PHILIPPE ACTS AS GUIDE
Philippe was a very good guide. He had learned much through his reading.
Now he was able to show his new friends many interesting sights in
Brussels. Also, he knew stories about all of them.
Brussels has been called "Paris in Little." This is because it is
beautiful like Paris, with boulevards, similar buildings, and lovely
parks. They passed avenues shaded by fine old lime trees. They admired
statues and fountains all over the city.
Philippe led the two gentlemen to the palace of the King. The little
Brussels boy pointed out a long stately building which stands just
opposite a fine park.
"So this is the palace of good King Albert!" remarked the English
gentleman. "He is considered a great ruler."
"He is," smiled Philippe, "and we love him."
Then the boy continued seriously, "But we Belgians and even King Albert
do not like the idea of a kingdom."
"No?" inquired the Englishman, in a surprised tone.
"You know Englishmen are very true to their King."
"Yes, I have read in my books that they are," replied Philippe. "But we
have good reasons for continuing with a monarchy. First, because of our
love for King Albert, and then because we are afraid that without our
kingdom we should split up. And you know that our motto is 'In union
there is strength.'"
"But why do you fear being split up, as you say?" inquired the
Englishman.
"Because," answered Philippe, "on one side of us is France, a republic;
on the other side is Germany, also a republic. We Belgians are very
close to both these countries because of many things. We are like them
in many ways and we trade with them. We fear that without our King to
hold us together we might become part of these countries. And we are
very patriotic. We never want to be anything but Belgian!"
The little fellow stood and saluted the flag, which was flying from the
palace.
"See! The flag!" said Philippe, pointing to the red, yellow, and black
colors fluttering in the breeze. "I can tell you about that, also, if
you would like me to do so."
"Certainly," replied the Englishman. Then he turned to his friend, the
American, and said, "The little chap is just full of stories."
"That may be," replied the friend, "but I do not understand a word. It
all sounds like Chinese to me!"
"Wait," laughed the Englishman. "I shall translate them to you later."
So Philippe told about his flag.
"The black in the flag is the King's color," said he. "It stands for
constancy, wisdom, and prudence. The yellow stands for law and order.
And red is for Belgium's liberty, fought for and obtained by the blood
of her soldiers."
As they walked along the shady streets the English gentleman explained
to his friend all that Philippe had said. The American nodded his head
understandingly.
"That is very interesting," he said. "I do not blame the Belgians for
being loyal to their King. They have good reasons."
[Illustration: PALACE OF THE KING, BRUSSELS]
"I am sure you would like to visit Waterloo," suggested Philippe. "I
need not tell you the story of Waterloo," he smiled, "for everybody who
has ever studied history knows about that."
But those who have not yet studied history may want to know that it is a
famous battlefield where many wars were fought. The most famous of the
battles was the struggle between the Duke of Wellington, who commanded
the English army, and Napoleon Bonaparte who led the French.
When Philippe and his new friends had looked about for a while, the
American gentleman remarked, "So this is where Napoleon met his
Waterloo!"
It was here that Napoleon was conquered! That is why we still use the
expression "met his Waterloo" when we mean to say "was defeated."
[Illustration: BRUSSELS HAS MANY FINE BOULEVARDS]
Philippe showed them the "Mound of the Lion," that great pyramid-shaped
monument on the battlefield.
"It was built after the Battle of Waterloo, in memory of the Prince of
Orange," he explained. "It is as large as a city block. The huge lion on
the top is made of metal from captured French cannons. You know that the
lion is the emblem of Belgium. The mound was built almost entirely by
women who carried the dirt in pails."
Driving back to the city, the Englishman remarked, "It seems to me that
tea time is approaching."
The little boy knew how important tea time is to Englishmen. So he
suggested an excellent café where they might sit outside and watch the
people.
While they were eating, Philippe explained to the Englishman how he
loved to read. He told of his interest in the stories of his land.
"Then you do not want to be a chef some day like your father?" asked the
gentleman.
Philippe shook his head.
"I want to do great things," he answered. "To travel, to have
adventures."
The Englishman smiled.
"That is very natural," he remarked. He told his friend, the American,
what the boy had said. His friend laughed.
"That sounds like an American boy," he said. "Ask him what he wants to
do."
The Englishman asked Philippe this question.
The boy answered, "Oh, I should like to go to Antwerp (=ănt´-wẽrp=)
and Ghent (=gĕnt=) and see the sights of Belgium, because I know so
many stories about everything."
He then told them about his wandering friends, Tom and Zelie.
[Illustration: MODERN BRUSSELS IS WELL LAID OUT WITH MANY WIDE AVENUES]
The Englishman remarked, "That is a hard life. It is much better to
travel in a motor car." Then he smiled pleasantly and continued, "That
is the way we travel. We are leaving for Antwerp tomorrow in our car."
Philippe's eyes shone. Here were more traveling folks. It seemed to the
boy that everyone in the world was traveling except himself.
And while Philippe was thus thinking, the gentlemen were talking
together in English.
Suddenly the Englishman turned to Philippe and asked, "How would you
like to come along with us to Antwerp? You would make an excellent
guide, since you know so much about the country."
Philippe's heart almost stopped beating.
"Oh, sir," he breathed, "that is very good of you." Then he hesitated.
"But my father would not let me go."
"Where is your father?" asked the gentleman.
"At the restaurant where we lunched, sir. He is in the kitchen," replied
Philippe.
"Very well; let us go and see him," suggested the Englishman.
Philippe led the gentlemen back to the restaurant. They followed him
into the big kitchen.
There Philippe began to introduce them to Papa Pomme.
But the Englishman and Papa Pomme stared at one another and then they
both cried out together, "Well, well, well!"
[Illustration: "WELL, WELL, WELL"]
Philippe was surprised to see that Papa Pomme and this English
gentleman already knew each other. They were very happy to meet again.
Papa Pomme turned to Philippe and said, "My boy, here you see a war-time
friend of your father's. We were soldiers together in the World War.
This gentleman was a great hero!"
The Englishman interrupted, "Oh, no, no, my friend, not so great a hero
as you."
Then he looked at Papa Pomme's wooden leg and they both grew serious.
"But come! We have something to ask you," the gentleman suddenly
observed. "My friend and I are going to Antwerp tomorrow. Will you allow
your son to go along? We promise to take good care of him, and I'm sure
he'll take splendid care of us. For you know, he has guided us through
Brussels all day."
Papa Pomme fairly beamed with pride.
Then he said, "It is very kind of you, and I am delighted to have my
Philippe go along with you. He has wanted so much to travel. Eh, little
Philippe?"
And he pulled the boy's hair playfully.
"Oh, yes, Papa," joyfully agreed Philippe.
Papa Pomme continued, "And this time, I know that you will be safe, for
you will be with an old friend of mine."
Philippe felt like dancing. What a wonderful thing had happened! He was
really going on a trip. Of course, it was only to Antwerp, and then for
just a few days. But even so, adventures might happen. Had Philippe
known what adventure was really coming, he might not have been so
happy.