| Fifty Famous Stories Retold|
|by James Baldwin|
|Includes fifty legendary tales depicting certain romantic episodes in the lives of well-known heroes and famous men, or in the history of a people. Children naturally take a deep interest in such stories. The reading of them will not only give pleasure but will lay the foundation for broader literary studies, as nearly all are the subjects of frequent allusions in poetry and prose. Ages 6-9 |
DAMON AND PYTHIAS
 A YOUNG man whose name was Pythias had done something
which the tyrant Dionysius did not like. For this offense he
was dragged to prison, and a day was set when he should be
put to death. His home was far away, and he wanted very
much to see his father and mother and friends before he
"Only give me leave to go home and say good-by to those whom
I love," he said, "and then I will come back and give up my
The tyrant laughed at him.
"How can I know that you will keep your
promise?" he said. "You only want to cheat me,
and save yourself."
Then a young man whose name was Damon spoke and said,—
"O king! put me in prison in place of my friend Pythias, and let him go to his own country to put
his affairs in order, and to bid his friends
farewell. I know that he will come back as he promised, for he is a man
who has never broken his word. But if he is not here on the
day which you have set, then I will die in his stead."
The tyrant was surprised that anybody should make such an
offer. He at last agreed to let
 Pythias go, and gave orders that the young man
should be shut up in prison.
Time passed, and by and by the day drew near which had been
set for Pythias to die; and he had not come back. The tyrant
ordered the jailer to keep close watch upon Damon, and not
let him escape. But Damon did not try to escape. He still
had faith in the truth and honor of his friend. He said,
"If Pythias does not come back in time, it will not be
his fault. It will be because he is hindered against his will."
At last the day came, and then the very hour. Damon was
ready to die. His trust in his friend was as firm as ever;
and he said that he did not grieve at having to suffer
for one whom he loved so much.
Then the jailer came to lead him to his death; but at the
same moment Pythias stood in the door. He had been
delayed by storms and shipwreck, and he had feared that he was too
late. He greeted Damon kindly, and then gave himself into
the hands of the jailer. He was happy because he thought
that he had come in time, even though it was at the last
The tyrant was not so bad but that he could see good in
others. He felt that men who loved and trusted each other,
as did Damon and Pythias,
 ought not to suffer unjustly. And so he set them both free.
"I would give all my wealth to have one such friend," he said.
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