"I was cruel to the lad," he murmured, "and now I would have made amends--yea, to the half of my substance--and he should have been to me as a son." There came also as the day grew apace a painter who had fame in the world and who was liberal of hand and of spirit. "I seek one who should have had the prize yesterday had worth won," he said to the people, "a boy of rare promise and genius. An old woodcutter on a fallen tree at eventide, that was all his theme. I would find him and take him with me and teach him art." And a little child with curling fair hair, sobbing bitterly as she clung to her father's arm, cried aloud: "O Nello, come! We have all ready for thee. The Christ child's hands are full of gifts, and the old piper will play for us; and the mother says thou shalt stay by the hearth and burn nuts with us all the Noel week long--yes even to the feast of the kings! And Patrasche will be happy! O Nello, wake and come!" But the young, pale face, turned upward to the great Rubens with a smile upon its mouth, answered them all, "It is too late." For the sweet sonorous hells went ringing through the frost, and the sunlight shone upon the plains of snow, and the populace trooped gay and glad through the streets, but Nello and Patrasche no more asked charity at their hands. All they needed now Antwerp gave unbidden. When they were found the arms of the boy were folded so closely around the dog that it was difficult to draw them away. The people of the little village, contrite and ashamed, took the little boy tenderly in their arms and bore him away to his last resting place. Patrasche was not forgotten, for all the villagers felt the strength of his devotion. * * * * * Of all the characters in this story, which is the most important and the most interesting? The author has showed us which she considers the most important by the title she has given to the tale--_A Dog of Flanders_. Let us see just what she has told us about Patrasche, that we may know whether he is worthy of being the hero of a story. First, as to his appearance, we are given the following facts: 1. Yellow of hide. 2. Large of limb. 3. Wolflike ears. 4. Legs bowed and feet widened. 5. Large, wistful, sympathetic eyes. 6. Great, tawny head. 7. (Later) Drooping and feeble; gaunt. The picture which the author paints for us of Patrasche's appearance is not beautiful; we do not love him just for his looks. As to his character and abilities, we are told, or are enabled to find out from his actions, the following things: 1. Strong and industrious. He used to draw the heavy cart of the hardware dealer. 2. Grateful. He loved those who had saved his life, and worked for them willingly. 3. Careful of his young master. He was troubled when Nello went into the dim churches. 4. Wise. He felt that it was good for Nello to be as much as possible in the sunny fields or among happy people.