An Island Story

An Island Story
A History of England for Boys and Girls
By H. E. Marshall
New York
Frederick A. Stokes Company
Publishers
copyright, 1920, by
Frederick A. Stokes Company
All Rights Reserved
TO
SPEN AND VEDA
HOW THIS BOOK CAME TO BE WRITTEN
"WHAT a funny letter, Daddy," said Spen, as he looked at the narrow
envelope which had just arrived, and listened to the crackle of the thin
paper.
"Do you think so?" said Daddy. "It is from home."
"From home!" said Spen, laughing, "why, Daddy, this is home."
"I mean from the old country, Spen."
"The old country, Daddy?" said Veda, leaving her dolls and coming to
lean against her father's knee, "the old country? What do you mean?"

"I mean, 'the little island in the west' to which we belong, and where I
used to live," said Daddy.
"But this is an island, a great big one, Mother says, so how can we
belong to a little island?" asked Spen.
"Well, we do--at least, the big island and the little island belong to each
other."
"Oh, Daddy, do 'splain yourself, you are not 'splaining yourself at all,"
said Veda.
"Well," said Daddy with a sigh, "long, long ago--"
"Oh!" said Spen, "it's a story," and he settled himself to listen.
"Yes," said Daddy, "it's a story, and a very long one, too. I think I must
ask some one else to tell it to you."
And Daddy did ask some one else, and here is the story as it was told to
Spen and Veda. I hope it will interest not only the children in this big
island, but some of the children in "the little island in the west," too.
I must tell you, though, that this is not a history lesson, but a story-book.
There are many facts in school histories, that seem to children to
belong to lessons only. Some of these you will not find here. But you
will find some stories that are not to be found in your school
books,--stories which wise people say are only fairy tales and not
history. But it seems to me that they are part of Our Island Story, and
ought not to be forgotten, any more than those stories about which
there is no doubt.
So, although I hope you will not put this book beside your school books,
but quite at the other end of the shelf, beside Robinson Crusoe and A
Noah's Ark Geography, I hope, too, that it will help you to like your
school history books better than ever, and that, when you grow up, you
will want to read for yourselves the beautiful big histories which have
helped me to write this little book for little people.

Then, when you find out how much has been left untold in this little
book, do not be cross, but remember that, when you were very small,
you would not have been able to understand things that seem quite
simple and very interesting to you as you grow older. Remember, too,
that I was not trying to teach you, but only to tell a story.
H. E. MARSHALL.
AN ISLAND STORY

CHAPTER 1
THE STORIES OF ALBION AND BRUTUS
ONCE upon a time there was a giant called Neptune. When he was
quite a tiny boy, Neptune loved the sea. All day long he played in it,
swimming, diving, and laughing gleefully as the waves dashed over
him.
As he grew older he came to know and love the sea so well that the sea
and the waves loved him too, and acknowledged him to be their king.
At last people said he was not only king of the waves, but god of the
sea.
Neptune had a very beautiful wife who was called Amphitrite. He had
also many sons. As each son became old enough to reign, Neptune
made him king over an island.
Neptune's fourth son was called Albion. When it came to his turn to
receive a kingdom, a great council was called to decide upon an island
for him.
Now Neptune and Amphitrite loved Albion more than any of their
other children. This made it very difficult to chose which island should
be his.

The mermaids and mermen, as the wonderful people who live in the sea
are called, came from all parts of the world with news of beautiful
islands. But after hearing about them, Neptune and Amphitrite would
shake their heads and say, "No, that is not good enough for Albion."
At last a little mermaid swam into the pink and white coral cave in
which the council was held. She was more beautiful than any mermaid
who had yet come to the council. Her eyes were merry and honest, and
they were blue as the sky and the