English Flamingo

• Franz started for school very late that morning and was afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel for not knowing anything about participles
• Despite the temptation to spend the day outdoors due to the warm weather and activities like bird chirping and Prussian soldiers drilling, Franz resisted and hurried off to school
• Upon arriving at school, Franz noticed the quiet atmosphere, unusual for a school day, with M. Hamel in his special attire and the villagers looking sad
• M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson as only German would be taught in Alsace and Lorraine schools from then on
• M. Hamel expressed the importance of the French language, calling it the most beautiful and logical language, and urged the students to guard it among themselves
• After a lesson in grammar and writing, the school day continued with a history lesson and the babies chanting their alphabet, while even old Hauser was crying
• As the church clock struck twelve and the midday prayers began, the Prussian trumpets sounded outside, leading M. Hamel to write "Vive La France!" on the blackboard before dismissing the class