The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11

toiled cruelty in Flanders through many century-slaves of slaves, dogs of the people that strained their noble sinews in harness and broke their noble hearts on the fints of the merciless streets.
 When the drunken Brabantois, who owned him. had at last driven and beaten and starved Patrasche till the dog fell on the dusty road and lay with wide-open, foaming mouth, the Brabantois gave him d final kick and then harnessed himself to the cart, to draw it till he could steal dog for the work
 Patrasche, flung into ditch was found by little, bent lame, miserably clad old man. who had little, rosy. fair-haired, dark-eyed child by the hand. The old man was Jehan Daas. who had been good soldier in the times when war trampled the country as the oxen trample furrows. When wounds and age had crippled him, and peace had made soldiers unnecessary. he was thrown aside and permitted to starve bit by bit. on the small coins that such remnant as he could earn.
 The child was his orphaned grandson. Nello. and old Jehan Daas proved again
  Is not sufficient to support one, by love is made sufficient for two
 Jehan Daas and NelIo did not share the Flemish hard-heartedness toward dogs. The old soldier surveyed the creature with plying eyes. Then he kneeled down and lifted the big head. He saw that the dog was alive and took him home with much effort. Patrasche lay there, too weak to move. for many days. In all that time he waited for the blow. the kick and the curse that had been his constant portion. But he felt only the soothing caress Of the old mans hand and heard only the soft murmurs of the child's voice.
 So when the great dog reused himself again to life his great, deep eyes had gentle grace in them, and his faithful dogs heart awoke to a mighty love.
 Little Nelo threw his arms around the tawny neck and hung a chain of mar guerites over the great head and clasped his hands as they decided to call him Patrasche.
 The pity that had made them bear Pa trasche to their mud hut and share their crusts with him was more than repaid now. Patrasche became breadwinner. As soon as he could move again the dog walked to the little cart that the old man used to draw each morning to Antwerp with milk intrusted to him by the neigh bors. He backed into the shafts, and when they hesitated about harnessing him he tried to draw it with his teeth.
 sJehan Daas thanked heaven for the dog that winter, for he grew too feeble to
 T1utr ole toned in his puppyhood to frightful bur dens, thought nothing of little cart with a few milk cans.
 So little Nello and Patrasehe grew up together, almost equal in years, until Nello was big enough to take his grand fathers place at the side of the cart
 He was beautiful child. with dark, grave eyes, and fair hair that clustered to his throat. He attended faithfully to his work, and Jehan Daas was able to sit at home and rest his old body. Nello and Patrasche toiled cheerfully over the hot leagues in summer when the dust lay thick on the unlovely, plowed, tree less country around Antwerp; and they toiled cheerfully over those same frozen leagues in winter, when all the wild North Sea weather blew it's angriest gusts over the unprotected roads.
 Neither Jehan Daas nor Hello ever had quite enough to eat Therefore Patrasche did not have enough, either, though they shared their food with him carefully. But Patrasche was happy despite little hun ger Being only a foolish, loyal dog, he preferred love to crusts. and he was con- tent so long as he could trot lie by Nello's side
 Only one thing caused Patrasche any uneasiness, and that Was that Nello would disappear in the great old churches of Antwerp whenever he had moment Pa trasche, left outside of the dark, arched portals to these melancholy, majestic piles of stone would wait wearily and anx- aously. Once or twice he essayed to fol- low his beloved and inseparable compan- ion, and clattered up the steps with his milk cart, but they dTove him back so sternly that ever after he waited pa- tently outside.
 When Nello came out after these visits he looked very queer, and would gaze dreamily at the evening skies beyond the lines of the canals, subdued and almost sad.
 He visited the great cathedral again and again. and whenever he went there he stayed so long that lonely Patrasche would yawn and sigh to himself till he could bear it no longer, and found relief for his doggy grief in plaintive howl. Then, when the lad emerged at last, he would throw his arms around the beasts neck and kiss him on his broad, tawny forehead and murmur always the same words: If could only see them, Pa trasche-if l could only see themn
 One day when the custodian was out of the way Patrasche got in for a moment after Nello. The boy was kneeling before the altar picture of the Assumption. He arose and drew the dog gently toward the door, but as he passed the two great yelled pictures by Rubens that hang on either side of the choir he said to Pa trasche: Tt is terrible not to see them, Pstrasche, just because one is poor and cannot pay! He never meant that the poor should not see them when he paint ed them, am sure. And they keep them shrouded here in the dark-the beautiful fhingsi If could only see them | would be content to die!''
 Did Patrasche, who looked at him so wist- yully. could not help him, for poor folk to vhom a sou is life or death, could not