The Story of Joan of Arc

JOAN OF ARC was perhaps the most wonderful person who ever lived in the world.The story of her life is so strange that we could scarcely believe it to be true, if alithat happened to her had not been told by people in a court of law, and writtendown by her deadly enemies, while she was still alive.

She was burned to deachwhen she was only nineteen: she was not seventeen when she first led the armies ofFrance to victory, and delivered her country from the English.Joan was the daughter of a poor man, in a little country village.

She had neverlearned to read, or write, or mount a horse.

Yet she was so wise that many learnedmen could not puzzle her by questions: she was one of the best riders in France;one of the most skilled in aiming cannons, and so great a general that she defeatedthe English again and again, and her army was never beaten till her King desertedher.

She was so brave that severe wounds could not stop her from leading on hersoldiers, and so tender-hearted that she would comfort the wounded English onthe field of battle, and protect them from cruelty.

She was so good that her enemiescould not find one true story to tell against her in the least thing; and she was somodest that in the height of her glory she was wishing to be at home in her father'scottage, sewing or spinning beside her mother.