"
"The schoolmaster has taught you all about the war with France,
hasn't he, Bertha?"
"Of course. And it really seemed at one time as if France would make
us Germans agree to have the Rhine divide the two countries. Just as
if we would be willing to let the French own one shore of our
beautiful river. I should say not!"
Bertha's cheeks grew rosier than usual at the thought of such a
thing. She talked faster than German children usually do, for they
are rather slow in their speech.
"We do not own all of the river, little sister, as it is. The baby
Rhine sleeps in an icy cradle in the mountains of Switzerland. Then
it makes its way through our country, but before it reaches the sea
it flows through the low lands of Holland."
"I know all that, Hans. But we own the best of the Rhine, anyway. I
am perfectly satisfied."
"I wish I knew all the legends about the river. There are enough of
them to fill many books. Did you ever hear about the Rats' Tower
opposite the town of Bingen, Bertha?"
[Illustration: The Rats' Tower.
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