"And what are you going to be?" he asked Walter; "for everybody in the world must be something. Wouldn't you like to be a bookbinder? That's a good trade."
"I was--I was in business, M'neer; and I'm going back to business."
"That's good, my boy. You may get rich. Especially here in Amsterdam; for Amsterdam is a commercial city."
Walter wanted to add: "The greatest commercial city of Europe." But he was abashed by the--worldliness of Father Jansen's talk. He didn't find it disagreeable: he was merely surprised at it.
"A boy like you ought to eat a lot. You look pale. My brother can bend a horseshoe. What do you say to that? Have you ever eaten our Brabant bread? Ham isn't bad, either. A person that doesn't eat enough gets weak. I always eat two slices of bread and butter whenever I'm here at Mrs. Claus's; but I'm not nearly so strong as my brother. You ought to see the Vucht fair. That's a great time."
Walter was more than surprised to hear such talk from a preacher: he was almost pleased. He had never received such charming messages from heaven. Of course they came from heaven, those friendly words uttered in Brabant dialect between the puffs of Father Jansen's pipe. This man in a priest's coat chattered away as if there were no such thing in the world as God, Grace, and Hell--especially the latter. He was as happy as a child in telling about the strength of his brother, the horseshoer. It was his business to lead the world to eternal happiness; and he liked thick slices of bread and butter with cheese.
Walter had never had religious things opened up to him so delightfully. He felt encouraged to speak:
"M'neer, I would like to know who God is!"
Father Jansen started, and looked at Walter as if he hadn't clearly understood the question.
"Yes--that's very praiseworthy in you. You must----"
"But, father," cried Mrs. Claus, "the child isn't in the church! Are you?"--to Walter.
"Well, you see he's in the church all right."
The good woman didn't have the heart--or else she had too much heart--to tell the father that it wasn't the right church.
"Whoever wants to get acquainted with God," said Father Jansen, "must study diligently."
"To be sure," said Mrs. Claus, "the articles of faith. You ought to hear my Femke repeat them. It's a pleasure, isn't it, father? She's my only child, but--she's a girl worth having!"