Pierrot could not yet carry wee Lisa on his back as old Luppe could so easily, but to Henri he seemed large enough for anything, and the boy was very impatient to see Pierrot’s serious training begun. So Gran’père, in his leisure hours, built a little toy cart and harness for Pierrot, and he and Henri began the lessons.
At first Pierrot was very unmanageable and seemed anxious to get into the cart himself, but after a while Gran’père made him understand that he was to go straight ahead when given the word and not stop until so ordered. Finally they taught him to turn when he felt the tug of a rein on his collar.
When at last Gran’père felt sure that Pierrot had learned his lessons, Henri was allowed to take him out upon the road with wee Lisa in the cart, to the huge delight of that small, merry person.
One day, as they passed solemnly along the road, Henri marching sturdily alongside and wee Lisa sitting like a proud lady in her carriage, they met a Belgian soldier in a queer little bonnet and a dark blue uniform with red stripes on his trousers. Henri saluted as Gran’père had taught him to do, and the soldier came to a halt.
“Where are you going, monsieur and mademoiselle?” asked the soldier pleasantly.
“Just for a drive,” replied Henri, a little bewildered at being thus formally addressed.
The grenadier, who was not much of a talker, stood regarding them with a quizzical smile. Then Henri plucked up courage:
“My father wears a blue coat with brass buttons, too,” said he.
“Is he a soldier?” asked the man.