Halifax Grammar School - Grammarian Yearbook (Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada)

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5. THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE Great-uncle, said little Pierre, it is so long since you have told me a story,. Today in school I heard mentioned the name Madame Defarge, Could you tell me perhaps something about her? Seated in the kitchen of a French farmhouse, in the lovely countryside outside Versailles, was an old man, smoking his pipe and g ziag fondly at his little grandnephew„ iee, mon petit, I know well the story of Madame Defarge, Come over here by the fire and I shall tell you one of the most blood-thirsty stories in the history of France The little boy climbed up on the knee of his great-uncle, and trembling with excitement and anticipation he settled down to listen to one of the old gentleman ' s wonderful stories. Ah yes, it was during the reign of Louis XVI „ He was a bad ruler, and how well we knew what it meant to be hungry and cold during those dreary days in my beloved France. Paris was a seething mass of unrest and hatred for the ruling class, who were called Aristocrats. One day, while I was returning home from the lyc e I was caught up in a mob of fierce, wild people. A powerful woman dragged me along with her, and I was terrified as I heard her screaming, We are storming the Bastille - down with the Aristocrats - they will feel the blade of the gulllotinei Before I knew it we were at the gates of the dark and forbidding Bastille, Until the day I die I shall hear the howl of the mob, as they used huge battering rams to break down the doors, walls, and barred windows. They were animals, the people in the mob, and as they stormed into the Bastille and into the black prison of the Concl ergerle , the guards and soldiers could make little impression on their terrible actions. Soon the Bastille was a flaming mass of fire and destruction. And I cannot tell you, my little one, of the many horrors I saw. But yes, it was the blackest period in the history of la belie France. I was there, yes - and always shall I remember. Stephen Greening - Age 10.4-

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THE COMBAT Along a beckoning road, About the break of day, A knight rode happily along While all the world was gay He heard a damsel ' s cry for help And raced towards the sound. He came to a great stone castle Which stood upon a mound. There was a shield vdiich barred the way. These words he read in the light; He who wishes to save this damsel Must vanquish the Black Knight o He called, Black Knight, prepare yourself To battle for your captive. For here I stand to save her, And to make you inactive, Out of the great stone castle Forth came a glorious knight, Followed by pages and esquires. With lances for tofLght, The knights took up their stations o Then both charged with pride. The lances smashed to pieces, And the two soon ceased to ride. They took up two fresh lances, And returned to their mounts. Again they charged with fury. Would this round take the count? The Black Knight ' s lance was splintered. But the other ' s filled the need. The former fell from his horse. The latter stopped his steed, Yield, 0 brave and haughty knight. Give up your prison key. That I may free the captive maiden And take her home with me. Then off they rode on his noble steed. While their love more constant grew, The damsel with the hair of gold, And the knight with the eyes of blue. Williajn Black - Age 10,10