Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-20
THE LAST CLASS.

GREAT fear OF being scOlded, as M
Hammel had said he would ques'
ton us on the particirles, and l ala
not know the first word about them
For a moment the idea came TO me
of absenting myself from class anu
taking my way across the fields.
The weather was so warm, so IN
vitipgl One heard the blsckOlrds
tw,ttering in the borders OF the
woods. and in the Rupert mead
oys the Prussians we're practlclug
some military maneuYers. All that
attracted me more than the rules
for partreiples; but l had tn e
strength to resist, and l ran very
quickly toward the school.
In passing before the town hail.
l saw some persons standing before
the bill board. Since two years II
is from this bill board we have
learned all the bad news, the bat
Ties lost, the taxes levied, the or
ders tor enlistment, and l tn ought
"What can 1t be this time"
Then 1 crossed the place still
running, the blacksmith Nachter'
who was there with his apprentice,
reading the notice, called out to
tue:
"You need not hurry so fast
little one, you will get there soon
enough, to your school"
believed he was making sport
of me, and entered the front yard
Of NJ. Hammeps almost breathless.
Ordinarily at the commencement
of the class a great noise was made,
that one heard even in the street,
the desks opened, closed, the les
sons repeated out loud all together
while the ears were mufiied with
the hands the better to learn and
the heavy ruler of the master strlk-
lug on the table.
ezra nore 0uiet ~
l counted on all this noise and
disturbance to reach my desk un'
seen. but Just this morning every
thing was as quiet as a Sunday
morning. By the open window l
saw my comrades ranged already
in their places, and NJ. Hammel,
who passed and repassed with the
terrible IRON ruler under bis arm.
1t was necessary to open the door
and enter in the midst Of the great
calm. You think l blushed and
was afraid
Eh, bleD, no. NJ. Hammel looked
at me without anger, and said very
gently: "GO quickly to your place,
my little Frantz; we were about
to commence without you
l hurried to my place aud seated
myself at once behind my desk.
Then, only a little recovered from
my fright, l noticed that our mas
ter had on his beautiful green red
ingote, his fine tucked shirt, his
embroidered cap Of black silk, that
he put on only for great days of in
spection or distribution of prizes
Over all the school there was
something extraordinary and SOL
emn. But what surprised me mere
was to see at the end Of the ball, on
the benches that we're usually
empty, the people Of the village
seated and silent as we we're. There
was the old Hansen with his three
cornered hat, the mayor Of the vii
LACE, the old postman and severa
others. Every one appeared sad
Old Hansen had brought spelling
book well worn with hare usuage
lie held it open on his knees, will
his large spectacles placed across
the pages.
While ! was noticing all this, NJ
Hammel mounted the platform
and in the same sweet and grav
voice with which he had recleve'
me, said:
"Ny children. it is the last tim
| will hear you recite. The orde
has come from Berlin to teach onl
German in the schools OF Alsac
and Lorraine. The new maste
comes tomorrow. Today Is you
last French lesson, / pray you b
very attentive"
Slch words as these Overwhelme
me. All the unfortunate people
that was what they read in th
notice on the town hall. My las
lesson in French, and l hardl
knew how to write; l would nevt
learn, must stop there! How
would wish for the lost time nov
hunting birds nests and skating o
the Saar. My books, that l ha
always before found so tiresom,
so heavy, my grammar, my sacre
history, seemed to me now like oil
friends, aud it would give pain
say good by to them. As 70 n