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[Illustration: "I OUGHT TO DUMP YOU OUT."]
THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE
A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice
of Youthful Patriots of France During
the Great War
By
RUTH ROYCE
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
1918
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. THEIR FIRST HERO
II. REMI THE BRAVE
III. THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE
IV. FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS
V. THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE
VI. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE
VII. SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT
VIII. THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER
IX. GENÉ AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS
X. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY
XI. A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD
XII. THE HERO OF THE GUNS
XIII. MARIE THE COURAGEOUS
XIV. CONCLUSION
AUTHOR'S NOTE
While the Author cannot personally vouch for the stories related in
this volume, she has full confidence in the sources of her
information--men who have seen and heard on the battlefields of
France, and who have related to her these and many other like
incidents illustrating the heroism of the Children of France. Some of
the stories the relators have learned through personal observation,
while others have come to them indirectly. The author, therefore,
believes each story set down here to be authentic, and so offers them
to the liberty-loving boys and girls of America.
THE AUTHOR
INTRODUCTION
The story of the heroism of the Children of France never will be fully
told. Many of these little patriots have suffered the supreme penalty
for their devotion to their country, leaving neither track nor trace
of themselves. That they have disappeared is all that is known of
them, and thus the stories of their deeds of valor have died with
them.
In no other period of the world's history have there been so many
instances of self-sacrificing patriotism on the part of children as
have come from France during the great war. Through all such stories
as have come to light, there runs a spirit of heroism that is sublime.
Such stories should and will prove an inspiration to every boy and
girl of America and surely will lead them up to a more perfect manhood
and womanhood.
INTRODUCTION
In this little volume are set down the stories of many devoted little
French boys and girls, some of whom have offered their lives for their
country, others of whom have passed through perils that would try the
strongest and bravest of men, and yet lived to be honored by a
grateful government for their deeds of heroism. How Remi the Brave, a
lad of ten, won the Cross of War; the story of Little Mathilde who
saved the French garrison from the Uhlan raiders; Marie the
Courageous, who remained at home when the Germans captured the town in
which she lived, and kept the French informed, knowing that if caught
she would surely be shot as a spy; how the Hero of the Guns saved the
day by working the machine guns when nearly all their crews were dead
or wounded; the story of the Little Soldier of Mercy who, though a
timid lad, forgot his fears, and working under fire saved the life of
many a wounded man; how Little Gené locked the Bavarian Dragoons in
the cellar of her home and captured the lot of them, are a few of the
thrilling tales of the patriotism and heroism of the Children of
France that form one of the most fascinating chapters in the history
of the great world war. They will make the heart of every boy and girl
beat faster, they will grip the heartstrings of all who read and bring
them to a better realization of their duty to their Flag and to their
Country.
CHAPTER I
THEIR FIRST HERO
Before the "Squire's" son went away to war, the neighborhood children
knew him only by sight and by hearing their parents speak of him as
the son of "the richest man in Titusville," who never had done a day's
work in his life.
Perhaps the parents were not quite right in this, for, even if Robert
Favor had not gone out in the fields to labor, he had graduated from
high school and college with high honors. He never spoke to the
village children nor noticed them, and was not, as a result, very
popular with the young people of his home town. The neighbors said
this was all on account of his bringing up.
It was therefore a surprise to them when, at the beginning of the
great war, after Germany swept over Belgium, Robert Favor hurried to
Europe. It was later learned that he had joined what is known as the
"Foreign Legion" of the French Army. Titusville next heard that he had
been made a lieutenant for heroic conduct under fire. But Titusville
did not believe it; it said no Favor ever did anything but run away in
such circumstances. But they believed it when, later on, they read in
the newspapers how Lieutenant Favor had sprung out of the trenches and
ran to the rescue of a wounded private soldier who had lain in a shell
hole in No Man's Land since the night before.
The village swelled with pride and the eyes of the children grew wide
with wonder as they listened to the story of the heroism of the
Squire's son. But this was as nothing to what occurred later. "Bob"
Favor was brought home one day to the house on the hill, pale and
weak from wounds received in battle.
Spring was at hand, and as soon as he was able, Captain Favor--you see
he had again been promoted--was taken out on the lawn where, in his
wheel chair he rested in the warm sunshine. The bright red top of his
gray-blue cap, and the flash of the medal on his breast excited the
wonder of the children, who pressed their faces against the high iron
fence and gazed in awe. It was the first real hero any of them ever
had seen.
Finally, chancing to look their way, the Captain smiled and waved a
friendly hand. A little girl clapped her hands, others started to
cheer and a little man of ten dragged an American flag from his pocket
and waved it. The Captain beckoned to the children.
"Come in, folks," he called. "I wish some one to talk to me and make
me laugh. Are you coming?"
They were. The children started, at first hesitatingly, then with more
confidence, led by the boy with the American flag, which he was waving
bravely now.
"What's your name?" demanded the Captain.
"Joe Funk, sir."
The Captain laughed. "No boy so patriotic as you are should have a
name like that," he said. "We all are going to be great friends, I am
sure, and when I get this leg, that a German shell nearly blew off, in
working order again, we shall have some real sport and I'll teach you
all how to be soldiers. Just now I cannot do much of anything."
"Yes, you can," interrupted Joe. "You can tell us how you rescued the
soldier when the Germans were shooting at you and--"
"Master Joseph," answered the Captain gravely, "a real soldier never
brags about himself; but what you say does give me an idea. How would
you like to have me tell you about the brave little children of
France?"
"Well, I'd rather hear about how you killed the Germans, lots of 'em;
I want to hear about battles and dead men and--"
"We shall speak of the children first, and I will begin right now. Let
me see. Ah! I have it. Sit down on the grass, all of you, and be
comfortable. Be quiet until I finish the story, then ask what
questions you wish. Now listen!"