The Belgian Twins

p road to watch the swarm of sad-faced Belgians as they hurried through Boom on their way to the frontier and to safety in Holland. Each day they hoped that before the sun went down th

ong way first, but I feel in my bones that you will find her at last. And of course,

he midst of a thousand alarms she calmly went her accustomed way, and every one who met her was the better for a glimpse of the brave little brown face under its snowy cap. Early each morning she rose with the larks, covered the bottom of her barrow with clean white sand, and placed in it the live eels wh

nd beside the Antwerp road. When the shadows grew long in the afternoon, how glad they were to see the sturdy little figure come trudging home again! Then they would run to mee

back of the house, and Granny got supper ready. Supper-time was the best of all, for

with Fidel beside them, while Granny told a wonderful tale about the Ki

ives. There the trees all grow with their heads down and the sky is 'way, 'way below the trees. You see the sky might as well be down as up for the eels. They aren't like us, just obliged to crawl around on t

and, getting down on their hands

thing!" they c

t way," she answered. "Look

hands; "I see it! I see the down-bel

re is a whole lovely world in it. Now, the palace of the King of the Eels is right over in that direction where the color is the reddest. He is ver

me from. There, coming slowly toward them along the tow-path on the river-bank, was an old brown mule. She was pulling a low, green river-boat by a towline, and a small boy, not much bigger than Jan, was driving her. On the deck of the boat there was a little cabin with white curtains in the tiny wind

arrow, where she had been sitting. "I certainly am glad to see them." And she starte

shyly. The woman on deck lifted her eyes from her sewing, smiled, and waved her hand at Grann

rope ashore. "Whoa!" cried the boy driving the mule. The mule stopped with the greatest willingness, the boy caught the rope an

ith a squirming baby under each arm, came ashore. "I do like to get out on dry land and shake my legs a

ten miles every day," laughed Gra

umble about like a pair of puppies, and she and Granny talked together, while the

lay their hands on. I doubt if we ever get our cargo safe to Antwerp this time. We've come for a load of potatoes, but I am very much afraid it is going to

k over the sights that I see every day on my way to Malines. But

you have with you?"

and all the rest of the sad story. Mother De Smet wipe

e in the world in looking for their mother to come that way. She was probably driven over the border long ago. You ju

ny, "if that isn't jus

to the boat and spent the day rolling on the grass with the babies, and helping Father De Smet and Joseph to

in bed, she went aboard the "Old Woman" and talked for a long time with Father and Mother De Smet. No one will ever know just what they said to each other, but it must be that th

bed. "I'm going to stay at home and see you off on your journey!" She did not tell the

the Twins in astonish

uld come to you, I'm sure, but some people are born lucky! You see the De

ar, dear Granny!" cried the Twins,

lready in trenches near Antwerp, and our army is nearer still to Antwerp and in trenches, too. There they stay, Father De Smet says, for all the world, like two tigers, lying ready to spring at each other's throats. He says Antwerp is so strongly f

hink Father De Smet would l

doubt of it,"

idel, our dear Fi

th me until you come back again! You see, I really need good company, and since I can't have you, I k

ad said good-bye to Fidel, who had to be shut in the cottage to keep him from following the boat, and were safely aboard the "Old Woman" and slowly moving away down t