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diff --git a/old/ullcs10.txt b/old/ullcs10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6985718 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ullcs10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11584 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of Under the Lilacs, by Louisa May Alcott +#9 in our series by Louisa M. Alcott + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + +This edition produced by Joanne Hogan. + + + + + +Under the Lilacs + +by Louisa May Alcott + + + + +TO +EMMA, IDA, CARL, AND LINA, +Over The Sea, +THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED +BY THEIR NEW FRIEND AND SISTER, +L. M. A. + + + + +Contents + +I. A MYSTERIOUS DOG +II. WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER +III. BEN +IV. HIS STORY +V. BEN GETS A PLACE +VI. A CIRCULATING LIBRARY +VII. NEW FRIENDS TROT IN +VIII. MISS CELIA'S MAN +IX. A HAPPY TEA +X. A HEAVY TROUBLE +XI. SUNDAY +XII. GOOD TIMES +XIII. SOMEBODY RUNS AWAY +XIV. SOMEBODY GETS LOST +XV. BEN'S RIDE +XVI. DETECTIVE THORNTON +XVII. BETTY'S BRAVERY +XVIII. BOWS AND ARROWS +XIX. SPEAKING PIECES +XX. BEN'S BIRTHDAY +XXI. CUPID'S LAST APPEARANCE +XXII. A BOY'S BARGAIN +XXIII. SOMEBODY COMES +XXIV. THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED + + + + +UNDER THE LILACS + +CHAPTER I: A MYSTERIOUS DOG + +The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate +was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up +for several years. + +Yet voices were heard about the place, the lilacs +nodded over the high wall as if they said," We +could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the mullein +outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole, +that it might peep in and see what was going on. +If it had suddenly grown up like a magic bean- +stalk, and looked in on a certain June day, it would +have seen a droll but pleasant sight, for somebody +evidently was going to have a party. + +From the gate to the porch went a wide walk, +paved with smooth slabs of dark stone, and bordered +with the tall bushes which met overhead, making a +green roof. All sorts of neglected flowers and wild +weeds grew between their stems, covering the walls +of this summer parlor with the prettiest tapestry. +A board, propped on two blocks of wood, stood in +the middle of the walk, covered with a little plaid +shawl much the worse for wear, and on it a miniature +tea-service was set forth with great elegance. To be +sure, the tea-pot had lost its spout, the cream-jug its +handle, the sugar-bowl its cover, and the cups and +plates were all more or less cracked or nicked; but +polite persons would not take notice of these trifling +deficiencies, and none but polite persons were invited +to this party. + +On either side of the porch was a seat, and here +a somewhat remarkable sight would have been revealed to +any inquisitive eye peering through the +aforesaid keyhole. Upon the left-hand seat lay seven +dolls, upon the right-hand seat lay six; and so varied +were the expressions of their countenances, owing +to fractures, dirt, age, and other afflictions, that one +would very naturally have thought this a doll's hospital, and +these the patients waiting for their tea. + +This, however, would have been a sad mistake; for +if the wind had lifted the coverings laid over them, +it would have disclosed the fact that all were in full +dress, and merely reposing before the feast should +begin. + +There was another interesting feature of the scene +which would have puzzled any but those well acquainted +with the manners and customs of dolls. +A fourteenth rag baby, with a china head, hung by +her neck from the rusty knocker in the middle of +the door. A sprig of white and one of purple lilac +nodded over her, a dress of yellow calico, richly +trimmed with red-flannel scallops, shrouded her slender +form, a garland of small flowers crowned her +glossy curls, and a pair of blue boots touched toes +in the friendliest, if not the most graceful, manner. +An emotion of grief, as well as of surprise, might +well have thrilled any youthful breast at such a +spectacle; for why, oh! why, was this resplendent +dolly hung up there to be stared at by thirteen of her +kindred? Was she a criminal, the sight of whose execution +threw them flat upon their backs in speechless horror? +Or was she an idol, to be adored in +that humble posture? Neither, my friends. She was +blonde Belinda, set, or rather hung, aloft, in the place +of honor, for this was her seventh birthday, and a +superb ball was about to celebrate the great event. +All were evidently awaiting a summons to the +festive board; but such was the