THE STORY OF RUSTEM
“But thy doom is fixed, thou Cruel One, and even now the avenger’s hand is at the door. Behold, and tremble!”
Once upon a time, not so many years ago, a librarian in one of ourlarge cities conceived the idea of forming a hero club for the boys ofher neighborhood. So it came to pass that for two years, everyWednesday evening, between thirty and fifty young heroes assembledin the club-room of the library to listen to the story of some greathero, told either by the librarian or by some visiting story-teller.
Now, as the object of the club was not only amusement, helpfulentertainment, and inspiration, but also to influence the boys’ reading,they were introduced first to the Greek heroes: Theseus, Perseus,Hercules, Jason, and the heroes of Troy. And after these came theheroes of chivalry: Charlemagne, Roland, Oliver, Ogier the Dane,and the four Aymon brothers. Then followed Siegfried, KingArthur, and the Red Cross Knight. Yea, and even that gay littlefellow in green—brave Robin Hood. And sprinkled in with thesemore or less mythological heroes were those of a more practical type:Father Damien, Livingstone, Lincoln, Peter Cooper, and a number ofevery-day heroes who so well exemplify the growth in heroic idealsin our century as contrasted with those of primitive times. BoyHeroes were also presented, and finally, in her search for goodstory-hour material, the librarian decided to introduce the boys tosome of the great Persian heroes—they being not so well known.
And, since the boys’ delight in this series of stories really inspiredthe thought of making it possible for other story-tellers and olderboys and girls to enjoy them too, therefore this book is appropriatelyand affectionately dedicated to the Hero Boys of the BushwickBranch of the Brooklyn Public Library—a more appreciative andpromising set of youths than whom never resolved to do, and dare,and be—good, practical, every-day heroes.
The aim of this series of stories which, through themedium of Firdusi, mirrors so fascinatingly the legendaryhistory of Persia, has been, not only to provide for thestory-teller a treasure-house wherein may be found puregold, refined for ready use, every coin of which may bestamped with the narrator’s own individuality for theinspiration and entertainment of any gro