Would you prefer to send them to work on the land

35. The master made us water his garden. 36. As long as a people retains its language, it will not become a slave. 37. You would have said that the poor man wished to go away. 38. You should have seen how we worked ! 39. No one pays attention to them. 40. He did not raise his eyes from the page. 41. The desks were worn by use. 42. Let us pack our trunks, for we must leave to-morrow. 43. It was so funny that they all wanted to laugh. 44. Shall you forget it? 45. He seems tall to me. 46. Can you finish the phrase? 47. We motion to them to go away. 48. Do not go away. 49. If we do not go away, we shall not see our friend.

JB. Little Frantz was late that morning, and he was afraid of being scolded, and he did not know the first word about the participles. The weather was so warm that the thought came to him to play truant. But he had the strength to resist, although (bien que with subj.) the blackbirds were whistling in the woods, and he ran to school. As he was passing the mayor's ofiice, he saw people who were reading the notices. And he thought without stopping, "What is the matter ? Is there bad news again ?" The blacksmith and his apprentice shouted to him, as he was running across the square, not to {de ne pas) be in such a hurry, that he would get to school soon enough. But Frantz thought the blacksmith was making fun of him, and he entered the school yard. Generally you could hear (impf. ind.) out into the street the noise that was made, but that day everything was still. They (on) were not repeating their lessons out loud, and the master was not striking the table with his ruler. The little boy's comrades were already in their places, and the master was going up and down with his ruler under his arm, and Frantz had to enter in the midst of that calm. Then he noticed the

master's beautiful green frock coat, and his silk skull-cap. He noticed also, at the back of the room, sitting on benches, the old mayor and postman, who were holding open on their knees old ABC books. Then M. Hamel told the children that it was the last time he would have {faire) the class, that it was their last lesson in French. These words upset little Frantz. Then he was angry with himself for the time that was lost. His books, which seemed a little ago so heavy to carry, were now old friends whom he could not leave. The little boy understood now why poor M. Hamel had put on his Sunday clothes, and why the old men had come to school. They were thanking the master for his forty years' services. Then he heard his name called. What would he not have given to be able to recite the rule of the participles ! But the master did not scold him, for he was sufficiently punished. He had said to himself that he had plenty of time, that he would put off his education. He had claimed to be French and he could neither speak nor write his own language. The people of Alsatia were not anxious enough to see their children educated. They sent them to work in the spinningfactories or on the land. And the teacher himself had something to reproach himself with. When he wanted to go fishing for trout, he did not hesitate to give them a holiday. Then M. Hamel spoke of the French language. And the little boy was astonished to see how he understood. "The French language," said he, "is the finest language in the world. It must never be forgotten." Whatever the master said seemed so easy to the boy. The poor man wanted to make all his knowledge go into the heads of his class before departing. Then they began to write. The copy-lines were, — France^ Alsatia, and everybody was diligent. Even the little fellows, who were tracing their " strokes," paid no attention to the may-bugs which came in. And M. Hamel was motionless in his desk. For forty years he had been there, and now he wished to carry away in his eye all the objects in his school. The walnut trees which he had planted had grown large, and the hop-vine encircled the windows. And now he and his sister were to go away from the country for ever. Then he gave the children their history lesson. The little fellows sang ba, be, bi, and old Hauser having put on his

spectacles spelled the letters with them. When the church clock rang noon, M. Hamel rose in his desk, and turning towards the black-board, he wrote with a piece of chalk, " Hurrah for France."