The story of the middle ages; an elementary history for sixth and seventh grades . and and imposing ^•• possible; and we gaze upon its great height withawe, and wonder at tlie marvelously quaint and cleverpatterns in which the stone is carved. We leave this, also, after a time; and then we cometo the belfry or town-hall. This is the real centerof the life of the city. Here is the strongsquare tower, like the donjon of a t^^er^*castle, where the townsmen may make theirlast stand, in case an enemy succeeds in entering theirwalls, and they cannot beat him back in their narrowstreets. On top
The story of the middle ages; an elementary history for sixth and seventh grades . and and imposing ^•• possible; and we gaze upon its great height withawe, and wonder at tlie marvelously quaint and cleverpatterns in which the stone is carved. We leave this, also, after a time; and then we cometo the belfry or town-hall. This is the real centerof the life of the city. Here is the strongsquare tower, like the donjon of a t^^er^*castle, where the townsmen may make theirlast stand, in case an enemy succeeds in entering theirwalls, and they cannot beat him back in their narrowstreets. On top of the tower is the bell, witli watchmen always 192 THE STOEY OF THE MIDDLE AGES Oil tlie lookout to give the signal, iu ease of fire or otherdanger. The bell is also used for more peaceful pur-poses. It summons the citizens, from time to time, topublic meetings. Also, every night at eight or nineoclock, it sounds the curfew (French couvre feu,cover fire) as a signal to cover the fire with ashes,and cease from the days labors. Within the tower are dungeons for prisoners and. IIUTEENTH CENTURY meeting rooms for the rulers of the city. There, also,are strong rooms, where the city money is kept, to-gether with the great seal of the city. Lastly, theretoo is the charter which gives the city its liberties—the most precious of all the citys possessions. Even in ordinary times the city presents a bustling,busy appearance. If it is a city which holds a fair,once or twice a year, what shall we say of it then? LIFE OF THE TOWN 193 For several weeks, at such times, the city is one vastbazaar. Strange merchants come from all parts of theland and set up their booths and stalls alongthe streets, and the city shops are crowded J^^irs^^^**with goods. For miles about, the peoplethrong in to buy the things which they is a picture of the streets of a city duringfair-time, in the thirteenth century. In the middle ofthe picture, we see a townsman and his wife /^ returning home a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1, booksubjectmiddleages, bookyear1912
