He went to the barn. There he spoke to the big dogs, his only companions. He told them the great news.
These dogs did not have much time to play with a little boy. They were usually working. For Belgian dogs draw carts for their owners.
BELGIAN DOGS DRAW CARTS FOR THEIR OWNERS
Philippe's mother had a big vegetable cart. Nearly every morning she loaded it with peas and beans and carrots and onions. She then hitched the dogs and drove them to the market place in Brussels. Here she would sit at a stand and sell her fresh vegetables.
Philippe usually went with her. But sometimes he stayed at home with the gardener.
Philippe's father was a chef. Papa Paul was a very fine chef and could cook some of the best French and Belgian dishes.
He cooked in a fine restaurant in Brussels. He came home late at night, and so Philippe saw little of his father.
But he admired his father very much. He wanted to cook the way his father did some day. That was another great desire in the heart of this little boy. Philippe dreamed of some day becoming a chef like his father.
But he did not look like Papa Paul. Philippe's father was stout and round and smiling. And Philippe was rather slender, and had a serious little face with big dreamy eyes. He was like his mother.