Part 1 (2/2)

The Brussels Sprout was not a little vegetable. He was a little boy. His name was really Philippe. But he was called ”Pet.i.t Choux de Bruxelles”

(=pe-te' shoo de bruk-sel=), which means in French, ”Little Brussels Sprout.” French is spoken in Brussels, and this little boy was born in that city.

But he now lived on a farm a few miles outside of Brussels.

The name ”choux” (=shoo=) or ”cabbage,” is often used as a pet name.

That was the reason why Philippe's parents called him Little Cabbage or Sprout.

Sprout was a very good name for this little boy, because new ideas were always sprouting in his head.

He was always dreaming dreams and wis.h.i.+ng wishes. He was never satisfied.

One of his dearest wishes was for a little sister.

Today he sat among the cabbages and thought deeply. He was wondering why one of the cabbages did not open and give him a baby sister.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SPROUT SAT AMONG THE CABBAGES]

This may sound queer to you. But Philippe was only five years old, and he believed very earnestly that babies pop out of cabbages.

It is a Belgian folk tale. Philippe had planted these cabbages in his garden for this very purpose.

But no baby sister had popped out of a cabbage yet.

Philippe wanted a baby sister with whom to play. He was the kind of little boy who always longed for something.

He was not really discontented. But he liked new things to happen. And besides he was a bit lonely on that farm, with n.o.body to play with him.

”Why do you look so sad today, my little cabbage?” asked his mother.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HE WAS NEVER SATISFIED]

She had just come out of the house and stood looking down at him.

”I am thinking that never will the baby, Cauliflower, come!” he answered.

Cauliflower was what Philippe had determined to name the sister for whom he longed. Cauliflower in French is ”choux fleur” (=shoo-flr=), which means ”cabbage flower.”

”Are you quite certain that none of the cabbages moved today?” asked Mother Yvelle (=e-vel'=), smiling strangely.

Philippe shook his head and replied, ”They are all quite still, Mamma.

The little sister is not coming.”

<script>