perfect breeding of +these dolls, that not a single eye out of the whole +twenty-seven (Dutch Hans had lost one of the black +beads from his worsted countenance) turned for a +moment toward the table, or so much as winked, +as they lay in decorous rows, gazing with mute +admiration at Belinda. She, unable to repress the joy +and pride which swelled her sawdust bosom till the +seams gaped, gave an occasional bounce as the wind +waved her yellow skirts, or made the blue boots +dance a sort of jig upon the door. Hanging was +evidently not a painful operation, for she smiled +contentedly, and looked as if the red ribbon around +her neck was not uncomfortably tight; therefore, if +slow suffocation suited her, who else had any right +to complain? So a pleasing silence reigned, not +even broken by a snore from Dinah, the top of +whose turban alone was visible above the coverlet, +or a cry from baby Jane, though her bare feet stuck +out in a way that would have produced shrieks from +a less well-trained infant. + +Presently voices were heard approaching, and +through the arch which led to a side-path came two +little girls, one carrying a small pitcher, the other +proudly bearing a basket covered with a napkin. +They looked like twins, but were not, for Bab was a +year older than Betty, though only an inch taller. +Both had on brown calico frocks, much the worse +for a week's wear; but clean pink pinafores, in honor +of the occasion, made up for that, as well as the +gray stockings and thick boots. Both had round, +rosy faces rather sunburnt, pug noses somewhat +freckled, merry blue eyes, and braided tails of hair +hanging down their backs like those of the dear little +Kenwigses. + +"Don't they look sweet?" cried Bab, gazing with +maternal pride upon the left-hand row of dolls, who +might appropriately have sung in chorus, "We are +seven." + +"Very nice; but my Belinda beats them all. I do +think she is the splendidest child that ever was!" +And Betty set down the basket to run and embrace +the suspended darling, just then kicking up her heels +with joyful abandon. + +"The cake can be cooling while we fix the children. +It does smell perfectly delicious!" said Bab, lifting +the napkin to hang over the basket, fondly regarding +the little round loaf that lay inside. + +"Leave some smell for me!" commanded Betty, +running back to get her fair share of the spicy fragrance. +The pug noses sniffed it up luxuriously, and the +bright eyes feasted upon the loveliness of the cake, +so brown and shiny, with a tipsy-looking B in pie-crust +staggering down one side, instead of sitting +properly a-top. + +"Ma let me put it on the very last minute, and it +baked so hard I couldn't pick it off. We can give +Belinda that piece, so it's just as well," observed +Betty, taking the lead, as her child was queen of the +revel. + +"Let's set them round, so they can see too," proposed +Bab, going, with a hop, skip, and jump, to +collect her young family. + +Betty agreed, and for several minutes both were +absorbed in seating their dolls about the table; for +some of the dear things were so limp they wouldn't +sit up, and others so stiff they wouldn't sit down, and +all sorts of seats had to be contrived to suit the +peculiarities of their spines. This arduous task accomplished, +the fond mammas stepped back to enjoy the +spectacle, which, I assure you, was an impressive one. +Belinda sat with great dignity at the head, her hands +genteelly holding a pink cambric pocket-handkerchief +in her lap. Josephus, her cousin, took the foot, +elegantly arrayed in a new suit of purple and green gingham, +with his speaking countenance much obscured +by a straw hat several sizes too large for him; while +on either side sat guests of every size, complexion, +and costume, producing a very gay and varied effect, +as all were dressed with a noble disregard of fashion. + +"They will like to see us get tea. Did you forget +the buns?" inquired Betty, anxiously. + +"No; got them in my pocket." And Bab produced from that +chaotic cupboard two rather stale and crumbly ones, saved +from lunch for the fete. These were cut up and arranged in +plates, forming a graceful circle around the cake, still in +its basket. + +"Ma couldn't spare much milk, so we must mix +water with it. Strong tea isn't good for children, +she says." And Bab contentedly surveyed the gill +of skim-milk which was to satisfy the thirst of the +company. + +"While the tea draws and the cake cools, let's sit +down and rest; I'm so tired!" sighed Betty, dropping +down on the door-step and stretching out the +stout little legs which had been on the go all day; for +Saturday had its tasks as well as its fun, and much +business had preceded