The Belgian Twins | Page 4

Betty Sheridan, who
generously loaned the book to be produced for PG.

THE BELGIAN TWINS
By Lucy Fitch Perkins

Geographical Series
THE DUTCH TWINS PRIMER. Grade I. THE DUTCH TWINS.
Grade III. THE ESKIMO TWINS. Grade II. THE FILIPINO TWINS.

Grade IV. THE JAPANESE TWINS. Grade IV. THE SWISS TWINS.
Grade IV. THE IRISH TWINS. Grade V. THE ITALIAN TWINS.
Grades V and VI. THE SCOTCH TWINS. Grades V and VI. THE
MEXICAN TWINS. Grade VI. THE BELGIAN TWINS. Grade VI.
THE FRENCH TWINS. Grade VII.
Historical Series
THE CAVE TWINS. Grade IV. THE SPARTAN TWINS. Grades
V-VI. THE PURITAN TWINS. Grades VI-VII.

To the friends of Belgian Children --
PREFACE
In this sad hour of the world's history, when so many homes have been
broken up, and so many hearts burdened with heavy sorrows, it is
comforting to think of the many heroic souls who, throughout the
struggle, have gone about their daily tasks with unfailing courage and
cheerfulness, and by so doing have helped to carry the burdens of the
world, and to sustain other hearts as heavy as their own.
It is comforting, also, to know that there are many instances of happy
reunions after long and unspeakable anxieties, adventures, and trials.
This story of two little Belgian refugees is based upon the actual
experience of two Belgian children, and the incident of the locket is
quite true.
The characters of the eel-woman and the mother of the Twins have also
their living originals, from whose courage and devotion the author has
received much inspiration.
CONTENTS
I. THE HARVEST-FIELD
II. THE RUMORS
III. THE ALARM
IV. "FOR KING, FOR LAW AND LIBERTY"
V. DOING A MAN'S WORK
VI. AT THE CHURCH
VII. THE TIDAL WAVE OF GERMANS
VIII. GRANNY AND THE EELS
IX. OFF FOR ANTWERP
X. ON THE TOW-PATH
XI. THE ATTACK

XII. THE ZEPPELIN RAID
XIII. REFUGEES
XIV. THE MOST WONDERFUL PART
THE BELGIAN TWINS
I
THE HARVEST-FIELD
THE HARVEST-FIELD
It was late in the afternoon of a long summer's day in Belgium. Father
Van Hove was still at work in the harvest-field, though the sun hung so
low in the west that his shadow, stretching 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
little broader, stretched itself beside his, for Mother Van Hove was also
in the field, helping her husband to load the golden sheaves upon an old
blue farm-cart which stood near by.
Them were also two short, fat shadows which bobbed briskly about
over the green meadow as their owners danced among the wheat-
sheaves or carried handfuls of fresh grass to Pier, the, patient 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 and daughter of Father and Mother Van
Hove, and though they were but eight years old, they were already
quite used to helping their father and mother with the work of their
little farm.
They knew how to feed the chickens and hunt the eggs and lead Pier to
water and pull weeds in the garden. In the spring they had even helped
sow the wheat and barley, and now in the late summer they were
helping to harvest the grain.
The children had been in the field since sunrise, but not all of the long
bright day had been given to labor. Early in the morning their father's
pitchfork had uncovered a nest of field mice, and the Twins had made
another nest, as much like the first as possible, to put the homeless field
babies in, hoping that their mother would find them again and resume
her interrupted housekeeping.
Then they had played for a long time in the tiny canal which separated
the wheat-field from the meadow, where Bel, their black and white cow,
was pastured. There 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 Fidel might at any moment
come upon the rabbit or water rat which he was always seeking, and
what a pity it would be for Jan and Marie to miss a sight like that!
When the sun was high overhead, the whole family, and Fidel also, had
rested under a tree by the little river, and Jan and Marie had shared with
their father and mother the bread and cheese 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