Ow! LITTLE SPA RTAN COU SIN O F LONG A GO JULIA DARROW COWLES Author of Our L ttle Roman C ous n of Lon A o i i g g , ” Our L ttle A then an C ou s n of L on A o etc . i i i g g , Copyrighi, 19 14 , by THE PAGE COMPAN! All rights reserved F rst Im ress on une 1 1 i p i , J , 9 4 C O L O N IA L PRE SS S N U . S . C . H . SIMOND S C O . , B O TO , THIS STORY OF SPARTAN C OURAGE AND END U RANC E IS LOVINGLY DEDICATE D TO BROTHER FRAN! LOOMIS ! ARROW Pre fac e IT has not been the intention o f the author to confine the scenes o f this story to a give n to w date , but rather select events hich are o f a so typi cal the Spartan li fe and char cter , and to p resent a compo site picture Which is truly representative o f a pe ople unique in the history o f mankind . The story cl o ses during the stirring times o f the Persian invasion , but even here the author i o f o f - cla ms some the license the story teller, o f nor u se though with no contradi ction fact , o f the imagination not fully warranted by Spar tan hi story . One O f the obj ects sought h as been to Show the tru e nobility and rugged simplicity of the Vii v iii PREFACE r Spartan character , for it is sca cely credible that the citizens o f the State which for so long a time was the a ckn owledged leader o f all 8 0 Hellas , could have been wholly rude and as savage they are sometimes depicted . Acknowledgment is hereby made o f the au ’ ’ thor s indebtedness to Muller s Do ri ans for ’ the invaluable aid whi ch Pro fessor Mulle r s f comprehensive treatment has af orded . C o n te n ts PREFA C E PRONUNCI A TION O F PR OP ER NAM ES A SPA RTA N C O M PA NY TH E ASS EMB L! FO RA GI NG TH E PU B LI C TAB LES ’ C H A RTA S HOME ’ SPA RTA S LA W S TH E FESTIVA L WOR ! A ND PLA Y NE W AD V ENTU R ES A VA CA NCY FI LLED A PLED GE A N D A C HAS E TH E D R I LL D A YS O F PR EPA RA TION TH E C A R N EA TH E TR UCE B EA RE R S EA RTH A N D WA TER ! A RUNN E R F R OM MA RATHON ’ FO R SPA RTA S HONOR List o f Ill u st ratio ns PAGE C HARTAS Frontis piece AT LAST H E REAC HED TH E TOP O F TH E L I 'I' I‘ L E ” PA TH MELI SSA BROUGHT H ER LYRE AND PLA YED A S SH E S A NG A N O LD MA N WITH WHI T E HAIR AND LO NG WHITE B EA RD PA SS ED TH EM TH E GIRL S MADE A B EA UTI F U L PI CTU RE WITH TH EIR L IGHT DRAP ERI ES A ND F RESH F L OW ERS TH E MAN TU RN ED HI S H EAD F O R B U T O NE WO RD Pro nu nc iatio n o f Pro p er N am es ' ’ A gis Il i-ad ' ’ A -leu as J a so n ’ ’ A n dro -c le S L a- e r t e s ' ' A -p ol lo Ly - c u r gu s ’ ’ A S- Sem b ly M ar a- t ho n ’ ' A —t he n a M e—lis s a ’ ' A - t he ni- an M e l o n ' ' At h e ns Me n— e - la u s ’ ’ B ra s i- das My les ’ ' C a r—ne a Od ys - sey , ’ Gas t o r O - ly m p i— a ' ’ C e O S O-lym p i- ad ' ’ C h ar t as O—re s t e s ’ C i n a- do n Pan ’ ' C le-o m e-ne s P ar is ’ ’ D an a- u s Pe n t hi- lu s ’ ’ D a- r i u s Pe r Sia ’ ’ D e l p hi Pe r Si ans ’ ' ' Di O - do ru s Po l l u x ’ ’ D o ri- ans Pro cl e s ' ’ D o ru s Py r rhic ' ’ E-le an Py t h i- an ’ ’ E lis So u s ’ ' E-p ho re-u m Sp a r t a ’ ' Eu — ro t as Sp ar t an ’ ’ G e lon Sp e r t hi-as ’ ' Go r go Sy l- l a r i-an ’ G ree ce Te t - p an de r ’ ’ H el en The-og nis ' ' H e l ot s Th e ron ’ ’ H e r a- kles The s eu S (s u s! ' H o m e r Troy ’ ' Hy a-c in t hu s Zeu s (zu s! O u r L ittle Sp artan C o u s in o f L o ng A go CHAPTE R I A S PARTAN C OM PA