this unusual pleasure. +Bab went and sat beside her, looking idly down the +walk toward the gate, where a fine cobweb shone in +the afternoon sun. + +"Ma says she is going over the house in a day or +two, now it is warm and dry after the storm, and we +may go with her. You know she wouldn't take us in +the fall, cause we had whooping-cough, and it was +damp there. Now we shall see all the nice things; +won't it be fun?" observed Bab, after a pause. + +"Yes, indeed! Ma says there's lots of books in +one room, and I can look at 'em while she goes round. +May be I'll have time to read some, and then I can +tell you," answered Betty, who dearly loved stories, +and seldom got any new ones. + +"I'd rather see the old spinning-wheel up garret, +and the big pictures, and the queer clothes in the +blue chest. It makes me mad to have them all shut +up there, when we might have such fun with them. +I'd just like to bang that old door down!" And +Bab twisted round to give it a thump with her boots. +"You needn't laugh; you know you'd like it as +much as me," she added, twisting back again, rather +ashamed of her impatience. + +"I didn't laugh." + +"You did! Don't you suppose I know what laughing is?" + +"I guess I know I didn't." + +"You did laugh! How darst you tell such a +fib?" + +"If you say that again I'll take Belinda and go +right home; then what will you do?" + +"I'll eat up the cake." + +"No, you won't! It's mine, Ma said so; and you +are only company, so you'd better behave or I won't +have any party at all, so now." + +This awful threat calmed Bab's anger at once, and +she hastened to introduce a safer subject. + +"Never mind; don't let's fight before the children. +Do you know, Ma says she will let us play in the +coach-house next time it rains, and keep the key if +we want to." + +"Oh, goody! that's because we told her how +we found the little window under the woodbine, and +didn't try to go in, though we might have just as +easy as not," cried Betty, appeased at once, for, after +a ten years' acquaintance, she had grown used to +Bab's peppery temper. + +"I suppose the coach will be all dust and rats +and spiders, but I don't care. You and the dolls +can be the passengers, and I shall sit up in front +drive." + +"You always do. I shall like riding better than +being horse all the time, with that old wooden bit in +my mouth, and you jerking my arms off," said poor +Betty, who was tired of being horse continually. + +"I guess we'd better go and get the water now," +suggested Bab, feeling that it was not safe to encourage +her sister in such complaints. + +"It is not many people who would dare to leave +their children all alone with such a lovely cake, and +know they wouldn't pick at it," said Betty proudly, +as they trotted away to the spring, each with a little +tin pail in her hand. + +Alas, for the faith of these too confiding mammas! +They were gone about five minutes, and when they +returned a sight met their astonished eyes which +produced a simultaneous shriek of horror. Flat upon +their faces lay the fourteen dolls, and the cake, the +cherished cake, was gone. + +For an instant the little girls could only stand +motionless, gazing at the dreadful scene. Then Bab +cast her water-pail wildly away, and, doubling up +her fist, cried out fiercely, -- + +"It was that Sally! She said she'd pay me for +slapping her when she pinched little Mary Ann, and +now she has. I'll give it to her! You run that way. +I'll run this. Quick! quick!" + +Away they went, Bab racing straight on, and bewildered +Betty turning obediently round to trot in the +opposite direction as fast as she could, with the water +splashing all over her as she ran, for she had forgotten +to put down her pail. Round the house they +went, and met with a crash at the back door, but no +sign of the thief appeared. + +"In the lane!" shouted Bab. + +"Down by the spring!" panted Betty; and off +they went again, one to scramble up a pile of stones +and look over the wall into the avenue, the other to +scamper to the spot they had just left. Still, nothing +appeared but the dandelions' innocent faces looking +up at Bab, and a brown bird scared from his bath in +the spring by Betty's hasty approach. + +Back they rushed, but only to meet a new scare, +which made them both cry "Ow!" and fly into the +porch for refuge. + +A strange dog was sitting calmly among the ruins +of the feast, licking his lips after basely eating up the +last poor bits of bun, when he had bolted the cake, +basket, and all, apparently. + +"Oh, the horrid thing!" cried Bab, longing to give +battle, but afraid, for the dog was a peculiar as well as +a dishonest animal. + +"He looks like our China poodle, doesn't he?" +whispered