San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-06

stopping:
what is going to happen nowr
Their, as was running across the square,
Wachter, the blacksmith, who was there, with
his apprentice at his heels, reading the pos
ter, called after me-
Don't be in such hurry, little one; you'll
get to your school soon enough
thought he was making fun Of me, and
when entered NJ Hamels little courtyard ]
was all out of breath
Usually, when school began, there was
such hubbuo that you could hear it in the
street; the opening and shutting CT desks,
everybody studying their lessons out loud,
stopping their ears with their fingers so that
they might learn the better, and then the
masters great ruler that raped on the desk:
"a little less noise!"
was counting on all this confusion to get
to my bench without being noticed; but on
this particular day, everything was as still
as if it had been a Sunday morning.
Through the open window l could see my
companions all in their places, and NJ.
Hamel walking up and down with the terri
bic iron edged ruler under his arm. l had
to open the door and go in, in the midst of
this profound stiffness. You may imagine
if blushed, and was afraid!
Well then, no. n Hamel looked at me
without any anger at all, and said gently:
go to your place quickly, my little
Frantz; we were going to begin without
you"
straddled the bench and settled myself
at my desk as quickly as l could. Then, a
little recovered from my fright, noticed
for the first time that our master had on his
beautiful green frock coat and his plated
shirt frill, and his embroidered skull cap of
black silk that he wore only on exhibition
days, or when he gave out the prizes. And
the others, too; every one of them seemed to
have something unusual or solemn about
them. But what surprised me most of all
was to see at the back of the room, on the
benches that were usually empty, the men
of the village sitting as silent as we were:
old Hauser, with his three cornered hat, the
white haired mayor, the old notary, and many
others Everybody was sad; and Hauser
had brought an old primer. with the corners
all chewed, which he held wide open on his
knees, with his big spectacles lying across
the pages.
While l was wondering at all this NJ.
Hamel had taken his place in his chair, and,
in the same gentle, grave voice with which
MY children, it is the last time that shall
teach YOU The order has come from Berlin
that only German shall be taught in the
schools OF Alsace and Lorraine. The new
master comes tomorrow. Today will be
your last lesson in French. l beg you to be
very attentive"
The words set my heart to humping. All,
the wretches. this was what they had posted
at the town hall
My last lesson in French
And who hardly knew how to write!
should never learn now! l must break of
where was. How longed for the time
had lost, for the days had played truant tC
hunt for birds nests, or to slide on the river
Saar. My books that just now had found
so dull, SO heavy to carry, my Bible history
seemed to me old friends whom l should be
sorry to part with. 1t was the same with NJ.
Hamel. The thought that he was going away
that should never see him any moro, made
me forget the punishments and the slaps of
the ruler. Poor mani
1t was in honor of this last lesson that he
had put on his Sunday clothes, and now l un
derstood why the old men of the village had
come to sit at the back of the room. 1t seemed
to say that they were sorry they had not
come ofteuer to the school, 1t was, too,
way of thanking our master for his forty
Years of faithful sNr> ices and of showing their
love for the fatherland which was slipping
away from us.
was deep in my thoughts when suddenly
heard my name called 1t was my turn to
recite. What wouldn't l have given to be
able to say, clear to the end, that famous rule
of participles, very loud, very clear, without
single fault! but l stumbled at the first
words, and stood there beside my bench,
swaying back and forth, my heart swelling.
without daring to raise my head. | heard
NJ. Hamel speaking to me.
IL will rot scold you. my little Frantz," he
said; this should be punishment enough 1t
is always like this Each day we say to our
selves, 'PshawI | have plenty of time. ]
will learn Tomorrow And now you see
what has come-ah, that has been the great
misfortune of our Alsace: always putting off
her education until tomorrow. Now these
men have the right to say to us: How is
this. You pretend to be French, and you
can neither speak ror write your languagel
You are not the most to blame my poor
Frantz We all have much to reproach our
selves for.
Your fathers and mothers haven't given
enough attention to Your education. They
like better to send you to work in the fields
or to help the spinners, because it brings in a
few sous more. And |, have l no fault to
find with myself: How often have | sent
you to water mt garden instead of making
you study! And when 1 wanted to go trout
fishing, how impatient have been to get rid
Of you ALL"
Then, running on from one thing to another,
N. Hamel began to talk to us about our Ian
guage, saying it was the most beautiful in