A few people began to wander over to the vegetable booth. They stood and watched the two children. They smiled at the quaint little vegetable boy, and looked admiringly at the pretty baby. Then the children began their second stanza, as more and more people gathered around the booth.
"It must be hard for spinach, too;
His leaves are never read;
Poor mushroom, with the fairy folk
All sitting on his head!
Old Mr. Onion grieves so much.
He makes us all boohoo!
I'm glad I'm not a vegetable,
But just a child. Aren't you?"
Many people had now crowded round and some began to buy vegetables. Philippe was kept busy serving them. Baby Rose smiled and dimpled at everyone. She sang other songs that Philippe had made up. Then she sang "The Brabançonne" (brȧ-bän-sōn'), Belgium's national anthem.
The vegetables were slowly disappearing. But from the booth next door, not a vegetable was bought. Philippe cast a look in the direction of the tall dark man, who was standing with his arms folded.
Philippe looked down at the man's vegetables. For the first time he noticed that they were not fresh. They were wilted and stale.
"It is no wonder the people do not buy," thought Philippe.
But he felt sorry, nevertheless. When the crowd had left, and the selling was over, he turned to the man.
"I am sorry," he said. "But——"
Philippe was going to tell him that people will not buy stale vegetables. But the man interrupted him.
"Thank you, but I do not need your advice," he said.