Betty, making herself as small as possible +behind her more valiant sister. + +He certainly did; for, though much larger and +dirtier than the well-washed China dog, this live one +had the same tassel at the end of his tail, ruffles of +hair round his ankles, and a body shaven behind and +curly before. His eyes, however, were yellow, instead +of glassy black, like the other's; his red nose worked +as he cocked it up, as if smelling for more cakes, in +the most impudent manner; and never, during the +three years he had stood on the parlor mantel-piece, +had the China poodle done the surprising feats with +which this mysterious dog now proceeded to astonish +the little girls almost out of their wits. +First he sat up, put his forepaws together, and +begged prettily; then he suddenly flung his hind-legs +into the air, and walked about with great ease. +Hardly had they recovered from this shock, when +the hind-legs came down, the fore-legs went up, and +he paraded in a soldierly manner to and fro, like +a sentinel on guard. But the crowning performance +was when he took his tail in his mouth and waltzed +down the walk, over the prostrate dolls, to the gate +and back again, barely escaping a general upset of +the ravaged table. + +Bab and Betty could only hold each other tight and +squeal with delight, for never had they seen any thing +so funny; but, when the gymnastics ended, and the +dizzy dog came and stood on the step before them +barking loudly, with that pink nose of his sniffing +at their feet, and his queer eyes fixed sharply upon +them, their amusement turned to fear again, and they +dared not stir. + +"Whish, go away! " commanded Bab. + +"Scat! " meekly quavered Betty. + +To their great relief, the poodle gave several more +inquiring barks, and then vanished as suddenly as +he appeared. With one impulse, the children ran to +see what became of him, and, after a brisk scamper +through the orchard, saw the tasselled tail disappear +under the fence at the far end. + +"Where do you s'pose he came from?" asked +Betty, stopping to rest on a big stone. + +"I'd like to know where he's gone, too, and give +him a good beating, old thief! " scolded Bab, remembering +their wrongs. + +"Oh, dear, yes! I hope the cake burnt him dreadfully if he +did eat it," groaned Betty, sadly remembering the dozen good +raisins she chopped up, and the "lots of 'lasses" mother put +into the dear lost loaf. + +"The party's all spoilt, so we may as well go +home; and Bab mournfully led the way back. +Betty puckered up her face to cry, but burst out +laughing in spite of her woe. + +"It was so funny to see him spin round and walk on +his head! I wish he'd do it all over again; don't you?" + +"Yes: but I hate him just the same. I wonder +what Ma will say when - why! why!" and Bab +stopped short in the arch, with her eyes as round +and almost as large as the blue saucers on the +tea-tray. + +"What is it? oh, what is it? " cried Betty, all ready +to run away if any new terror appeared. + +"Look! there! it's come back!" said Bab in an +awe-stricken whisper, pointing to the table. +Betty did look, and her eyes opened even wider, -- +as well they might, -- for there, just where they first +put it, was the lost cake, unhurt, unchanged, except +that the big B had coasted a little further down the +gingerbread hill. + +CHAPTER II: WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER + +Neither spoke for a minute, astonishment being too +great for words; then, as by one impulse, both stole +up and touched the cake with a timid finger, quite +prepared to see it fly away in some mysterious and +startling manner. It remained sitting tranquilly in +the basket, however, and the children drew a long breath +of relief, for, though they did not believe in fairies, +the late performances did seem rather like witchcraft. + +"The dog didn't eat it!" + +"Sally didn't take it!" + +"How do you know?" + +"She never would have put it back." + +"Who did?" + +"Can't tell, but I forgive 'em." + +"What shall we do now?" asked Betty, feeling as +if it would be very difficult to settle down to a quiet +tea-party after such unusual excitement. + +"Eat that cake up just as fast as ever we can", and +Bab divided the contested delicacy with one chop of +the big knife, bound to make sure of her own share +at all events. + +It did not take long, for they washed it down with +sips of milk, and ate as fast as possible, glancing +round all the while to see if the queer dog was +coming again. + +"There! now I'd like to see any one take my cake +away," said Bab, defiantly crunching her half of the +pie-crust B. + +"Or mine either," coughed Betty, choking over a +raisin that wouldn't go down in a hurry. + +"We