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1905.]

The St. Nicholas League

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window. No one knows what was said, but some of the strength and light seemed to be transferred from Jeanne’s face to that of the Dauphin. They continued in conversation for some time, then Charles led Jeanne back into the hall with the reverence due a princess, and gave her over to one of the court ladies. Just before he left her, he stooped and kissed her hand.

Thus Jeanne d’Arc, the peasant girl of Domremy, the savior of France, began her mission which ended with her death on May 30, 1431.

“Distance.” By Edward A. Miles, age 10. (Gold Badge.)

PLEASURE.
By Alice Trimble (age 9.)
(Silver Badge-winner)

Pleasure is round us, Pleasure is here,Autumn and springtime, All through the year.

Pleasure is with us And round us galore,Pleasure and happiness, E’en at our door—

Pleasure in making Another child bright,Pleasure in doing What we think is right.

Vercingetorix.
By Marian van Buren (age 8.)
(Gold Badge)

I have just got as far as Louis NIII in French history, and one of the episodes which impressed me very much was the story of the noble Vercingetorix. He was born in Arvenre, which is now called Auvergne, and lived at the time when Cæsar invaded France—58 b.c.

Vercingetorix was a very brave and noble man, and as the Gauls knew this they chose him for their chief.

For some time they succeeded in checking the Romans gloriously, but after a time Cæsar shut Vercingetorix and his army up in Alesia. For a long time Vercingetorix defended the town splendidly, but at last all their provisions were exhausted, and his army died of hunger, and only he and a few other soldiers were left. He knew it would have been impossible to drive the Romans away; so he determined to go and give himself up to Cæsar and implore him to withdraw and to spare his country; so he put on his best suit of armor, mounted his finest horse, and going alone before Cæsar, he threw his armor and sword at Cæsar’s feet. Cæsar had not a kind heart, and instead of admiring the great devotion of Vercingetorix, he had him put in chains and sent him to Rome, where he kept him in prison for six years.

After this long, dreary time he had the cruelty to execute this hero who had so bravely defended his country.

THE PLEASURES OF DREAMING.
By Dorothy Agnes Caffin (age 15.)
(Silver Badge-winner)

I hear a sound of music soft and sweet That makes me think of springtime and of flowers,Of moonlight as it streams across the grass, And shady woodland paths and fairy bowers.

And as I listen, visions seem to shape Themselves within my mind, and I beholdKnights in full armor riding in the lists Of wooing lovely maids with hair of gold.

And soon I love them e’en as though they lived; And though the tale is for myself alone,It gives me greater pleasure than a hook, For it belongs to me—it is my own!

“Distance.” By James M. Walker, age 13. (Silver Badge.)