will do no great harm, if you
afterwards forget the names earned here. But always remember one thing:
your country first of all. Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans did
not die in vain, so long as there are men ready to follow their example.
Your turn will come too. It is not my business to boast, but truth is
truth. We Hollanders have furnished fifty times three hundred men for the
freedom of our native soil. In such stormy times there are steadfast men;
even boys have shown themselves great. Ulrich yonder, at your head, can
bear his nickname of Lowing with honor. 'Hither Persians--hither Greeks!'
was said in ancient times, but we cry: 'Hither Netherlands, hither
Spain!' And indeed, the proud Darius never ravaged Greece as King Philip
has devastated Holland. Ay, my lads, many flowers bloom in the breasts of
men. Among them is hatred of the poisonous hemlock. Spain has sowed it in
our gardens. I feel it growing within me, and you too feel and ought to
feel it. But don't misunderstand me! 'Hither Spain--hither Netherlands!'
is the cry, and not: 'Hither Catholics and hither Protestants.' Every
faith may be right in the Lord's eyes, if only the man strives earnestly
to walk in Christ's ways. At the throne of Heaven, it will not be asked:
Are you Papist, Calvinist, or Lutheran? but: What were your intentions
and acts? Respect every man's belief; but despise him who makes common
cause with the tyrant against the liberty of our native land. Now pray
silently, then you may go home."

The scholars rose; Van Hout wiped the perspiration from his high
forehead, and while the boys were collecting books, pencils, and pens,
said slowly, as if apologizing to himself for the words already uttered:

"What I have told you perhaps does not belong to the school-room; but, my
lads, this battle is still far from being ended, and though you must
occupy the school-benches for a while, you are the future soldiers.
Lowing, remain behind, I have something to say to you."

He slowly turned his back to the boys, who rushed out of doors. In a
corner of the yard of St. Peter's church, which was behind the building
and entered by few of the passers-by, they stood still, and from amid the
wild confusion of exclamations arose a sort of consultation, to which the
organ-notes echoing from the church formed a strange accompaniment.

They were trying to decide upon the game to be played in the afternoon.

It was a matter of course, after what Van Hou