heslesson

alphonsedaude

isaredforschoolveryehamorningandwasingreadreadofascolding,especiallybecausemhamelhadsaidhahewouldquesionusonpariciples,andididnoknowhefirswordabouhemforamomenihoughofru

ingawayandspendinghedayouofdoorsiwassowarm,sobrigh！hebirdswerechirpingaheedgeofhewoods;andinheopenfieldbackofhesawmillheprussiansoldiersweredrillingiwasallmuchmoreempinghanheruleforpariciples,buihadhesrenghoresis,andhurriedoffoschool

whenipassedheownhallherewasacrowdinfronofhebulleinboardforheswoyearsallourbadnewshadcomefromhere—helosbales,hedraf,heordersofhecommandingofficer—andihoughomyself,wihousopping:

“whacanbehemaernow？”

hen,asihurriedbyasfasasicouldgo,hebcksmih,wacher,whowashere,wihhisapprenice,readinghebullein,calledaferme:

“don’gosofas,bub;you’llgeoyourschoolinplenyofime！”

ihoughhewasmakingfunofme,andreachedmhamel’slilegardenallouofbreah

usually,whenschoolbegan,herewasagreabusle,whichcouldbeheardouinhesree,heopeningandclosingofdesks,lessonsrepeaedinunison,veryloud,wihourhandsoverourearsoundersandbeer,andheeacher’sgrearulerrappingonheable“alilemorequie！”bunowiwasallsosill！ihadcounedonhecommoionogeomydeskwihoubeingseen;bu,ofcourse,hadayeveryhinghadobeasquieassundaymorninghroughhewindowisawmycssmaes,alreadyinheirpces,andmhamelwalkingupanddownwihhiserribleironrulerunderhisarmihadoopenhedoorandgoinbeforeeverybodyyoucanimaginehowiblushedandhowfrighenediwas

bunohinghappenedmhamelsawmeandsaidverykindly：

“gooyourpcequickly,lilefranzwewerebegi

ingwihouyou”

ijumpedoverhebenchandsadownamydesknoillhen,whenihadgoalileovermyfrigh,didiseehaoureacherhadonhisbeauifulgreencoa,hisfrilledshir,andhelilebcksilkcap,allembroidered,haheneverworeexceponinspecionandprizedaysbesides,hewholeschoolseemedsosrangeandsolemnbuhehinghasurprisedmemoswasosee,onhebackbencheshawerealwaysempy,hevilgepeoplesiingquielylikeourselves;oldhauser,wihhishreecorneredha,heformermayor,heformerposmaser,andseveralohersbesideseverybodylookedsad;andhauserhadbroughanoldprimer,humbedaheedges,andheheldiopenonhiskneeswihhisgreaspecacleslyingacrosshepages

whileiwaswonderingabouiall,mhamelmounedhischair,and,inhesamegraveandgenleonewhichhehadusedome,said：

“mychildren,hisisheslessonishallgiveyouheorderhascomefromberlinoeachonlygermaninheschoolsofalsaceandlorraihenewmasercomesomorrowhisisyoursfrenchlessoniwanyouobeveryaenive”

whaahundercphesewordswereome！

oh,hewreches;hawaswhaheyhadpuupaheownhall！

mysfrenchlesson！why,ihardlyknewhowowrie！ishouldneverlearnanymore！imussophere,hen！oh,howsorryiwasfornolearningmylessons,forseekingbirds’eggs,orgoingslidingonhesaar！mybooks,hahadseemedsuchanuisanceawhileago,soheavyocarry,mygrammar,andmyhisoryofhesains,wereoldfriendsnowhaicouldn’giveupandmhamel,oo;heideahahewasgoingaway,haishouldneverseehimagain,mademeforgeallabouhisrulerandhowcrankyhewas