True Stories of History and Biography

True Stories from History and
Biography by

Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Title: True Stories from History and Biography
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Release Date: April 2005 [EBook #15697]
Language: American English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUE
STORIES FROM HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY***

True Stories from History and Biography
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
BOSTON: TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS. MDCCCLI.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, in the Clerk's Office of the District
Court of the District of Massachusetts.
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY BOLLES AND HOUGHTON.

[Image: Frontispiece]

Contents
Contents Preface THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER'S
CHAIR
Chapter I
">
Part I
Chapter I

Chapter II
THE LADY ARBELLA
Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI
THE PINE-TREE SHILLINGS
Chapter VII

Chapter VIII
THE INDIAN BIBLE
Chapter IX

Chapter X
THE SUNKEN TREASURE
Chapter XI

Chapter I
">
Part II
Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III
THE OLD-FASHIONED SCHOOL
Chapter IV

Chapter VI
THE REJECTED BLESSING
Chapter VII

Chapter VIII
THE PROVINCIAL MUSTER
Chapter IX
THE ACADIAN EXILES
Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter I
">
Part III
Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III
THE HUTCHINSON MOB
Chapter IV

Chapter V
THE BOSTON MASSACRE
Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX
THE TORY'S FAREWELL
Chapter X

Chapter XI
GRANDFATHER'S DREAM Biographical Stories
Chapter I

Chapter II
BENJAMIN WEST
Chapter III
SIR ISAAC NEWTON
Chapter IV
SAMUEL JOHNSON
Chapter V
SAMUEL JOHNSON--continued.
Chapter VI
OLIVER CROMWELL

Chapter VII
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Chapter VIII
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN--continued
Chapter IX
QUEEN CHRISTINA Credits A Word from Project Gutenberg The
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Preface
In writing this ponderous tome, the author's desire has been to describe
the eminent characters and remarkable events of our annals, in such a
form and style, that the YOUNG might make acquaintance with them
of their own accord. For this purpose, while ostensibly relating the
adventures of a Chair, he has endeavored to keep a distinct and
unbroken thread of authentic history. The Chair is made to pass from
one to another of those personages, of whom he thought it most
desirable for the young reader to have vivid and familiar ideas, and
whose lives and actions would best enable him to give picturesque
sketches of the times. On its sturdy oaken legs, it trudges diligently
from one scene to another, and seems always to thrust itself in the way,
with most benign complacency, whenever a historical personage
happens to be looking round for a seat.
There is certainly no method, by which the shadowy outlines of
departed men and women can he made to assume the hues of life more
effectually, than by connecting their images with the substantial and
homely reality of a fireside chair. It causes us to feel at once, that these
characters of history had a private and familiar existence, and were not
wholly contained within that cold array of outward action, which we
are compelled to receive as the adequate representation of their lives. If

this impression can be given, much is accomplished.
Setting aside Grandfather and his auditors, and excepting the
adventures of the Chair, which form the machinery of the work,
nothing in the ensuing pages can be termed fictitious. The author, it is
true, has sometimes assumed the license of filling up the outline of
history with details, for which he has none but imaginative authority,
but which, he hopes, do not violate nor give a false coloring to the truth.
He believes that, in this respect, his narrative will not be found to
convey ideas and impressions, of which the reader may hereafter find it
necessary to purge his mind.
The author's great doubt is, whether he has succeeded in writing a book
which will be readable by the class for whom he intends it. To make a
lively and entertaining narrative for children, with such unmalleable
material as is presented by the sombre, stern, and rigid characteristics
of the Puritans and their descendants, is quite as difficult an attempt, as
to manufacture delicate playthings out of the granite rocks on which
New England is founded.

THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR
COMPLETE IN THREE PARTS.


Chapter I
">
Part I
Chapter I

Grandfather had been sitting in his old arm-chair, all that pleasant
afternoon, while the children were pursuing their various sports, far off
or near at hand. Sometimes you would have said, "Grandfather is
asleep;" but still, even when his