The Belgian Twins | Page 9

gray
twilight which precedes the coming of the dawn. The priest went with
his people, praying for them as he walked, in a voice that shook with

feeling.
The sky was red in the east and the larks were already singing over the
quiet fields when the men of Meer, followed by their wives and
children, presented themselves at the Brussels gate of the city.
IV
"FOR KING, FOR LAW AND LIBERTY"
"FOR KING, FOR LAW AND LIBERTY"
At the gate they were met by an officer, who at once took command of
the company. There was only a moment for hasty good-byes before the
order to march was given, and the women and children watched the
little column stride bravely away up the street toward the armory,
where the uniforms and arms were kept. They followed at a little
distance and took up their station across the street from the great doors
through which the men had disappeared. There was little talking among
them. Only the voice of the priest could be heard now and then, as he
said a few words to one and another of the waiting women. It was still
so early in the morning that the streets of the city were not yet filled
with people going to work. Only those, like themselves, concerned with
the sad business of war were abroad.
To Jan and Marie the long wait seemed endless, but at last the doors of
the armory sprang open; there was a burst of martial music, and a band
playing the national hymn appeared. "For King, for law and liberty!"
thrilled the bugles, and amidst the waving of flags, and the cheers of
the people, who had now begun to fill the streets, a regiment of soldiers
marched away toward the north. Jan and Marie stood with their mother
on the edge of the sidewalk, eagerly scanning every face as the soldiers
passed, and at last Jan shouted, "I see Father! I see Father!"
Mother Van Hove lifted her two children high in her arms for him to
see, but Father Van Hove could only smile a brave good-bye as he
marched swiftly past.
"No tears, my children!" cried the priest; "let them see no tears! Send
them away with a smile!" And, standing on the edge of the sidewalk, he
made the sign of the cross and raised his hand in blessing, as the troops
went by.
For a time Mother Van Hove and the children ran along the sidewalk,
trying to keep pace with the soldiers, but their quick strides were too
much for the Twins, and it was not long before Marie said, breathlessly,

"My legs are too short! I can't run so fast!"
"I can't too!" gasped Jan. Mother Van Hove stopped short at once, and
the three stood still, hand in hand, and watched the soldiers until they
turned a corner and disappeared from sight through the Antwerp gate of
the city.
They were quite alone, for the other women and children had gone no
farther than the armory, and were already on their homeward way to
Meer. Now for the first time Mother Van Hove gave way to grief, and
Jan and Marie wept with her; but it was only for a moment. Then she
wiped her eyes, and the Twins' too, on her apron, and said firmly:
"Come, my lambs! Tears will not bring him back! We must go home
now as fast as we can. There is need there for all that we can do! You
must be the man of the house now, my Janke, and help me take your
father's place on the farm; and Marie must be our little house-mother.
We must be as brave as soldiers, even though we cannot fight."
"I think I could be braver if I had some breakfast," sobbed Janke.
Mother Van Hove struck her hands together in dismay. "I never once
thought of food!" she cried, "and I haven't a red cent with me! We
cannot buy a breakfast! We must just go hungry until we get home! But
soldiers must often go hungry, my little ones. We must be as brave as
they. Come, now. I will be the captain! Forward march!"
Jan and Marie stiffened their little backs, as she gave the word of
command, and, shoulder to shoulder, they marched down the street
toward the city gate to the martial refrain, "Le Roi, la loi, la liberte,"
which Mother Van Hove hummed for them under her breath.
It was a long way back to the little farm-house, and when at last the
three weary pilgrims reached it, they were met by an indignant chorus
of protests from all the creatures which had been left behind. Bel was
lowing at the pasture bars, the pig was