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his palm； up his arm； till they reached into his
shoulder； and down the back of his neck。 It
seemed hours since the little brother went away。
He felt very lonely； and the hurt in his arm
grew and grew。 He watched the road with all
his eyes； but no one came in sight。 Then he
leaned his head against the dike； to rest his
shoulder。
As his ear touched the dike； he heard the
voice of the great sea； murmuring。 The sound
seemed to say；
〃I am the great sea。 No one can stand
against me。 What are you； a little child； that
you try to keep me out？ Beware！ Beware！〃
Hans' heart beat in heavy knocks。 Would
they never come？ He was frightened。
And the water went on beating at the wall；
and murmuring； 〃I will come through； I will
come through； I will get you； I will get you；
runrunbefore I come through！〃
Hans started to pull out his finger； he was so
frightened that he felt as if he must run for ever。
But that minute he remembered how much
depended on him； if he pulled out his finger； the
water would surely make the hole bigger； and
at last break down the dike； and the sea would
come in on all the land and houses。 He set his
teeth； and stuck his finger tighter than ever。
〃You shall NOT come through！〃 he whispered；
〃I will NOT run！〃
At that moment； he heard a far…off shout。
Far in the distance he saw a black something on
the road； and dust。 The men were coming！ At
last； they were coming。 They came nearer； fast；
and he could make out his own father； and the
neighbours。 They had pickaxes and shovels；
and they were running。 And as they ran they
shouted； 〃We're coming； take heart； we're
coming！〃
The next minute； it seemed； they were there。
And when they saw Hans； with his pale face；
and his hand tight in the dike； they gave a great
cheer；just as people do for soldiers back from
war； and they lifted him up and rubbed his
aching arm with tender hands； and they told him
that he was a real hero and that he had saved
the town。
When the men had mended the dike； they
marched home like an army； and Hans was
carried high on their shoulders； because he was
a hero。 And to this day the people of Haarlem
tell the story of how a little boy saved the dike。
THE LAST LESSON＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the French of Alphonse Daudet。
Little Franz didn't want to go to school； that
morning。 He would much rather have played
truant。 The air was so warm and still；you
could hear the blackbird singing at the edge of
the wood； and the sound of the Prussians drilling；
down in the meadow behind the old sawmill。
He would SO much rather have played truant！
Besides； this was the day for the lesson in the
rule of participles； and the rule of participles in
French is very； very long； and very hard； and it
has more exceptions than rule。 Little Franz
did not know it at all。 He did not want to go
to school。
But； somehow； he went。 His legs carried him
reluctantly into the village and along the street。
As he passed the official bulletin…board before
the town hall； he noticed a little crowd round it；
looking at it。 That was the place where the
news of lost battles； the requisition for more
troops； the demands for new taxes were posted。
Small as he was； little Franz had seen enough to
make him think； 〃What NOW； I wonder？〃 But
he could not stop to see； he was afraid of being
late。
When he came to the school…yard his heart
beat very fast； he was afraid he WAS late； after
all； for the windows were all open； and yet he
heard no noise；the schoolroom was perfectly
quiet。 He had been counting on the noise and
confusion before school；the slamming of desk
covers； the banging of books； the tapping of the
master's cane and his 〃A little less noise； please；〃
to let him slip quietly into his seat unnoticed。
But no； he had to open the door and walk up
the long aisle； in the midst of a silent room； with
the master looking straight at him。 Oh； how hot
his cheeks felt； and how hard his heart beat！
But to his great surprise the master didn't scold
at all。 All he said was； 〃Come quickly to your
place； my little Franz； we were just going to
begin without you！〃
Little Franz could hardly believe his ears；
that wasn't at all the way the master was accustomed
to speak。 It was very strange！ Somehow
everything was very strange。 The room
looked queer。 Everybody was sitting so still； so
straightas if it were an exhibition day； or
something very particular。 And the master
he looked strange； too； why； he had on his fine
lace jabot and his best coat； that he wore only
on holidays； and his gold snuff…box in his hand。
Certainly it was very odd。 Little Franz looked
all round； wondering。 And there in the back of
the room was the oddest thing of all。 There； on
a bench； sat VISITORS。 Visitors！ He could not
make it out； people never came except on great
occasions；examination days and such。 And it
was not a holiday。 Yet there were the agent；
the old blacksmith； the farmer； sitting quiet and
still。 It was very； very strange。
Just then the master stood up and opened
school。 He said； 〃My children； this is the last
time I shall ever teach you。 The order has come
from Berlin that henceforth nothing but German
shall be taught in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine。 This is your last lesson in French。
I beg you； be very attentive。〃
HIS LAST LESSON IN FRENCH！ Little Franz could
not believe his ears； his last lessonah； THAT
was what was on the bulletin…board！ It flashed
across him in an instant。 That was it！ His
last lesson in Frenchand he scarcely knew
how to read and writewhy； then； he should
never know how！ He looked down at his
books； all battered and torn at the corners； and
suddenly his books seemed quite different to
him； they seemedsomehowlike friends。 He
looked at the master； and he seemed different；
too；like a very good friend。 Little Franz
began to feel strange himself。 Just as he was
thinking about it； he heard his name called； and
he stood up to recite。
It was the rule of participles。
Oh； what wouldn't he have given to be able
to say it of from beginning to end； exceptions
and all； without a blunder！ But he could only
stand and hang his head； he did not know a
word of it。 Then through the hot pounding in
his ears he heard the master's voice； it was
quite gentle； not at all the scolding voice he
expected。 And it said； 〃I'm not going to punish
you； little Franz。 Perhaps you are punished
enough。 And you are not alone in your fault。
We all do the same thing；we all put off our
tasks till to…morrow。 Andsometimesto…
morrow never comes。 That is what it has been
with us。 We Alsatians have been always putting
off our education till the morrow； and now they
have a right； those people down there； to say to
us； ‘What！ You call yourselves French； and
cannot even read and write the French language？
Learn German； then！'〃
And then the master spoke to them of the
French language。 He told them how beautiful
it was； how clear and musical and reasonable；
and he said that no people could be hopelessly
conquered so long as it kept its language； for
the language was the key to its prison…house。
And then he said he was going to tell them a
little about that beautiful language； and he
explained the rule of participles。
And do you know； it was just as simple as
A B C！ Little Franz understood every word。
It was just the same with the rest of the grammar
lesson。 I don't know whether little Franz
listened harder； or whether the master explained
better； but it was all quite clear； and simple。
But as they went on with it； and little Franz
listened and looked； it seemed to him that the
master was trying to put the whole French
language into their heads in that one hour。
It seemed as if he wanted