No story of heroism has greater attractions for youthful readers than that of Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans.  It would be long to tell how for hundreds of years the greatest jealousy and mistrust existed between England and France, and how constant disputes between their several sovereigns led to wars and tumults; how, in the time of Henry the Fifth, of England, a state of wild confusion existed on the continent, and how that king also claimed to be king of France; how this fifth Henry was married to Catherine, daughter of King Charles, and how they were crowned king and queen of France; how, in the midst of his triumphs, Henry died, and his son, an infant less than a year old, was declared king in his stead; how wars broke out, and how, at last, a simple maiden saved her country from the grasp of ambitious men.  Hardly anything in history is more wonderful than, the way in which she was raised up to serve her country’s need, and, having served it, died a martyr in its cause.

Joan of Arc, Maid of Orleans, was born in the forest of Greux, upon the Meuse, in the village of Domremy, in Lorraine, in the year 1412.  At this time France was divided into two factions—­the Burgundians and the Armagnacs—­the former of whom favored the English cause, and the latter pledged to the cause of their country.

Joan was the daughter of simple villagers.  She was brought up religiously, and from her earliest youth is said to have seen visions and dreamed dreams; the one great dream of her life was, however, the deliverance of her country from foreign invasions and domestic broils.  When only about thirteen years of age, she announced to the astonished townspeople that she had a mission, and that she meant to fulfill it.

The disasters of the war reached Joan’s home; a party of Burgundians dashed into Domremy, and the Armagnacs fled before them.  Joan’s family took refuge in the town of Neufchateau, and she paid for their lodging at an inn by helping the mistress of the house.

Here, in a more public place, it was soon seen and wondered at that such a young girl was so much interested in the war.  Her parents were already angry that she would not marry.  They began to be frightened now.  Jacques D’Arc told one of his sons that sooner than let Joan go to the camp he would drown her with his own hands.  She could not, however, be kept back.  Very cautiously, and as though afraid to speak of such high things, she began to let fall hints of what she saw.  Half-frightened herself at what she said, she exclaimed to a neighbor, “There is now, between Colombey and Vaucouleurs, a maid who will cause the king of France to be crowned!”