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And did he tell them that there was a string by which an ant could get
there?
And did he tell it by speaking, or by signs that he made with his
feelers?
If you watch two ants when they meet, you will see that they touch
their feelers together, as if they said “Good-morning!”
[Illustration]
FRANKLIN ASKS THE SUNSHINE ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Once he asked the light-ning a question. And the light-ning gave him an
answer.
Before the time of Franklin, people did not know what light-ning was.
They did not know what made the thunder. Franklin thought much about
it. At last he proved what it was. He asked the lightning a question,
and made it tell what it was. ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration]
After a while he held his knuckle to the key. A tiny spark flashed
between the key and his knuckle. It was a little flash of lightning.
Then he took his little bottle fixed to hold e-lec-tric-i-ty. He filled
it with the e-lec-tric-i-ty that came from the key. He carried home a
bottle of lightning. So he... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
JOHN STARK AND THE INDIANS.
John Stark was a famous gen-er-al in the Rev-o-lu-tion. But this story
is not about the Rev-o-lu-tion. It is about Stark before he became a
soldier.
When he was a young man, Stark went into the woods. His brother and two
other young men were with him. They lived in a camp. It was far away... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
His brother got away. The Indians were very angry with John. They did
not kill him. But they gave him a good beating. These Indians were from
Can-a-da. They took their pris-on-ers to their own village. When they
were coming home, they shouted to let the people know that they had
prisoners.
[Illustration: Stark running... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
A GREAT GOOD MAN.
Some men are great soldiers. Some are great law-makers. Some men write
great books. Some men make great in-ven-tions. Some men are great
speakers.
Now you are going to read about a man that was great in none of these
things. He was not a soldier. He was not a great speaker. He was never
rich. He wa... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
In those days negroes were stolen from Af-ri-ca to be sold into
A-mer-i-ca. Ben-e-zet wrote little books against this wrong. He sent
these books over all the world almost. He also tried to persuade the
white men of his own country to be honest and kind with the Indians.
Great men in other countries were pleased with h... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
One day Benezet saw a poor woman. Her face showed that she was in
trouble.
“Friend, what is the matter?” Benezet said to her. She told him that
six soldiers of the British army had been sent to stay in her house.
She was a washer-woman. But while the soldiers filled up the house she
could not do any washing. She and h... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Putnam lived in Con-nect-i-cut. In the woods there were still a few
wolves. One old wolf came to Putnam’s neigh-bor-hood every winter. She
always brought a family of young wolves with her.
The hunters would always kill the young wolves. But they could not find
the old mother wolf. She knew how to keep out of the way.
... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Then they burned brim-stone in the cave. It must have made the wolf
sneeze. But the cave was deep. She went as far in as she could, and
staid there. She thought that the smell of brimstone was not so bad as
the dogs and men who wanted to kill her.
Putnam wanted to send his negro into the cave to drive out the wolf.
Bu... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration]
He had a hatch-et—little George—
A hatch-et bright and new,
And sharp enough to cut a stick—
A little stick—in two.
He hacked and whacked and whacked and hacked,
This sturd-y little man;
He hacked a log and hacked a fence,
As round about he ran.
He hacked his father’s cher-ry tree
And made an ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Up to this time Benny had no paints nor any brushes. The Indians had
not all gone away from that neigh-bor-hood. The Indians paint their
faces with red and yellow colors. These colors they make them-selves.
Sometimes they prepare them from the juice of some plant. Sometimes
they get them by finding red or yellow earth... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
His mother could not find it in her heart to punish him. She was too
much pleased with the picture he was making. This picture was not
finished. But his mother would not let him finish it. She was afraid he
would spoil it if he did anything more on it.
The good people called Friends did not like the making of pictures... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
He was waiting for Christmas. He knew that the Hessian soldiers on the
other side of the river would eat and drink a great deal on Christmas
Day.
[Illustration: Marching to Trenton.]
The afternoon of Christmas came. The Hessians were singing and drinking
in Trenton. But Washington was marching up the river bank. Some ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Cornwallis said, “I will catch the fox in the morning.”
