GOAT DASHED IN AMONG THEM AND THE CHAIR WAS UPSET

EACH OF MY VISITORS IS QUITE AN EXCLUSIVE

IF LOUISA RECEIVED A NOTE, SHE CAREFULLY LOCKED IT UP

(Many of the illustrations in this volume are reproduced by special
permission of E.P. Dutton & Company, owners of American rights.)

INTRODUCTION

I

CLASSIC TALES

After our boys and girls have read the first half of this volume,
containing selected and simplified stories from some of the greatest
books of all time, their authors will cease to be merely names. Homer,
Shakespeare, Chaucer, Cervantes and Bunyan will be found here as
familiar and easy in style as "Cinderella" or "The Three Bears." True
enough, the first word in "Classic Tales" may look somewhat alarming
to the eyes of youthful seekers after romance and adventure, but we
challenge them to turn to any one of these selections from immortal
masterpieces and not become spellbound and, moreover, impatient for
more. And, believing now that they have grown very much interested in
these famous books, of course we also believe they want to learn
something about them.

Following the order of our stories we must begin with "Don Quixote."
Its author wrote it under great difficulties and distress; but one
would never think so, as it is full of laughable doings. When you read
our selections you must not think that Don Quixote was merely a silly
old man, for indeed he was a very noble gentleman and tried with all
his might to do what he believed to be his duty, and in no act of his
life was there ever a stain of dishonor or of meanness. As for his
queer fancies,