The Last LessonAlphonse Daudet I was very late that morning on my way to school and was afraid of being scolded. The master had told us he would question us on verbs, and I did not know a thing about them, for I had not done my lesson. For a moment I thought of playing truant. The air was so warm and bright, and I could hear the blackbirds wh istling on the edge of the woods, and the Prussians drilling in the meadows behind the sawmill. I liked this much better than learning the rules of verbs, but I did not dare to stop, so I ran quickly towards school. Passing the mayor"s office, I saw people standing before the little bulletin board. For two years it was there that we had received all the news of battles, of victories and defeats. "What is it now?" I thought, without stopping.Then, as I ran along, the blacksmith, who was there reading the notice, cried out to me, "Not so fast, little one, you will reach your school soon enough." I thought he was making fun of me and ran faster than ever, reaching the schoolyard quite out of breath. Usually at the beginning of school, the noise of desks being opened and closed, and lessons repeated at the top of the children"s voices could be heard out in the street. Occasionally the master beat the table with the heavy ruler as he cried, "Silence, please, silence!" I had hoped to be able to take my seat in all this noise without being seen; but that morning the room was quiet and orderly. Through the open window I saw my schoolmates already in their places. The master was walking up and down the room with the iron ruler under his arm and a book in his hand. As I entered he looked at me kindly, and said, without scol...