He called Washington a fox. He thought he had him in a trap. Cornwallis
sent for some more soldiers to come from Prince-ton in the morning. He
wanted them to help him catch the fox.
But foxes sometimes get out of traps.
When it was dark, Washington had all his ca... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
When Cornwallis knew that the Americans had gone to Princeton, he
hurried there to help his men. But it was too late. Washington had
beaten the British at Princeton, and had gone on into the hills, where
he was safe.
The fox had got out of the trap.
WASHINGTON’S LAST BATTLE.
Washington had been fighting for seven ye... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The British could not get away. They fought bravely. But the Americans
and French came closer and closer.
Then the British tried to fight their way out. But they were driven
back. Then Cornwallis tried to get his men across the river. He wanted
to get out by the back door, as Washington had done. But the Americans
on ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
When the British sent a strong army to catch him, he could not be
found. But soon he would be fighting the British in some new place. He
was always playing hide and seek.
The British called him the Swamp Fox. That was because he was so hard
to catch. They could not conquer the country until they could catch
Marion. An... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
George Rogers Clark was an American colonel. He wanted to stop the
murder of the settlers by the Indians. He thought that he could do it
by taking the British posts.
He had three hundred men. They went down the O-hi-o River in boats.
They landed near the mouth of the O-hi-o River. Then they marched a
hundred and thirt... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration]
At another river the little drummer was floated over on the top of his
drum. At last the men drew near to Vin-cennes. They could hear the
morning and evening gun in the British fort. But the worst of the way
was yet to pass. The Wa-bash River had risen over its banks. The water
was five miles wide. The ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Boone could hear the wolves howl near his cabin at night. He heard the
panthers scream in the woods. But he did not mind being left all alone
in these dark forests. The Indians came to his cabin when he was away.
He did not want to see these vis-it-ors. He did not dare to sleep in
his cabin all the time. Sometimes he ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
One evening he sat by his cabin. He heard some one coming. He thought
that it might be Indians. He heard the steps of horses. He looked
through the trees. He saw his brother riding on one horse, and leading
another. The other horse was loaded with powder and bullets and
clothes, and other things that Boone needed.
DA... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
One summer afternoon these three girls went out of the fort. They went
to the river and got into a canoe. It was not far from the fort. They
felt safe. They laughed and talked and splashed the water with their
paddles.
The cur-rent carried them slowly near the other shore. They could still
see the fort. They did not t... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The Indians took one of these roads after they got far from the fort.
They could travel more easily in it. They did not take pains to hide
their tracks.
As fast as their feet could carry them, Boone and his friends traveled
along the trail. When they had gone about ten miles they saw the
Indians.
The Indians had stopp... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The pirates got the “Philadelphia” ready to go to sea. They loaded her
cannons. They meant to slip out past our ships of war. Then they would
take a great many smaller American ships.
But the Americans laid a plan to burn the “Philadelphia.” It was a very
dan-ger-ous thing to try to do. The pirates had ships of war ne... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
But the Americans could not stay long. They must burn the ship before
the pirates on the shore should find out what they were doing.
They had brought a lot of kin-dling on the ketch. They built fires in
all parts of the ship. The fire ran so fast, that some of the men had
trouble to get off the ship.
When the American... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
As a young man, Jefferson knew Latin and Greek. He also knew French and
Span-ish and I-tal-ian.
He did not talk to show off what he knew. He tried to learn what other
people knew. When he talked to a wagon maker, he asked him about such
things as a wagon maker knows most about. He would sometimes ask how a
wagon maker... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration: An Elk]
The Pres-i-dent sent men to travel into this wild part of the country.
He told them to go up to the upper end of the Mis-sou-ri River. Then
they were to go across the Rocky Mountains. They were to keep on till
they got to the Pa-cif-ic O-cean. Then they were to come back again.
They were to find... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
CAPTAIN CLARK’S BURNING GLASS.
The Indians among whom Captain Clark and Captain Lewis traveled had
many strange ways of doing things. They had nothing like our matches
for making fire. One tribe of Indians had this way of lighting a fire.
