Nello lives happily with his grandfather in 19th century Flanders in Belgium. They make a living by carrying milk. One day they find an injured dog who has been abandoned by his master. They take him home and care for him, naming him Patrash.
Nello plays with Patrash and his girl friend Alois, and likes to draw their pictures. Nello is talented in drawing and dreams of becoming a painter like Rubens. One day Patrash’s ex-master comes to demand that they return the dog to him. Grandfather pays him so that they can keep Patrash and begins to work even harder for money, which causes him to fall ill and die. Left alone, Nello works hard to live by himself, which is a heavy burden for a boy. Patrash helps the poor boy. Despite these hardships, Nello never forgets his dream of becoming a painter like Rubens.

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