might as well clear up, and play there had +been an earthquake," suggested Bab, feeling that +some such convulsion of Nature was needed to explain +satisfactorily the demoralized condition of her +family. + +"That will be splendid. My poor Linda was +knocked right over on her nose. Darlin' child, come +to your mother and be fixed," purred Betty, lifting +the fallen idol from a grove of chickweed, and tenderly +brushing the dirt from Belinda's heroically smiling +face. + +"She'll have croup to-night as sure as the world. +We'd better make up some squills out of this sugar +and water," said Bab, who dearly loved to dose the +dollies all round. + +"P'r'aps she will, but you needn't begin to sneeze +yet awhile. I can sneeze for my own children, thank +you, ma'am," returned Betty, sharply, for her usually +amiable spirit had been ruffled by the late occurrences. + +"I didn't sneeze! I've got enough to do to talk +and cry and cough for my own poor dears, without +bothering about yours," cried Bab, even more ruffled +than her sister. + +"Then who did? I heard a real live sneeze just +as plain as anything," and Betty looked up to the +green roof above her, as if the sound came from that +direction. + +A yellow-bird sat swinging and chirping on the tall +lilac-bush, but no other living thing was in sight. +Birds don't sneeze, do they?" asked Betty, eying +little Goldy suspiciously. + +"You goose! of course they don't." + +"Well. I should just like to know who is laughing +and sneezing round here. "May be it is the dog," +suggested Betty looking relieved. + +"I never heard of a dog's laughing, except Mother +Hubbard's. This is such a queer one, may be he can, +though. I wonder where he went to?" and Bab took +a survey down both the side-paths, quite longing to +see the funny poodle again. + +"I know where I 'm going to," said Betty, piling +the dolls into her apron with more haste than care. +"I'm going right straight home to tell Ma all about +it. I don't like such actions, and I 'm afraid to stay." + +"I ain't; but I guess it is going to rain, so I shall +have to go any way," answered Bab, taking advantage +of the black clouds rolling up the sky, for she scorned +to own that she was afraid of any thing. + +Clearing the table in a summary manner by catching up +the four corners of the cloth, Bab put the +rattling bundle into her apron, flung her children +on the top and pronounced herself ready to depart. +Betty lingered an instant to pick up and ends +that might be spoilt by the rain, and, when she turned +from taking the red halter off the knocker, two lovely +pink roses lay on the stone steps. + +"Oh, Bab, just see! Here's the very ones we +wanted. Wasn't it nice of the wind to blow 'em +down? " she called out, picking them up and running +after her sister, who had strolled moodily along, still +looking about for her sworn foe, Sally Folsom. +The flowers soothed the feelings of the little girls, +because they had longed for them, and bravely resisted +the temptation to climb up the trellis and help +themselves, since their mother had forbidden such +feats, owing to a fall Bab got trying to reach a honeysuckle +from the vine which ran all over the porch. + +Home they went and poured out their tale, to Mrs. +Moss's great amusement; for she saw in it only some +playmate's prank, and was not much impressed by +the mysterious sneeze and laugh. + +"We'll have a grand rummage Monday, and find +out what is going on over there," was all she said. +But Mrs. Moss could not keep her promise, for on +Monday it still rained, and the little girls paddled off +to school like a pair of young ducks, enjoying every +puddle they came to, since India-rubber boots made +wading a delicious possibility. They took their +dinner, and at noon regaled a crowd of comrades with +an account of the mysterious dog, who appeared to +be haunting the neighborhood, as several of the other +children had seen him examining their back yards +with interest. He had begged of them, but to none +had he exhibited his accomplishments except Bab +and Betty; and they were therefore much set up, and +called him "our dog" with an air. The cake transaction +remained a riddle, for Sally Folsom solemnly +declared that she was playing tag in Mamie Snow's +barn at that identical time. No one had been near +the old house but the two children, and no one could +throw any light upon that singular affair. + +It produced a great effect, however; for even +"teacher" was interested, and told such amazing +tales of a juggler she once saw, that doughnuts were +left forgotten in dinner-baskets, and wedges of pie +remained suspended in the air for several minutes at +a time, instead of vanishing with miraculous