An Indian would lay down a dry stick. He would rub this stick with the
end of ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The Indians all ran away as fast as they could. They went into their
wig-warns and closed them.
Captain Clark wished to be friendly with them. So he got a canoe and
paddled to the other side of the river. He came to the Indian houses.
He found the flaps which they use for doors shut. He opened one of them
and went in.... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
He was so much in-ter-est-ed in such things, that he sometimes
neg-lect-ed his lessons. He said that his head was so full of new
notions, that he had not much room left for school learning.
One morning he came to school late.
“What makes you so late?” asked the teacher.
“I went to one of the shops to make myself a lea... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.
The first good steam-boat was built in New York. She was built by
Robert Fulton. Her name was “Clermont.” When the people saw her, they
laughed. They said that such a boat would never go. For thousands of
years boat-men had made their boats go by using sails and oars. People
had never seen any s... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The nurse said to General Washington, “Please, your Honor, here is a
bairn that is named for you.”
“Bairn” is a Scotch word for child. Washington put his hand on the
little boy’s head and gave him his blessing. When Irving became an
author, he wrote a life of Washington.
Little Irving was a merry, playful boy. He was ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
But the more he ate pork, the more he disliked it. And the more he
slept on the floor, the more he liked a good bed. So he gave up his
foolish notion of being a sailor boy.
Some day you will read Irving’s “Sketch Book.” You will find some
famous stories in it. There is the story of Rip Van Win-kle, who slept
twenty ye... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
A grape-shot struck the captain,
He laid him down to die:
They say the smoke of powder
Made dark the sea and sky.
The sailors heard a whisper
Upon the captain’s lip:
The last command of Law-rence
Was, “Don’t give up the ship.”
And ever since that battle
The people like to tell
How gallant Captain L... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
[Illustration]
But after many hours of fighting the British became dis-cour-aged. They
found that they could not take the city. The ships almost ceased to
fire.
Key did not know whether the fort had bee... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The little John James was fond of stud-y-ing about wild animals. But
most of all he wished to know about birds. Seeing that the boy liked
such things, his father took pains to get birds and flowers for him.
While he was yet a boy at school, he began to gather birds and other
animals for himself. He learned to skin and... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
He married a young lady, and brought her to live in this mu-se-um with
his dead snakes, frogs, and strings of birds’ eggs. She liked what he
did, and was sure that he would come to be a great man.
He made up his mind to write a great book about American birds. He
meant to tell all about the birds in one book. Then in ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
He was so careful to have his drawings just like the birds, that he
would measure them in every way. Thus he made his pictures just the
size of the birds themselves.
At last the great books were printed. In this country, in France, and
in England, people praised the won-der-ful books. They knew that
Au-du-bon was inde... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Just then two hunters came to the cabin. Audubon told them what the
robbers were going to do. They took the old woman and her sons, and
tied their hands and feet. The Indian, though he was in pain from his
hurt, danced for joy when he saw that the robbers were caught. The
woman and her sons were afterward punished.
H... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration]
The panther sprang to the ground, and ran off again. The dogs ran
after. The men got on their horses, and rode after.
But the horses were tired, and the men had to get down, and follow the
dogs on foot.
The hunters now had to wade through little ponds of water. Sometimes
they had to climb over fallen tr... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
“Are you a man, or an angel?” she asked him.
Some of Haw-thorne’s best books are written for girls and boys. One of
these is called “The Won-der Book.” Another of his books for young
people is “Tan-gle-wood Tales.”
Pres-cott wrote beautiful his-to-ries. When Pres-cott was a boy, a
school-mate threw a crust of bread a... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
“But now his nose is thin,
And it rests upon his chin
Like a staff;
And a crook is in his back,
And a mel-an-chol-y crack
In his laugh.
“I know it is a sin
For me to sit and grin
At him here;
But the old three-cor-nered hat,
And the breeches, and all that,
Are so queer!
“And if I should live to be
The ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
The father’s property was not sold. The two boys helped the family.
Daniel soon began to make money as a lawyer. He knew that his father
was in debt. He went home to see him. He said, “Father, I am going to
pay your debts.”
The father said, “You cannot do it, Daniel. You have not money enough.”
