The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
JEANNE D'ARc's CALL.
The Pretty Story of the Most Pathetic
 Incident in History.
nm the St. Nicholas Magazine.


  From the St. Nicholas Magazine.
 When Jeanne was B strange thing happened. That summer, fin the very heat of the day. she stood in her father garden, which overlooked the church where she went daily to pray. Suddenly great light seemed to come from corner of the church and voice. sweet and full, spoke her name.
 "Jeanne d'Arc," it called, not only onee' but twice. thrice, before she realized that it was the voice of an angel, ana the great fear that at first struck her dump melted away, and the voice spoke fur ther.
 .'Be a good girl, Jesnnette, and serve God" it said, and, raising her head, Jeanne looked straight at the dazzling light. through which she could plainly see the face of St. Michael. She knew him by the glittering armor he wore and the flaming sword he carried, and be- hind him. in the streaming light she could see the angels who followed in his wake.
 Jeanne. d'Are" he said, you are chosen of God to deliver France. Be good and wait"
 The great light vanished there was only the monday sun glancing through the leaves of the trees, and Jeanne upon her knees in tears.
 Then other visions came to her: St. Catherine and St. Margaret, who told her always to be good and patient, to say nothing but to wait the future coming Of St. Michael, who would send her forth upon her mission. For three years the vision came from time to time, but St. Michael did not appear, though her '4voices," as she lovingly called them, told her he would summon her later.
 At last one day Jeanne was sitting in her favorite seat in the tree, her hands idle in her lap, her head bent in deep thought. when a white shadow canE gliding across the grass and stood before her in the guise of a warrior. A great light seemed to come from him and flow over the girlish form on the tree trunk, as he said gently: '"The time has come, Jeanne; go forth and save France
 But I am over-young!' she cried, raising her hands. How can I go forth alone in the world? How can I mingle with men-I, poor peasant girl, know ing nothing of their ways?'
 You will lead them to victory, riding at the head of the army of France" said a voice like the clear, sweet tones of bell. Be of good cheer, little maid God sends you forthl"
 "But I know nothing of war, nor what
 
 "Go to the governor of Vaucouleurs; he will show you how. Be of good cheer, Jeannette; the time has come. Go forth go forthr'
 Then he vanished in his trail of light, and Jeannette felt a new strength sud denly growing in her heart. She remem- bered an old prophecy-that France, be- trayed by one woman, should be saved by another. The wicked Queen Isabelle, widow of poor, crazy Charles VI, had sold his kingdom othe English; who then was to wrest 1t from the hands of the enemy? And the words of the wizard came to her as she knelt in the little church during the quiet vesper hour: "F'rom the country of Lorraine. approach ing through the hoary woods, would come a young girl who would subdue the arch CTS of Breton and who would perform wonders'
 Were not the hoary woods the Forest of Oak, in fair Domremy? Was she not young, with the spirit of God in her heart? sAnd St. Michael had said "Go to the governor of Vaucouleurs."
 Then into the soul of this girl of Is leaped a mighty purpose. Night after night fin her little room she prayed for strength, and day after day she mingled with her merry comrades-with them, yet not of them
 Her little sister. Catherine, and her two girl friends, Mengette and Hanmette, loved to be near her. but they spoke in whispers whe nthey saw Jeanne's faraway look, for in their child fashion they felt that Jeanne was different from them all. And the boys, too-brave peasant lads, hung about her with awe. for there was a strange spirit in this slip of girl they