Little Philippe of Belgium

by Madeline Brandeis

  Soon Philippe was leaving the tiny house with a bundle of lace tuckedunder his arm. His good friend walked with him as far as the gates ofthe convent.

  As Philippe looked back, he saw the sister standing at the big irongates, waving to him.

  She looked after him and thought, "What a clever little fellow he is!"

  She did not know what a disobedient little fellow Philippe really was.Also, she did not know that she was sending him to a thief. But then,neither did Philippe know this. He had told her that Tom and Zelie werehis friends and that they were fine people. Philippe honestly believedthis.

  As he walked, he turned every little while to wave back to the sister.At last the City of Sisters faded from sight.

  Chapter X

  IN THE SHADOWS OF BRUGES

  Philippe traveled comfortably to Bruges. Thanks to his friend, thesister, he rode in a train. He left the glass-roofed station of Ghent,and soon the train was speeding through flat, fertile country. It wasnot long before the old city of Bruges loomed into sight.

  The word "Bruges" means "Bridges," and it is no wonder that the citybears that name. For everywhere one looks, one sees a bridge.

  Bruges is a very old city. Once, long years ago, it was a famous port.Fabrics of many kinds came into Bruges. Famous Belgian laces and linenswere shipped from there to other countries.

  ANCIENT CITY GATE, BRUGES]

  But since the discovery of America, Bruges has been very quiet. For withthe discovery of the new world came a great change. There came newmethods of trading. Bruges sank back upon her bridges and let the restof the world go by.

  Philippe sat in his railway coach. He looked out of the window andthought how very gray and dull the old city looked.

  "I should not like to be alone on those old cobbled streets at night,"he shivered.

  The tall steeples of the old churches threw shadows. Ghosts of knightsin armor might well prowl those streets! Again Philippe shuddered.

  He began to be a little homesick. He began to think about his mother andPapa Pomme and Baby Rose. He had disobeyed his parents. He had leftthose two kind gentlemen without saying a word.

  What would they think of him? Philippe knew that he had done wrong. Butsomehow he knew that he was going to keep right on until he found Tomand Zelie. He could not give up now.

  The train pulled into the station and stopped. The boy started out insearch of the fair. To the market place he went. Crowds were there. Itwas a gay sight. Booths were everywhere. There were merry-go-rounds andswinging boats and shooting galleries and candy stands.

  Children were all about, laughing, singing, eating. Philippe's eye wastrained, and he knew market places. He had spent most of his life inone. So he found a spot for himself and began to dress the dog, Trompke.

  Trompke disapproved. But Philippe won the battle, and soon the dog wasdressed in lace cap and veil. His worried, wrinkled face looked outfrom under the dainty lace cap. His tail wiggled the handsome lacytrain.

  Philippe sang to attract the crowds and soon people began to stop and tolaugh at Trompke. All the time Philippe was looking about him, while hisheart beat fast.

  Perhaps a few feet away from him were his friends. He hoped that hewould find them. Perhaps Zelie had sung to the same people who were nowlaughing at Trompke.

  The boy examined every booth. But there was no sign of Tom or Zelie.

  Meanwhile the sister's lace was selling fast. People stopped to laughand to pet Trompke. The little boy explained to them about the lace.

  "The finest lace in all the world, madam," said he, "made by the sistersin Ghent. A very excellent bargain."

  Philippe sold all his lace and found his pockets bulging with money. Howpleased the good sister would be!

  HE DRESSED TROMPKE AS A BRIDE]

  Besides, he had made extra money for himself. People gave him extramoney because they liked his sweet voice and because Trompke made themlaugh.

  But the heart of Philippe was heavy. He had not seen Tom and Zelie! Hewas in a strange city; he was far from home, and it was growing late.

  Philippe now walked slowly to the post office. Here he sent away twoletters. One was to his father.

  He told his father not to worry about him. He said that he could notreturn to Brussels because he was going to make his way and send them agreat deal of money. He enclosed some bills in the envelope, and he feltproud.