rapidity +as usual. At afternoon recess, which the girls had +first, Bab nearly dislocated every joint of her little +body trying to imitate the poodle's antics. She had +practised on her bed with great success, but the +wood-shed floor was a different thing, as her knees +and elbows soon testified. + +"It looked just as easy as any thing; I don't see +how he did it," she said, coming down with a bump +after vainly attempting to walk on her hands. + +"My gracious, there he is this very minute! " cried +Betty, who sat on a little wood-pile near the door. +There was a general rush, -- and sixteen small girls +gazed out into the rain as eagerly as if to behold +Cinderella's magic coach, instead of one forlorn +dog trotting by through the mud. + +"Oh, do call him in and make him dance!" cried +the girls, all chirping at once, till it sounded as if a +flock of sparrows had taken possession of the shed. + +"I will call him, he knows me," and Bab scrambled +up, forgetting how she had chased the poodle +and called him names two days ago. + +He evidently had not forgotten, however; for, +though he paused and looked wistfully at them, he +would not approach, but stood dripping in the rain, +with his frills much bedraggled, while his tasselled +tail wagged slowly, and his pink nose pointed suggestively +to the pails and baskets, nearly empty now. + +"He's hungry; give him something to eat, and +then he'll see that we don't want to hurt him," +suggested Sally, starting a contribution with her last +bit of bread and butter. + +Bab caught up her new pail, and collected all the +odds and ends; then tried to beguile the poor beast +in to eat and be comforted. But he only came as +far as the door, and, sitting up, begged with such +imploring eyes that Bab put down the pail and stepped +back, saying pitifully, -- + +"The poor thing is starved; let him eat all he +wants, and we won't touch him." + +The girls drew back with little clucks of interest +and compassion; but I regret to say their charity +was not rewarded as they expected, for, the minute +the coast was clear, the dog marched boldly up, +seized the handle of the pail in his mouth, and was +off with it, galloping down the road at a great pace. + +Shrieks arose from the children, especially Bab and +Betty, basely bereaved of their new dinner-pail; but +no one could follow the thief, for the Ben rang, and +in they went, so much excited that the boys rushed +tumultuously forth to discover the cause. +By the time school was over the sun was out, and +Bab and Betty hastened home to tell their wrongs and +be comforted by mother, who did it most effectually. + +"Never mind, dears, I'll get you another pail, if +he doesn't bring it back as he did before. As it is +too wet for you to play out, you shall go and see +the old coach-house as I promised, Keep on your +rubbers and come along." + +This delightful prospect much assuaged their woe, +and away they went, skipping gayly down the gravelled +path, while Mrs. Moss followed, with skirts well +tucked up, and a great bunch of keys in her hand; +for she lived at the Lodge, and had charge of the +premises. + +The small door of the coach-house was fastened +inside, but the large one had a padlock on it; and +this being quickly unfastened, one half swung open, +and the little girls ran in, too eager and curious even +to cry out when they found themselves at last in +possession of the long-coveted old carriage. A dusty, +musty concern enough; but it had a high seat, a +door, steps that let down, and many other charms +which rendered it most desirable in the eyes of +children. + +Bab made straight for the box and Betty for the +door; but both came tumbling down faster than they +went up, when from the gloom of the interior came +a shrill bark, and a low voice saying quickly, "Down, +Sancho! down!" + +"Who is there?" demanded Mrs. Moss, in a stern +tone, backing toward the door with both children +clinging to her skirts. + +The well-known curly white head was popped out +of the broken window, and a mild whine seemed to +say, "Don't be alarmed, ladies; we won't hurt you." +Come out this minute, or I shall have to come +and get you," called Mrs. Moss, growing very brave +all of a sudden as she caught sight of a pair of small, +dusty shoes under the coach. + +"Yes, 'm, I'm coming, as fast as I can," answered a +meek voice, as what appeared to be a bundle of rags +leaped out of the dark, followed by the poodle, who +immediately sat down at the bare feet of his owner +with a watchful air, as if ready to assault any one who +might approach too near. + +"Now, then, who are you, and how did you get +here?" asked Mrs. Moss, trying to speak sternly, +though her motherly eyes were already