N ! A RA C E ! a race ! Who Will plunge first into Eurotas ? The b oy who shouted the challenge stood o H i f r . s poised , ready flight head was thrown hi one back , s arms were extended , and foot , thrust before him , touched the ground lightly . who It was Charta s called , and at the sound o f his voice the Whole group of boys , fi fteen in number , threw themselves into the same atti to o f tude , and , at a word , sped away the banks r1v er . R the eaching there , they hastily threw 2 OUR LITTLE SPARTAN COUSIN o ff the one garment which each wore , and plunged into the stream . won ! as c Chartas they cried , the hallen ger , Whose lithe limbs gave him an advantage in running , splashed first into the water . “ ” in B rasidas He always Wins running , said , but wait till we wrestle . His speed will not ” for O count S mu ch then . The splashing water almost drowned Brasi ’ das words , for the fifteen boys were swimming , i S duck ng , plunging , and frolicking like a chool of young porpoises . However , Chartas had heard . Yes , he “ answered , I like to show my back in a race . ’ ’ ” Twould be different i f twere a battle . ” H ow about your back now ? asked a mis ‘ ch v o ie u s boy named Gelon . As he spoke he dived quickly , caught Chartas by the ankles , and . tripp ed him , face forward , into the water Chartas quickly recovered ‘himself , dashed h an i . T e a fte r Gelon , d a l v ely tussle followed 4 OUR LITTLE SPARTAN COUSIN s Instantly the wre tling stopped , and the boys Not for turned . a hand went back a final r splash , for these we e Spartan boys, and the o fi rst lesson they had lea rned was t o b ey . In a moment they had slipp ed into thei r chitons , and were hurrying toward the gym n m asiu . A s they started , Orestes threw hi s arm across r r wo the shoulde s of Cha tas , and the t followed a little more slowly . “ - r To mor ow the Assembly meets , said “ Orestes , and I shall send you boys foraging . See how well you can a cquit yourself , for I ” want to be proud of you . “ I wish I were old enough to attend the “ ' I know l Assembly , said Chartas , but you wil to tell me what takes place . I Should like listen ” “ — to the speeches , but then , he added , it is r r . I S do a e sport to forage , and hall my best . “ I know you will , said Orestes , looking A SPARTAN COMPANY 5 with genuine pride and affection at the younge r boy . When they reached the gymnasium the othe r s were already selecting their quoits for throw r ing . They paid no heed to the open prefe ence of their captain for Chartas, since every cap hi tain of boys in Sparta had s favorite pupil . The captain ’ s favorite was given special train ing and special teaching ; but he was not saved o r from hardships dangers . I f he had been , he c om an would , himself , have hated it , and his p ions would have held him in contempt . Instead , was he given harder tasks , and was thrown into greater dangers in order that he might gain to courage and endurance , and be able prove For himsel f keen and una fraid . these were the qualities whi ch made the Spartans the most r O he oic men f all Gree ce . ’ to Now your places , said Orestes , and , in for exer a moment , the boys were ready their cises . There was no donning O f gymnasium 6 OUR LITTLE SPARTAN COUSIN . w as r r suits The chiton thei one garment , wo n on was all occasions .