  The other letter was to the sister and contained the money in paymentfor the laces and also payment of the amount the sister had loaned him.

  He still had money in his pocket. He bought food. But Trompke ate mostof it. Somehow Philippe did not feel hungry. He was too excited.

  Chapter XI

  FOUND

  The shadows were falling in Bruges. The high towers were reflected inthe canals. The city was slowly being covered by night.

  A terrible, lonesome feeling came over Philippe as he watched thedarkness stealing on. How could he stay all night in the ghostlydarkness of this old city? His teeth began to chatter.

  A boy about his own age came up to him.

  "Where are you going?" asked the boy.

  "I don't know," answered Philippe truthfully.

  "You don't know?" the boy laughed. "Then let me take you somewhere. Haveyou some money?"

  VIEW OF A CANAL FROM THE ROSARY DOCK, BRUGES]

  Philippe showed the stranger his money.

  "We can go to the cinema," smiled the boy eagerly.

  So Philippe was taken to a theater by his new companion. Philippe wastired and discouraged and sank down in his seat with a sigh. He wantedto go home.

  He was afraid of the dark city and the strange shadows. He knew he haddone wrong. Now he was ready to give up.

  But as he watched the flickering shadow people on the screen, he thoughtof that other film which he had seen with his father. He remembered thebrave Belgian soldiers and the heroic King Albert. Then he had wanted tobe a hero, too. But now he was acting like a coward.

  This film story was a romance with knights on fiery steeds. Whatadventure those brave knights had! They did not give up and go home.They came home in glory and each married a princess!

  Philippe sat up straight. He saw himself as one of those knights. Thenhe turned suddenly to the boy next to him.

  HE SAW HIMSELF AS A KNIGHT]

  "Did you see a man and a girl with an organ today at the fair?" heasked.

  "Yes," replied the boy at his side, "They were at the fair, and the girlsang."

  "Did you notice which way they went when they left the market place?"Philippe demanded quickly.

  "Well--" hesitated the other, "I did see them going down--Oh, don'tbother me now. I want to see the film," he added irritably.

  But Philippe had him by the shoulders.

  "Come out of here," he ordered.

  The boy was too amazed to refuse. Together the two marched out of thetheater.

  On the sidewalk Philippe seized the boy's arm and said to him, "I mustfind those people. Do you understand? Now, you've got to think which wayyou saw them go!"

  After Philippe had told his story and explained about Tom and Zelie, theother boy remarked, "Well, my friends and I followed the organ man to anarrow little street where the poorest people live. The place was verydark, even in the daytime. It frightened some of the little children; sowe left. We did not stay to see where the organ man went."

  Philippe thanked his new acquaintance, and the boy was glad to go backto his seat in the theater.

  Philippe followed directions, and soon he was in the dingy little streetin which Tom and Zelie had disappeared.

  No one was about. It was the blackest, most silent place Philippe hadever been in. He and his dog huddled beside a wall. There was nobodywhom he could ask for information. Had he the courage to ring adoorbell?

  He started toward a door. His finger was about to push the bell when avoice called to him. The voice came from above.

  Philippe looked up, and there was Tom!

&
nbsp; He was looking out of a window. It was so dark that Philippe could notsee Tom's face very clearly. But his voice was cheery.

  "Hello, my lad," he called. "So you've come to us at last!"

  Philippe ran up the steps, and Tom let him into the house. It was a poorhouse and smelled musty and old.

  Tom was very pleased to see the boy.

  "I knew that some day you would come," he said, slapping Philippe on theback. "You are a fine brave lad, and we shall have a splendid lifetogether, wandering on the road."

  "YOU ARE A FINE, BRAVE LAD"]

  "Where is Zelie?" asked Philippe.

  "Ah, she will soon be home. She is so busy. She works very latesometimes," answered Tom smiling.

  "What does she do?" Philippe asked after a little silence.

