The Belgian Twins

etching far across the level, green plain, reached almost to the little red-roofed house on the edge of the village which was its home. Another shadow, not so long, and quite a li

atient white farm-horse, hitched to the cart. These gay shadows belonged to Jan and Marie, sometimes called by their parents Janke and Mie, for short. Jan and Marie were the twin son

nd pull weeds in the garden. In the spring they had even helped sow the wheat

g their father's pitchfork had uncovered a nest of field mice, and the Twins had made another nest, as much like the first as pos

e was also Fidel, the dog, their faithful companion and friend. The children had followed him on many an excursion among the willows along the river-bank, for F

se which had been brought from home for their noon meal. Then they had taken a nap in the shade, for it is a long day that begins and ends with the midsummer sun. The bees hummed so drows

d roofs of the village, and the windows of the little houses gave back an answering flash of light. O

faintly by the sound of distant chimes from the

high with the golden grain. As the clock struck, he paused in his labor, took off his hat, and wiped his brow. He listened for a moment to the music of the bells, glanced at the western sky, al

, but the sky gives promise of a fair day to-morrow, and the weather-cock

ven," cried Jan. "I

r Van Hove's feet. "He can count seven when it is supper-time! As for me, I do not need a clock; I can tell the time of day

her apron tenderly; "I can tell time by my stomach. It

ching Marie's fat cheek, "and you shall save your stren

e reached down from his perch on top of the load, caught

the back of old Pier like a soldier going to the wars!" She lifted Jan to the horse

he wagon. "U-U!" cried Father Van Hove to old Pier, and the little procession mo

across the green plain clear to the city of Malines. As they turned from the cart-path into the road, the old blue cart became part of

ve to Father Maes, whose home lay beyond his

er Maes; "I have more wheat t

" answered Father Van Hove. "The winte

s in the city yesterday and heard rumors of a German army on our borders. It is very likely only a

tly. "Are we not safe under the protection of our treaty? No, no

wered Father Maes, cracking hi

and when Father Van Hove at last drove into the farmyard, she was already on the way to the pasture bars with her milk-pail on her arm. "Set the

do, Mother?" laugh

ager I shall be back with a full milk-pail before you've even so much as fed the pig, let alone the other

t there near the barn, and to-morrow we can store the grain away to make room for a new load. I will let you lead P