Zigzag Journeys in Europe Part 1

Zigzag Journeys in Europe.

by Hezekiah b.u.t.terworth.

PREFACE.

The aim of the publishers and writer, in preparing this volume for young people, is to give a view of the princ.i.p.al places in England and France where the most interesting events have occurred; and, by a free use of pictures and ill.u.s.trative stories, to present historic views of the two countries in an entertaining and attractive manner.

An American teacher takes a cla.s.s of boys on a vacation tour to England and France, and interests them in those places that ill.u.s.trate the different periods of English and French history. It is his purpose to give them in this manner a picturesque view of present scenes and past events, and to leave on their minds an outline of history for careful reading to fill.

A few of the stories are legendary, as the "Jolly Harper Man" and the "Wise Men of Gotham;" but these ill.u.s.trate the quaint manners and customs of the Middle Ages. Nearly all of the stories that relate to history are strictly true.

The ill.u.s.trations of history, both by pencil and pen, are given in the disconnected way that a traveller would find them in his journeys; but they may be easily combined by memory in their chronological order, and made to form a harmonious series of pictures.

The writer has sought to amuse as well as to instruct, and for this purpose the personal experiences of the young travellers are in part given. Two of the boys, who have small means, make the trip in the cheapest possible manner. Tommy Toby meets the mishaps a thoughtless boy might experience. The other travellers have an eye for the literary and poetic scenes and incidents of the tour.

That the volume may amuse and entertain the young reader, and awaken in him a greater love of books of history, biography, and travel, is the hope of the publishers and the author.

28 Worcester St., Boston, Ma.s.s.

CHAPTER I.

THE JOURNEY PROPOSED.

"The school--is--dismissed."

The words fell hesitatingly, and it seemed to us regretfully, from the tutor's lips.

The dismission was for the spring vacation. It was at the close of a mild March day; there was a peculiar warmth in the blue sky and cloudless sunset; the south winds lightly stirred the pines, and through the open window wandered into the school-room.

"Dismissed!"

Usually at this word, on the last day of the term, every boy leaped to his feet: there would be a brief bustle, then Master Lewis would be seen seated alone amid the silence of the school-room.

But to-day there was something in the tone of the master's voice that checked the usual unseemly haste. Every boy remained in his seat, as though waiting for Master Lewis to say something more.

The master saw it, and choked with feeling. It was a little thing, the seeming unwillingness to part; but it indicated to both teacher and school an increasing respect and affection.

Master Lewis had learned to love his pupils: his hesitating words told _them_ that. Every boy in his school loved Master Lewis: their conduct in remaining in their seats told _him_ that.

The master stepped from his desk, as was his custom when about to say any thing unusually social and confidential.

"Boys," he said, "I wish to tell you frankly, and you deserve to know it, that I have become so attached to you during the winter term that I am sorry to part from you, even for a week's vacation."

"I wish we might pa.s.s the vacation together," said Frank Gray,--meaning by "we" the teacher and the school.

"I once read of a French teacher," said Ernest Wynn, "who used to travel with his scholars in the neighboring countries, during vacations."

"Wouldn't it be just grand if we could travel with Master Lewis during our summer vacation!" said Tom Toby, who, although the dullest scholar in the school, always became unexpectedly bright over any plan that promised an easy time.

"We might visit some country in Europe," said Ernest. "We should then be learning geography and history, and so our education would go on."

"It would help us also in the study of modern languages," said Frank Gray.

Tom Toby's sudden brightness of face seemed to be eclipsed by these last remarks.

"I think we had better travel in places nearer home, then."

"Why?" asked Frank.

"I was seasick once: it was _orful_."

"The sickness is a short and healthy one," said Frank.

"You will find it a healthy one, if you ever are rolling on the Atlantic, with

'Twice a thousand miles behind you, and a thousand miles before.'

I wouldn't be sick in that way again for any thing. I tell you 'twas _orful_!"

Master Lewis laughed at Tom's pointed objection.

"As to learning the languages," continued Tom, "I've noticed all the Frenchmen and Germans I have tried to talk with speak their own language very poorly."

Tom's percentages in the modern languages were the lowest of his cla.s.s, and Master Lewis could not restrain a smile.

"I once tried to make a Frenchman understand that I thought Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest man that ever lived. He kept saying, _Cela va sans dire, cela va sans dire!_ [That is a matter of course.] I never knew what he meant, to say: all I could make of it was, _That goes without saying any thing_."

"The French teacher of whom I spoke," said Ernest Wynn, "used to allow his pupils to travel much on foot, and to visit such places as their love of history, geography, and natural science, made them most wish to see. So they journeyed in a zigzag way, and published a book called '_Voyages en zigzag_.'"

"I would not object to learning history, geography, and natural science in that way," said Tom Toby. "I should rather walk after history than study it the way I do now. I should prefer _riding_ after it to walking, however. I wouldn't be cheated out of having a real good time during my summer vacation for any thing."

A shadow fell on Master Lewis's face, as though his feelings were hurt by something implied in Tom's remarks. Tom saw it.

"But--but I should have a real good time if I were with you, Master Lewis, even if it were on the Atlantic, or studying French in France."

"I have often thought I would like to travel with my boys abroad. I could take my first cla.s.s, if I could secure their parents' consent, the coming summer."

"Good!"