  "She plays the organ, and she sings," the man replied. "Now, you shalljoin her, and together you two should bring in much money."

  His eyes gleamed. Philippe did not feel very happy. But he could nottell why. Perhaps he was just tired, and tomorrow all would be well.

  Then suddenly from the street below, there came a howl. Philippe ran tothe window and saw his dog, Trompke, below. The fat puppy was whimperingand calling his master. He had been forgotten outside.

  Philippe smiled at Tom.

  "That is my Trompke," he said.

  They opened the door, and the puppy flew up the steps into Philippe'sarms. Philippe stroked him, and then he told Tom how Trompke had helpedhim to sell the sister's lace. Tom was delighted.

  "What a bright boy you are!" he exclaimed. "You shall continue sellinglace for me. That is a splendid plan."

  Just then Zelie came home. She seemed thinner and paler than whenPhilippe had last seen her. She did not talk very much, but her face litup when she saw Philippe.

  "I am so glad you have come," she said. "We shall have such good timestogether."

  Tom grinned broadly.

  "Yes, indeed," he agreed. "There is a fair in Ostend (=ost-end'=),so we four shall start our wanderings tomorrow."

  "We four?" asked Zelie.

  She had not noticed Trompke. The puppy was curled up behind a chair.

  "WE FOUR SHALL START OUR WANDERINGS TOMORROW"]

  "Yes," smiled Tom slyly. "The little dog is to be one of our party, anda very important one, too. Eh, Philippe, my boy?"

  Philippe smiled and began to feel happier. At last he was going to dothe thing he had always dreamed of doing. At last he was going to travelwith Tom and Zelie.

  Chapter XII

  PHILIPPE FINDS OUT

  So Tom went out next day and purchased some lace at a very cheap price.He and the two children packed their things, and started on theirjourney.

  Philippe's plan succeeded, and Tom was delighted with the way thelace-gowned dog drew the crowds. Philippe and Zelie sang together, andpeople thought the two children very attractive. They brought in muchmoney for Tom.

  From town to town they traveled.

  Tom always seemed gay and pleasant. The only times he ever showed hisill nature was when the children did not bring in enough money. Then hisscowls were very disagreeable to see. But usually he was pleased withwhat Philippe and Zelie and Trompke made.

  They arrived at the fair in Ostend, a famous beach resort of Belgium.They attracted the attention of many children along the wide beach. Herethey saw hundreds of bathing machines.

  BATHING BEACH AT OSTEND]

  These machines are little houses on wheels, in which people dress andundress. Horses are hitched to the houses. They pull them to the water'sedge, where the bathers jump into the sea for their swim.

  From Ostend they journeyed to Courtrai (=koo-tre'=) and the flaxfields.

  Philippe noticed how much the Belgian people living near the border ofFrance resemble the French people.

  In sections of Belgium close to Holland, the people wear wooden shoesand look very Dutch. Their language, Flemish, is indeed almost thesame as the Dutch language.

  As they wandered through the Belgian villages the smell of cows andfresh hay greeted their nostrils.

  Nearly everyone is poor in these villages. The women wear bedroomslippers in the street.

  They now came to Tournai (=toor-ne'=), which is one of the most ancienttowns in Belgium. It dates from the time of Julius Caesar.

  As they approached the city of Mons, (=mons=) they passed great coalmines. These mines were taken over by the Germans during the World War.

  While armies were fighting in France and destroying French property,Belgian farms and factories were being well run by the Germans. That iswhy our travelers, wandering over the country of Belgium, saw fewruins.

  They trudged along black roads and passed great chimney stacks.

  Several times Philippe had sent money home to his parents.

  But one day Tom said, "I must ask you to give me all the money you make.It is I who feed and clothe you. And now you belong to me."

  Philippe had a strange feeling then.

  He answered, "But I must send my parents some of what I make. It is onlyfair."

  Tom scowled fearfully and snapped, "You will do as I say!"

  After that time Philippe worried. He told Zelie, but she said nothing.She looked very sad, however.

