I SHALL not say much about Belgium, because
it is so like the countries on each side. Which
are they P France and Holland. Belgium, like
Holland, is very flat, though not so flat or as
damp as that curious land. It is like France,
because it is full of corn-fields. The people
are in some things like the Dutch: they are
steady, sober, and industrious : but in some

* Taken from the Tour of Mr. William Chambers.
296 BELGIUM.
things they are like the French ; they are quick
and Kvely. They speak the French language,
though some of the people speak a language of
their own, called Flemish; but the names of
the trades over the shops, and the nanues of the
streets, are written in French. If you know
French, you can travel as pleasantly in Bel-
gium as in France.
There are a great many neat little farm-
houses among the fields. Each farm is not
larger than a good-sized field, that is, about six
acres ; yet on this small piece of land the whole
family live comfortably. How industrious they
must be ! "Yes, not one in the family is idle.
The father sows wheat in one corner of his
field, and in another rye, and in another clover
for the beasts, and in another flax to make
linen. The wife spins the flax, and then has
it woven into clothes for her family. The
children have plenty to do in collecting food
for the two cows, which are kept in the stable.
