Les petits vagabonds

Two orphaned siblings survive on the streets of Paris, selling flowers by day and sleeping in squalor while entrusted to a harsh guardian. Lacking schooling, family memory, or religious instruction, they wonder about their origins and endure frequent humiliation alongside rare acts of pity from passersby. Their constant companion is a devoted, clever poodle named Balthasar, whose tricks both aid and expose them under their guardian's control. The narrative traces their daily hardships, the dogs loyalty, and the children's quiet yearning for affection and a more secure life.