“I can do it,” said Dan... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
His name was Charles Good-year. He was very poor. He was trying to find
out how to make India rubber useful.
India-rubber trees grow in South America. The juice of these trees is
something like milk or cream. By drying this juice, India rubber is
made.
The Indians in Bra-zil have no glass to make bottles with. A long ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
But Goodyear kept on trying. He thought that he was just going to find
out. Years went by, and still he kept on trying.
One day he was mixing some rubber with sulphur. It slipped out of his
hand. It fell on the hot stove. But it did not melt. Goodyear was happy
at last. That night it was cold. Goodyear took the burned... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
In that part of the world it is night nearly all winter. For months
there was no sun at all. Daylight came again. It was now summer, but it
did not get warm. Doctor Kane took sleds, and went about on the ice to
see what he could see. The sleds were drawn by large dogs. But nearly
all of the dogs died in the long winte... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
It was a hard journey. Some of the men were ill. These had to be drawn
on the sleds by the rest. They had not enough food. At one time they
rested three days in a kind of cave. Here they found many birds’ eggs.
These made very good food for them. At another place they staid a week.
They staid just to eat the eggs of t... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
One day they were rowing, when they heard a sound. It came to them
across the water. It did not sound like the cry of sea birds. It
sounded like people’s voices.
“Listen!” Doctor Kane said to Pe-ter-sen.
Petersen spoke the same language as the people of Greenland. He
listened. The sound came again. Pe-ter-sen was so g... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
He was very tender-hearted. One day he took a gun and went shooting. He
killed a robin. Then he felt sorry for the robin He came home with
tears in his eyes. He was so grieved, that he never went shooting
again.
He liked to read Irving’s “Sketch Book.” Its strange stories about
Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Win-kle please... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Once he was marching through the wild country with other men. Evening
came. He left the others, and went to shoot something to eat. It was
the only way to get meat for supper. When he had gone about a mile, he
saw the tracks of some elks. He followed these tracks. He came in sight
of the elks. They were eating grass o... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
After a long time one of the bears got tired. He went away. After
awhile the other went away too. Kit Carson staid in the tree a long
time. Then he came down. The first thing he did was to get his gun. He
loaded it. But the bears did not come back. They were too busy rubbing
noses.
HORACE GREELEY AS A BOY.
Hor-ace G... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration: Greeley Reading]
He would light a pine knot Then he would throw it on top of the large
log at the back of the fire. This would make a bright flick-er-ing
light.
Horace would lay all the books he wanted on the hearth. Then he would
lie down by them. His head was toward the fire. His feet were drawn up
ou... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Horace Greeley learned all that he could learn in the country schools.
When he was thirteen, one teacher said to his father,—
“Mr. Greeley, Horace knows more than I do. It is not of any use to send
him to school any more.”
HORACE GREELEY LEARNING TO PRINT.
Horace Greeley had always wanted to be a printer. He liked b... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
[Illustration: Greeley setting Type]
A few days after this, Horace came to East Poult-ney to begin his work.
He carried a little bundle of clothes tied up in a hand-ker-chief.
The fore-man showed him how to begin. From that time he did not once
look around. All day he worked at his type. He learned more in a day
than ... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Besides helping her brothers, she wanted to help other poor children.
She started a school for poor children in her grandmother’s barn.
After a while she left off teaching. She was not well. She had made all
the money she needed.
But she was not idle. She went one day to teach some poor women in an
alms-house. Then sh... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
“Lost, lost! a little girl six years old. She wore a pink frock, a
white hat, and new green shoes.”
When the crier had said that, he heard a small voice coming out of the
darkness. It said, “Why, dat’s me.” The crier went to the voice, and
found Louisa sitting by the big dog on the door-step. The next day she
was tied... | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans | Eggleston, Edward | 1837 | 1902 | ['en'] | 125 | {'United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature'} | PG10070 | |
Proofreading Team
BY-WAYS OF BOMBAY.
