The Children of France | Page 2

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!"
CHAPTER II
REMI THE BRAVE
"He was a little French peasant lad, this boy Remi that I shall tell you

about, and had just passed his tenth birthday when the Germans
invaded his beloved country," began the Captain.
"Remi continued on at school in spite of the excitement about him, for
everyone was talking about the war, but his heart was with the soldiers
whom he knew were marching forth in thousands to meet the enemy.
One day his father was called to the colors and the child was left in the
care of an uncle.
"Now, this uncle belonged to a military organization called the
Territorials, something like our National Guard, and a few weeks later
they also were called to march forth and join the French Army. Remi
was to be left in the care of the neighbors. That was the plan made by
the uncle. The little French lad, however, had his own ideas about that,
but kept his plans to himself. He now forgot all about going to school,
and spent