ntry throw the first stone at me.

Bossuet's "Funeral Orations," Voltaire's "Siecle de Louis XIV.,"
D'Aubigne's "History of Bayard," Bonnechose's "Lazare Hoche," were
among my favorite text-books.

I need not say that I always avoided recommending historical books
which, like Bonnechose's "Bertrand du Guesclin," for instance, referred
to struggles between France and England. For obvious reasons, I have
always preferred reading the accounts of the battles of Cressy,
Poictiers, and Agincourt in French histories to reading them in English
ones;[12] and I imagined that Bertrand du Guesclin would not inspire in
my pupils the same admiration as he did in us French boys.

[12] _I have always been doubtful whether these battles are
properly related in histories published in England._

* * * * *

But what fiery patriots these British lads are! Why, they would like to
monopolize all the victories mentioned in history.

Bossuet's panegyric of Louis XIV. drove them frantic, half mad. Dear
little fellows! they were wriggling with pain on their seats as we were
reading: "This king, the terror of his enemies, who holds the destinies
of Europe in the hollow of his hand and strikes with awe the whole
astonished world."

"The whole world struck with awe!" that could not be. Surely Bossuet
ought to have said "with the exception of England"--a sad omission on
his part.

"Who is it Bossuet is speaking of?" once remarked a good little
patriot, on hearing this sentence.

"Louis XIV."

"Louis XIV.?"

"Yes; never heard of him?"

I don't think he had.

Bayard they all liked. His personal deeds of valor appealed to their
young imaginations. His athletic powers especially stirred their hearts
with admiration.

Besides, his exploits took place such a long time ago that they felt
ready to be lenient towards him.

* * * * *

We once came across the name of Louis VI. of France in some French
text, and I was unfortunate enough to mention in class that, at the
battle of Brenneville, an English soldier came up to the French king,
and called upon him to surrender, when Louis VI. remarked: "Don't you
know that, at chess, the king cannot be taken prisoner?" and
immediately struck the English soldier dead on the spot.

The boys seemed displeased. They looked at one another; it was evident
that they thought there was something wrong. The dose w