FLAMINGO

This E-material contains eight stories .

1. The Last Lesson –Alphonse Daudet

2. Lost -Spring –Anees Jung

3. Deep Water –William Douglas

4. The Rattrap- Selma Lagerlof

5. Indigo –Louis Fischer

6. Poets and Pancakes – Asokamitran

7. The Interview –Christopher Silvester, Umberto Eco

8. Going Places –A.R. Barton

Daudet (Louie Marie) Alphonse (1840-1897) , French writer, known for his accounts of his native provinces. Born in Nimes, he went to Pairs, where he published of volume of poetry, Les Amoureuses (The Lovers, 1858).In about 1861 he became a contributor to the newspaper Le Figaro. Daudet is perhaps best known for his naturalistic, gently houmorous sketches of provencal life. Letters de mon mulin (1869;Letter from my mill ,1900), which first appeared in Le Figaro in 1866, and for his tales about Tartarin as amusing provencal braggart the latter include Tartarin de Tarascon (1872), Tartarin sur les alpes (Tartarin on the alps,1885) and part Tarascon 1890. He also wrote Leo Contes du Lundi short stories about the Franco-Prussian war. Among his other works are the play L’Arlesienne from which the French composer Georges Bizet wrote incidental music; the noble Jack 1876 Le Nabab (the Nabab 1877) Les, Rois en exil (the Kings in exile 1879), and sabo (1884); and the semiautobiographical noble Le Petit chose (the small matter,1868). This amount of school life is sometimes compared to Charles Dicken’s similarly autobiographical noble David Copperfield (1850). Daudets two volume of memories Souvenirs d’um homme de letters (remini Scences of a man of letters) and Trente Ans de Paris (Thirty years in Paris), were published in 1880.

The last lesson

FRANZ IS LATE FOR SCHOOL

Franz was a young boy. He was late for school. He was afraid. The teacher had asked the pupils to be prepared on participles. But, Franz had not learnt the lesson. He was sure the teacher, Mr. Hamel, would be angry. He was also afraid for his ruler. The day was fine. He was tempted to play and enjoy himself in the open fields. But he dared not. He ran towards school. On his way, he passed the town hall. There he saw a crowd of people in front of the bulletin board. This bulletin board had brought Alsace all the bad news over the last two years. Franz presumed there must be another bad news but he didn’t stop to enquire. He rushed on.

The blacksmith, who had read their bullet, told Franz not to hurry. There was plenty of time. But, Franz didn’t slow down. He thought the blacksmith was poking fun on him.

UNUSUAL ATMOSPHERE AT

SCHOOL

Franz wanted to reach his desk unnoticed. He hoped there would be noise and commotion as usual. He depended on his noise and bustle to reach his desk unnoticed. But, he was surprised. Instead, he found the school quiet. Students were sitting quietly in their seats. M. Hamel was not rapping his ruler on the table. He was moving up and down with his ruler under his arm. He too looked grave and quiet.

FRANZ ENTERS THE ROOM

There was no chance for Franz to enter the room unseen. He had to open the door and enter before everybody.

Unexpectedly, M. Hamel did not rebuke him. Instead he spoke kindly to him and told him to go to his desk.

M. HAMEL WAS IN HIS BEST CLOTHES

When Franz had settled down, he looked at M. Hamel. There was another surprise for him.

M. Hamel had put on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and his embroidered black silk cap. These clothes he put on only on special occasion. But it was no special day. Franz could not understand why Hamel had put on those Sunday clothes.

THE VILLAGE PEOPLE ARE THERE TOO

There was st ill another surprise in store for Franz. There were village people on the back benches that had always been empty. The former Mayor, the former Postmaster, old Hauser with the triangular cap, and the some other village people occupied those back benches.

WHAT WAS ON THE BULLETIN

BOARD?

M. Hamel climbed up his chair and spoke to his pupils in a gentle and serious tone. He told them that an order had come from Berlin. French would not be taught anymore. Instead, German was going to be taught and the new teacher was expected to arrive the very next day. They were going to have their last lesson in French that day. Now it dawned on Franz but ordered there was on the bulletin board, and why the blacksmith had told me not to hurry. They also could see why M. Hamel had put on his best clothes.

FRANZ IS LOST IN THOUGHTS

M. Hamel’s words stuck Franz like a thunder bolt. He was lost in thoughts. He had hardly learnt to read and write. He felt he would have to stop forever. He was sorry to have wasted his time. He had always being enjoyed himself outdoors. He had hated his books. He had dreaded M. Hamel and his iron ruler. But, his attitude suddenly changed. He felt his books were good companions. He did not mind M. Hamel’s ruler and his rebukes.

Now, he also understood why the people of the village were there. They were also sorry that they had not been to school more. Now they had come thank the teacher for the faithful service.

FRANZ FAILS TO TELL THE RULE FOR PARTICIPLE

M. Hamel asked Franz to tell the rule for the participle. Franz wished he could tell the rule. But he failed miserably.

M. HAMEL’S LAST LESSON

M. Hamel did not scold Franz. He said Franz was not the only person to blame. The people of Alsace had never been interested in learning. They put it off till tomorrow. Franz’s parents wanted him to earns some money instead of going to school. He said that they strange Frenchmen who could not write or read their own language. He blame himself also. He said sometimes he closed the school when he wanted to go fishing.

HAMEL PRAISES THE FRENCH LANGUAGE

Hamel then praised his mother tongue. He said French was the most beautiful, most logical and clearest language in the world. He exhorted the people to stick to it. He assured them that if they held fast to their language, they would be able to get the Prussian rulers. The language was a key to their freedom from slavery.

M. HAMEL DOES HIS USUAL JOB

It was M. Hamel’s last day at school. But, Hamel had the courage and devotion to do his teaching work as usual. He taught grammar. He gave writing exercises. He asked little children to trace their fishhooks. Franz listened to his lesson attentively. He felt Hamel had explained the lesson so clearly that he had never done before. It appeared to him that on that last day he wanted to give his pupils all that he had to give.

M. HAMEL DISMISSES THE SCHOOL

The church clock struck twelve. It was time for the school to close. M. Hamel wanted to say something. But he was overcome with emotions. He wrote Vive Le France on the blackboard, and with the wave of his hand dismissed the school.

SOMETHING ABOUT FRANZ AND M. HAMEL

Franz tried to avoid school . He dreaded M. Hamel ’s scolding and rod He considered Hamel very strict and almost hated him .He dislike his books. Now he was sorry to have wasted his time. He felt he had learnt almost nothing. His books no longer looked a nuisance. Now, he considered them as his friends. He had sympathy and respect for M. Hamel. He forget all about his ruler and his temper.