In the war with the Russians, fought for the most part in the Crimean Peninsula in 1854, there was a young officer who won great praise because of his bravery; he seemed to have no fear of losing his life. His name was Charles George Gordon, and he was good as well as brave.
One day he was sitting on a stone in a trench, and the bullets were whistling around him. "Are you hurt?" asked his brother, who at some distance from him had noticed his cap move. Charles took off his cap. There was a bullet hole in it. "Those Russians are good shots," he said; "they are better than the French." He then put on his cap again.
A few years later some rebels rose up against the Emperor of China. The Chinese soldiers could not beat them, so the Emperor asked the British to lend him an officer. Charles Gordon was the one chosen.
As he was a strong, just man, who tried to do what was right, his troops soon learned to love him andto have faith in him. They were ready to follow him anywhere without fear. Many fierce fights took place, but he always won. He carried only a small cane, which his soldiers looked on as a wand of victory. With such a gallant leader they felt that they could never be beaten.
At last the rebels could fight no more; and then Gordon set out for England. When he was leaving, the Emperor wished him to accept some rich presents, but he would not take them. On his arrival in England, people wanted to make much of him; but he quietly said, "No, thanks," and set to work to learn more about a soldier"s duties.
Gordon spent a great deal of time and money in helping homeless boys. He took many of them into his own house, where he taught them to read and write. He also gave them food and clothes, though he was not a rich man. When they were old enough, he found work for them. Many became sailors, but he did not lose sight of them. He used to mark the course of their vessels with pins, or little flags, on his map.
"Are those your victories marked with pins?" asked a visitor, pointing to a map of the world which hung on the wall in Gordon"s study. Gordon turned to him with a beautiful smile, and answered, "Those pins are mykings, my boys whom I found in the gutter, my boys who are out in the world. Each pin has a name, and moves as its namesake moves. That"s the way I keep in touch with my kings."His next work was full of danger. He was sent to govern a country to the south of Egypt, where the people were always fighting. Gordon ruled well and wisely, and stayed there till all was quiet. Some years later, however, there was fresh trouble. A fierce chief rose up, and tried to make himself king.
The ruler of Egypt thought it best for his soldiers to leave the country. Gordon was sent out to help them, and he reached Khartoum, the chief town, safely; but the rebels would not let him take the troops away.
Months passed, and soldiers were sent from England to aid him. They fought several battles on the way; but, when they reached the town, they were too late. The rebels had broken in, and Gordon had been slain. He might have saved his life by leaving his soldiers, but he would not do that.
The people throughout the whole British Empire were very sorry when they heard of his death. In honour of the "Hero of Khartoum," they gave large sums of money to build homes for friendless boys. These homes(of which there is one in Melbourne) bear his name, and the boys in them are called Gordon Boys.
About the Author.-The name of the author is not known.
About the Story.-In what places did Gordon serve? Find them on a map of the world. What was greater in him than bravery in battle? There is a statue of General Gordon in Spring-street, Melbourne.
