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onward with his teeth。
At length Jehan Daas gave way； vanquished by the persistence and the
gratitude of this creature whom he had succored。 He fashioned his cart so
that Patrasche could run in it； and this he did every morning of his life
thenceforward。
When the winter came； Jehan Daas thanked the blessed fortune that
had brought him to the dying dog in the ditch that fair…day of Louvain； for
he was very old； and he grew feebler with each year； and he would ill have
known how to pull his load of milk…cans over the snows and through the
deep ruts in the mud if it had not been for the strength and the industry of
the animal he had befriended。 As for Patrasche； it seemed heaven to him。
After the frightful burdens that his old master had compelled him to strain
under； at the call of the whip at every step； it seemed nothing to him but
amusement to step out with this little light； green cart； with its bright brass
cans； by the side of the gentle old man who always paid him with a tender
caress and with a kindly word。 Besides； his work was over by three or four
in the day； and after that time he was free to do as he wouldto stretch
himself； to sleep in the sun； to wander in the fields； to romp with the
young child； or to play with his fellow…dogs。 Patrasche was very happy。
Fortunately for his peace； his former owner was killed in a drunken
brawl at the kermess of Mechlin； and so sought not after him nor disturbed
him in his new and well…loved home。
A few years later； old Jehan Daas； who had always been a cripple；
became so paralyzed with rheumatism that it was impossible for him to go
out with the cart any more。 Then little Nello； being now grown to his sixth
year of age； and knowing the town well from having accompanied his
grandfather so many times； took his place beside the cart； and sold the
milk and received the coins in exchange； and brought them back to their
respective owners with a pretty grace and seriousness which charmed all
who beheld him。
The little Ardennois was a beautiful child； with dark； grave； tender
eyes； and a lovely bloom upon his face； and fair locks that clustered to his
throat； and many an artist sketched the group as it went by him the green
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cart with the brass flagons of Teniers and Mieris and Van Tal； and the great；
tawny…colored； massive dog； with his belled harness that chimed cheerily
as he went； and the small figure that ran beside him which had little white
feet in great wooden shoes； and a soft； grave； innocent； happy face like the
little fair children of Rubens。
Nello and Patrasche did the work so well and so joyfully together that
Jehan Daas himself； when the summer came and he was better again； had
no need to stir out； but could sit in the doorway in the sun and see them go
forth through the garden wicket； and then doze and dream and pray a little；
and then awake again as the clock tolled three and watch for their return。
And on their return Patrasche would shake himself free of his harness with
a bay of glee； and Nello would recount with pride the doings of the day；
and they would all go in together to their meal of rye bread and milk or
soup； and would see the shadows lengthen over the great plain； and see the
twilight veil the fair cathedral spire； and then lie down together to sleep
peacefully while the old man said a prayer。
So the days and the years went on； and the lives of Nello and Patrasche
were happy； innocent； and healthful。
In the spring and summer especially were they glad。 Flanders is not a
lovely land； and around the burg of Rubens it is perhaps least lovely of all。
Corn and colza； pasture and plough； succeed each other on the
characterless plain in wearying repetition； and； save by some gaunt gray
tower； with its peal of pathetic bells； or some figure coming athwart the
fields； made picturesque by a gleaner's bundle or a woodman's fagot； there
is no change； no variety； no beauty anywhere； and he who has dwelt upon
the mountains or amid the forests feels oppressed as by imprisonment with
the tedium and the endlessness of that vast and dreary level。 But it is green
and very fertile； and it has wide horizons that have a certain charm of their
own even in their dulness and monotony； and among the rushes by the
waterside the flowers grow； and the trees rise tall and fresh where the
barges glide； with their great hulks black against the sun； and their little
green barrels and vari…coloured flags gay against the leaves。 Anyway； there
is greenery and breadth of space enough to be as good as beauty to a child
and a dog； and these two asked no better； when their work was done； than
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to lie buried in the lush grasses on the side of the canal； and watch the
cumbrous vessels drifting by and bringing the crisp salt smell of the sea
among the blossoming scents of the country summer。
True； in the winter it was harder； and they had to rise in the darkness
and the bitter cold； and they had seldom as much as they could have eaten
any day； and the hut was scarce better than a shed when the nights were
cold； although it looked so pretty in warm weather； buried in a great kindly
clambering vine； that never bore fruit； indeed； but which covered it with
luxuriant green tracery all through the months of blossom and harvest。 In
winter the winds found many holes in the walls of the poor little hut； and
the vine was black and leafless； and the bare lands looked very bleak and
drear without； and sometimes within the floor was flooded and then frozen。
In winter it was hard； and the snow numbed the little white limbs of Nello；
and the icicles cut the brave； untiring feet of Patrasche。
But even then they were never heard to lament； either of them。 The
child's wooden shoes and the dog's four legs would trot manfully together
over the frozen fields to the chime of the bells on the harness； and then
sometimes； in the streets of Antwerp； some housewife would bring them a
bowl of soup and a handful of bread； or some kindly trader would throw
some billets of fuel into the little cart as it went homeward； or some
woman in their own village would bid them keep a share of the milk they
carried for their own food； and they would run over the white lands；
through the early darkness； bright and happy； and