BY
S. M. EDWARDES, C.V.O.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
The various chapters of this book originally appeared under the
_nom-de-plume_ of "Etonensis" in the _Times of India_, to the
proprietors of which journal I am indebted for permission to publish them
in book-form, They canno... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
16. Nur Jan
17. A Koli
18. A Deccani Fruit-seller
19. The Coffee-seller
20. Fateh Muhammad
[Illustration: The Spirit of Chandrabai]
I.
THE SPIRIT OF CHANDRABAI.
A STUDY IN PROTECTIVE MAGIC.
Fear reigned in the house of Vishnu the fisherman: for, but a week before,
his wife Chandra had died in giving birth to a child... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
When the last offering has been made, the women again raise the salver and
the party fares back to Vishnu's house, where a rude shrine of Satvai (the
Sixth Mother) has been prepared. "For," whispers our guide, "Chandrabai
died without worshipping Satvai and her spirit must perforce fulfil those
rites." Close to the sh... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Straight as an arrow he heads for the seashore, his hands clutching the air
convulsively, his 'sari' streaming in the night-breeze; and behind, like
hounds on the trail of the deer, come Rama, the brethren, the sisters, and
rest of the community. Over the shingle they stream and down on to the hard
wet sand. Some one ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: A Millhand.]
[Illustration: A Marwari selling Batassa.]
The ebb and flow of life remains much the same from day to day. The
earliest street sound, before the dawn breaks, is the rattle of the trams,
the meat-carts on their way to the markets, the dust-carts and the
watering-carts; and then, just as the ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: The seller of "Malpurwa jaleibi".]
Now, as the Faithful wend their way homewards, bands of cheerful millhands
hasten past you to the mills, and are followed by files of Koli
fisherfolk,--the men unclad and red-hatted, with heavy creels, the women
tight-girt and flower-decked, bearing their headloads of ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
EVENING.
[Illustration: The "Pan" Seller.]
As the sun sinks low in the west, a stream of worshippers flows through the
mosque-gates--rich black-coated Persian merchants, picturesque full-bearded
Moulvis, smart sepoys from Hindustan, gold-turbaned shrewd-eyed Memon
traders, rudd... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Hark, through the hum of the crowd, above the rumble of wheels and the
jangle of bullock-bells, rises the plaintive chant of the Arab
hymn-singers, leading the corpse of a brother to the last "mukam"
or resting-place; while but a short distance away,--only a narrow
street's length,--the drum and flageolets escort the ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
"Kibla muaf karta hai, par Kutb hargiz nahin!"
The Kibla forgives, but the Kutb never!
The sights and sounds vary somewhat at different seasons of the year.
During Ramazan, for example, the streets are lined with booths and stalls
for the sale of the rice-gruel or "Faludah" which is so grateful a posset
to the... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
III.
SHADOWS OF NIGHT.
There are certain clubs in the city where a man may purchase nightly
oblivion for the modest sum of two or three annas; and hither come
regularly, like homing pigeons at nightfall, the human flotsam and jetsam,
which the tide of urban life now tosses into sight for a brief moment and
now subme... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: An Opium Club.]
The smokers lie all over the room in groups of four or five, each of whom
is provided with a little wooden head-rest and lies curled up like a tired
dog with his face towards the lamp in the centre of the group. In his hand
is the bamboo-stemmed pipe, the bowl of which reminds one of the... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Further down the indescribable passage is a similar room, the occupants of
which are engaged in a novel game. Two men squat against the wall on either
side, surrounded by their adherents, each holding between his knees a
long-stemmed pipe built somewhat on the German fashion. Into the bowls
they push at intervals a ro... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: A "Madak-Khana."]
IV.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF SHIVAJI.
About half a mile westward of the town of Junnar there rises from the plain
a colossal hill, the lower portion whereof consists of steep slopes covered
with rough grass and a few trees, and the upper part of two nearly
perpendicular tiers of scarped roc... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
The Saint's gate, so called from the tomb of a "Pir" hidden in the
surrounding growth of prickly pear, is the largest of all the gates and is
formed of splendid slabs of dressed stone, each about 8 feet in length. On
either side of the gateway are rectangular recesses, which were doubtless
used as dwellings or guardro... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Another noteworthy feature of the summit of the hill is a collection of
stone cisterns of varying ages, still containing water. The smaller open
cisterns, in which the water is thick and covered with slime, are of
Musalman origin, but there are one or two in other parts of the hill which
clearly date from Buddhist age... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
At a little distance from the flying-arch mosque are two rooms built of
stone, in one of which according to our Muhammadan guide Shivaji was born.