  Then one evening while they were having supper by the side of the road,Tom announced, "It is time that Philippe learned our business, eh,Zelie?"

  Zelie started and turned very pale, but she did not answer.

  "Listen," continued Tom. He leaned over toward Philippe. "Do you seethat farm over there?"

  He pointed to a little peaceful-looking farm in the distance. Philippenodded. He wondered what Tom was going to say. Tom had never talked likethis before.

  "Tonight we shall go to that farm," Tom went on, "and we shall take awheelbarrow along, and we shall help ourselves to all the finevegetables there. Tomorrow we shall set up in the market place. You havesold vegetables in market places before, eh, my Philippe?"

  But the boy could not answer. He was horrified.

  It all came to him then. This was the vegetable thief--the man who hadstolen his own father's vegetables! Tom! Oh, what a foolish boy he hadbeen! Why hadn't he listened to his parents? He was traveling with athief!

  Tom said in an irritable voice, "Come on, boy! Don't stare at me likethat! Wake up, and we shall teach you!"

  But Philippe had jumped up quickly and stood before Tom. His fists wereclenched and his cheeks burned.

  "No, no! I won't steal," he cried. "It is wicked to steal! I will nothelp you!"

  Tom only smiled calmly.

  "NO, NO! I WON'T STEAL!"]

  Then he said, "Oh, very well, my boy. Do not excite yourself. You neednot come along, since you feel that way. Zelie and I have always donewell. We can still get along without you. You shall do your work bysinging, and we by stealing. That is simple."

  But Philippe was angry.

  "Oh, you wicked man!" he cried. "I will not stay with you any longer. Iam going home!"

  Then Tom caught hold of the boy's arm. Tom's eyes flashed.

  "No!" he said firmly, "No. You had better not try that. You are mine,and you shall stay with me!"

  That night Tom locked Philippe in the room of a little hotel while heand Zelie went to the farm.

  Philippe wrote a letter to his father. He told all of what had happened.He begged forgiveness and asked his father to come and get him.

  But when Tom returned, he found the letter and burned it.

  "Do not try any tricks," he said, "for you will be sorry."

  He yawned sleepily and went to bed.

  When Philippe heard Tom's snores, he tried to run away. But Zeliestopped him at the door.

  "Don't go," she said. "Please don't go. He will find you, and then hewill beat you."

  "How do you know?" asked Philippe.

  "Because," Zelie replied, "he has done it to me!"

  And then Philippe knew why Zelie's eyes were so sad and held a look offear.

  "Oh, Zelie," P
hilippe cried, "I am so sorry for you. You are so brave."

  Zelie then began to cry softly.

  "Sometimes I am very sad," she sobbed. "That is why I was so glad tosee you. Before you came, oh, he made me work so hard!"

  "Do not cry, Zelie," said Philippe, "but tell me all about it. I willprotect you."

  "DO NOT CRY, ZELIE"]

  Philippe suddenly felt very brave. He felt like one of those knights hehad seen in the film. He felt like a hero out of a fairy tale. He knewthat he was only a boy, but he had great courage, and he wanted toprotect Zelie.

  "We two will escape," he promised the girl. "You'll see. Now tell meeverything."

  Then Zelie told Philippe that Tom was not really her father.

  "My mother and father died when I was a baby," she told him, "and thisman is my uncle. Oh, he is a very bad man, and he has made me steal, andif he ever should catch us trying to escape--oh, oh!"

  The poor little girl again began to sob.

  "Stop, Zelie," urged Philippe. "I have a plan, and we will escape."

  Zelie dried her eyes. Then she went to her room, and Philippe started tothink.

  Chapter XIII

  THE CAVE OF THE CROWS

  Philippe tried several times after that to post a letter. But Tom's eyeswere very keen, and he seemed to see everything at once.

  Ever since that day, Tom had watched Philippe all the time. But the manacted no differently than before. He whistled a great deal and waspleased with the money that the children brought in.