<h2 class="space"><SPAN name="arc" id="arc"></SPAN><b>Joan of Arc</b></h2><span class="totoc"><SPAN href="#toc">Contents</SPAN></span>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>In a village in the green country of France, there once
lived a girl named Joan. She spent her days in sewing
and spinning, and in minding her father's sheep.</p>
<p>At that time there was a sad war in France, and the
English had won many battles. Joan was grieved to hear
of the trouble of her country. She thought of it night and
day, and one night she dreamt that an angel came, and told
her to go and help the French prince.</p>
<p>When Joan told her friends of this dream, they laughed
at her.</p>
<p>"How can a poor girl help the prince?" asked they.</p>
<p>"I do not know," replied Joan; "but I must go, for God
has sent me." So she went to the prince, and said: "Sir,
my name is Joan. God has sent me to help you to win
the crown of France."</p>
<p>They gave Joan a suit of white armour, and a white
horse, and set her at the head of the army. She led the
soldiers to fight, and the rough men thought she was an
angel, and fought so bravely that they won many battles.</p>
<p>Then the prince was crowned King of France.</p>
<p>When this was done, Joan felt that her work was over.
"I would that I might go and keep sheep once more with
my sisters and my brothers; they would be so glad to see
me," pleaded she. But the king would not let her go. So
Joan stayed; but her time of victory was past. Soon, she
was taken prisoner by the English, and cruelly burned to
death. She died as bravely as she had lived, and her name
will never be forgotten.</p>
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<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</SPAN></span></p>
<p><span class="toill"><SPAN href="#ill">Illustrations</SPAN></span></p>
<p class="center"><SPAN name="image-34" id="image-34"><!-- Image 34--></SPAN>
<ANTIMG src="images/il062s.jpg" class="png" height-obs="400" width-obs="280" alt="JOAN AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY" title="JOAN AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY" /></p>
<p class="image"><SPAN href="images/il062x.jpg" class="image">View larger image</SPAN></p>
<p class="caption">JOAN AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY</p>
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