Whether it was actually upon the rough walls of this small chamber that
Shivaji's eyes first rested is open to considerable doubt, and probably
they are but a small portion... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
V.
THE STORY OF IMTIAZAN.
The scene of her earliest memories was a small room with spotless
floor-cloth, the windows whereof looked out upon the foliage of "ber" and
tamarind. During the day a black-bearded man would recline upon the
cushions, idly fondling her and calling her "Piyari" ( dearest); and at
night a pre... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: Imtiazan.]
Then Fate cast the die. Her Munshi one day brought to the house a Musulman,
dressed in the modern attire of young India, who had acquired such skill in
playing the "Sitar", that he was able straightway and without mistake to
accompany Imtiazan's most difficult songs. Thereafter he came often
... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
For two days Imtiazan tended by the musicians and their wives was a prey to
the blackest despair, and then deeming it useless to protest, she set
herself courageously to do her husband's bidding and to dance as she had
danced in the house of Gowhar Jan. But she little knew the true depths of
her husband's selfishness.... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Such is the life-history of Imtiazan, one of the most famous dancing-girls
Bombay has ever known--a history that lacks not pathos. After her final
renunciation of the profession of singing and dancing she might have
remarried and in fact received more than one offer from men who were
attracted by her kindliness of hea... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Although the regular Mohurrum ceremonies do not commence until the fifth
day of the Mohurrum moon, the Mahomedan quarters of the city are astir on
the first of the month. From morn till eve the streets are filled with
bands of boys, and sometimes girls, blowing raucous blasts on hollow
bamboos, which are adorned with ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Turn off the main thoroughfare and you may perhaps find a lean Musalman,
with a green silk skullcap, sitting in a raised and well-lighted recess in
front of an urn in which frankincense is burning. He has taken a vow to be
a "Dula" or bridegroom during the Mohurrum. There he sits craning his neck
over the smoke from t... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Wherever a "tazia" or tomb is a-building, there gather all the Mohurrum
performers, the Nal Sahebs or Lord Horse-shoes, the tigers and the mummers
of Protean disguise. The spot becomes an "Akhada" or tryst at which the
tomb-builders entertain all comers with draughts of sherbet or sugared
water, but not with betel whi... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
"Albida, re albida, Ya Huseini albida."
"Farewell, farewell, ah, my Husein, farewell!"
VII.
THE POSSESSION OF AFIZA.
It was quite evident that something was seriously wrong with Abdulla the
Dhobi. His features had lost their former placidity and wore an aspect of
troubled wonder; the clothes which he erstwhiles ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
One can hardly conjecture the ultimate fate of Abdulla and his family, had
not some one who took an interest in the case suggested a final resort to
the Syed from Cambay, who some little time ago opened in Goghari street a
branch of the famous Gujarat shrine of Miran Datar. To him Abdulla
half-hopeful, half-desperate,... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
VIII.
A KASUMBA DEN.
Wander down one of the greatest arteries of the city and you will perhaps
notice on the east side of the street a double-storied house bearing all
the appearance of prolonged neglect and decay. Enter the low door and take
a sharp turn to the right and you will find yourself at length on an ill-
... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Each occupant of the room has been provided with a tiny glass of weak
opium-water from the large China jar on the landlord's desk, paying a pice
per glass for the beverage. Some drink one glass, some two, some three or
more; but as a rule the "kasumba" drinker confines himself to two glasses,
being ashamed to own even... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
Thus the Dastan-Shah whiles away time until about 8 p.m. when the club
breaks up and the faded Aspasia helps her fractious Pericles down the
rotten staircase and out into the night. Ere the company departs each
member subscribes a pice for the story-teller, who in this way earn... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
Among those most easy of access are the Ganesh Lena, as they are called,
hollowed out of the vast rounded scarp, which rising a hundred feet above
the plain projects from the Hatkeshvar and Suleman ranges about a mile
northward of the town. A fairly smooth but dusty road leads the traveller
down to the Kukdi river dri... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
On the left of the chapel at a slightly higher level stands the largest of
this group of caves, a large hall with a verandah and twenty cells around
it. Later ages have converted the whole cave into a temple of Ganpati,
whence the caves obtain their name of Ganesh Lena; and the... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
X.
