Viewing page 75 of 143

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-70-

THE ATTACK.

As no attention was paid to the state of my health the next morning found me down again in the classroom. There I took part in a veritable comedy which, however, seemed tragic enough at the time.

The lesson for the day was the Catholic Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo by the Inglese general Vellingtone. Probably the Catholic text-book gave a sombre and biased rendering of this event, for the little girls, bilious from overeating the day before, became unduly excited. They sided with the defeated Napoleons and soon worked themselves back to the herd [[strikethrough]] al [[/strikethrough]] instinct to attack. And who could be attacked with more impunity then the heretic "Inglese" now sitting in their classroom?

They crowded up to my desk and with dark glances and many gesticulations accused me of being related to the vile Vellingtone. I tried to explain that I was more closely related to George Washington than to Wellington. But they refused to hear of George Washington and their hostility grew to such an extent that the now smiling Sister rushed forward and without delay escorted me to the door.

When liberated I again found my way to the warm vaults of the kitchen.