A BHANDARI MYSTERY.
[Illustration: A Bhandari Mystery.]
In the heart of the great palm-groves to the north-west of Dadar lies an
"oart" known as Borkar's Wadi, shaded by tall well-tended trees whose
densely-foliaged summits ward off the noon-day sun and form a glistening
screen at nights, what time the moon rises... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
All is now ready. Rama bids the boys sound the note of gathering, and at
once such a clashing and drumming arises as would frighten all the devils
of the palm-groves. The people come but slowly, for many of them work late
in the mills and have to go home and cook and eat their... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
The noise ebbs and flows, now dying down as the first frenzy fades away,
now rising more shrill as the spirit of the Mother wracks her devotees more
fiercely. That tall finely-formed young woman, who dances like a puppet
without will and who never seems to tire, is Moti, leader... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
In conclusion one may briefly record what the Bhandaris thought of the
presence of a European at their sacred rite. Some feared him as one that
contemplated the imposition of a new tax; others viewed him askance as a
doctor from the Hospital despatched by higher authority to pu... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
The road leading from Mahalakshmi to the shrine of Mama Hajiyani is
particularly gay, and the Vellard is lined throughout its entire length
with carriages full of men, women and children in their finest attire;
while under the palms on the east side of the road the hum of a gre... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
A BOMBAY MOSQUE.
Who does not know the Mahomedan quarters of the city of Bombay, with their
serried ranks of many-storeyed mansions extending as far as eye can reach?
Dark and forbidding seem many of these houses; and to few is it given to
know the secrets they enshrine. But t... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
As the service proceeds the ranks of the congregation kneel, stand, fall
prostrate, and press the brow upon the ground with a rhythm so reverential
and so dignified that the watcher forgets for a time the torn or tawdry
raiment, the grime of the factory, the dust of the streets... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
Occasionally, when the prayer-breath of the ordinary worshipper has failed
to effect a cure, a Mussulman mother will take her sick child to some Syed
or other holy man in the city for what she calls "Jhada dalwana"
(_i.e._ the sweeping-over). The Syed questions her about the sy... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
About mid-day the Memon or Rangari has his chief meal consisting of
leavened or unleavened bread, meat curry or stew or two "kababs" or fried
fish, followed perhaps by mangoes, when in season; and when this is over he
indulges in a siesta whenever his business allows of it. The afternoon
prayers are followed by re-app... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
A Rangari betrothal though simple enough in itself contains certain
elements of interest. The father of the bridegroom usually informs the
Patel of the caste that his son's betrothal will take place on a certain
day, and on the evening of that day the bridegroom's retinue, accompanied
by the Patel and various friends ... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
* * * * *
Imagine a bare white-washed room, opening directly upon the street, the
walls of which boast of no ornament save a row of tom-toms, and the sides
and window ledges of which are lined with an expectant crowd of Sidis of
varying age, from the small boy of eight years to the elde... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
[Illustration: Sidis of Bombay.]
And now the piper in the corner sets up a wilder strain; the drummers work
till their muscles crack, now looking as if they were undergoing torture,
now turning half-round to have a joke with a fresh arrival, until the
tension reaches breaking-point and with a shout some ten men dash f... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 | |
So the revel progresses, sometimes dying down into a slow movement in which
only the hoarse breathing of the men, the tap-tap of female heels, is
heard; and anon breaking into a kind of gallop, punctuated with shouts of
"Bravo" "Hip, hip, Hurrah" and the queer dental shriek, which our friendly
serang tells us is the p... | By-Ways of Bombay | Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) | 1873 | 1927 | ['en'] | 18 | {'Bombay (India) -- Social life and customs'} | PG10071 |
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