full of pity, as +they rested on the forlorn little figure before her. + + +CHAPTER III: BEN + +"Please, 'm, my name is Ben Brown, and I'm travellin'." + +"Where are you going?" + +"Anywheres to get work." + +"What sort of work can you do?" + +"All kinds. I'm used to horses." + +"Bless me! such a little chap as you? + +"I'm twelve, ma'am, and can ride any thing on +four legs;" and the small boy gave a nod that +seemed to say, "Bring on your Cruisers. I'm ready +for 'em." + +"Haven't you got any folks?" asked Mrs. Moss, +amused but still anxious, for the sunburnt face was +very thin, the eyes hollow with hunger or pain, and +the ragged figure leaned on the wheel as if too weak +or weary to stand alone. + +"No, 'm, not of my own; and the people I was +left with beat me so, I -- run away." The last words +seemed to bolt out against his will as if the woman's +sympathy irresistibly won the child's confidence. + +"Then I don't blame you. But how did you get +here?" + +"I was so tired I couldn't go any further, and +I thought the folks up here at the big house +would take me in. But the gate was locked, and I +was so discouraged, I jest laid down outside and +give up." + +"Poor little soul, I don't wonder," said Mrs. Moss, +while the children looked deeply interested at mention +of their gate. + +The boy drew a long breath, and his eyes began to +twinkle in spite of his forlorn state as he went on, +while the dog pricked up his ears at mention of his +name: -- + +"While I was restin' I heard some one come along +inside, and I peeked, and saw them little girls playin'. +The vittles looked so nice I couldn't help wantin' +'em; but I didn't take nothin', -- it was Sancho, and +he took the cake for me." + +Bab and Betty gave a gasp and stared reproachfully +at the poodle, who half closed his eyes with a meek, +unconscious look that was very droll. + +"And you made him put it back?" cried Bab. + +"No; I did it myself. Got over the gate when you +was racin' after Sancho, and then clim' up on the porch +and hid," said the boy with a grin. + +"And you laughed?" asked Bab. + +"Yes." + +"And sneezed?" added Betty. + +"Yes." + +"And threw down the roses?" cried both. + +"Yes; and you liked 'em, didn't you?" + +"Course we did! What made you hide?" said +Bab. + +"I wasn't fit to be seen," muttered Ben, glancing +at his tatters as if he'd like to dive out of sight into +the dark coach again. + +"How came you here?" demanded Mrs. Moss, +suddenly remembering her responsibility. + +"I heard 'em talk about a little winder and a shed, +and when they'd gone I found it and come in. The +glass was broke, and I only pulled the nail out. I +haven't done a mite of harm sleepin' here two nights. +I was so tuckered out I couldn't go on nohow, though +I tried a-Sunday." + +"And came back again? + +"Yes, 'm; it was so lonesome in the rain, and this +place seemed kinder like home, and I could hear 'em +talkin' outside, and Sanch he found vittles, and I was +pretty comfortable." + +"Well, I never!" ejaculated Mrs. Moss, whisking +up a corner of her apron to wipe her eyes, for the +thought of the poor little fellow alone there for two +days and nights with no bed but musty straw, no food +but the scraps a dog brought him, was too much for +her. "Do you know what I'm going to do with +you?" she asked, trying to look calm and cool, with a +great tear running down her wholesome red cheek, and +a smile trying to break out at the corners of her lips. + +"No, ma'am, and I dunno as I care. Only don't +be hard on Sanch; he's been real good to me, and +we 're fond of one another; ain't us, old chap?" +answered the boy, with his arm around the dog's +neck, and an anxious look which he had not worn +for himself. + +"I'm going to take you right home, and wash and feed +and put you in a good bed; and to-morrow, -- +well, we'll see what'll happen then," said Mrs. Moss, +not quite sure about it herself. + +"You're very kind, ma'am, I'll be glad to work +for you. Ain't you got a horse I can see to?" asked +the boy, eagerly. + +"Nothing but hens and a cat." + +Bab and Betty burst out laughing when their mother +said that, and Ben gave a faint giggle, as if he would +like to join in if he only had the strength to do it. +But his legs shook under him, and he felt a queer dizziness; +so he could only hold on to Sancho, and blink +at the light like a young owl. + +"Come right along, child. Run on, girls, and put +the rest of the broth to warming, and fill the kettle. +I'll see to the boy," commanded Mrs. Moss, waving +off the children, and going up to feel the pulse of her +new charge, for it suddenly occurred to her that he +might be sick and not safe to take home. + +The hand he gave her was very thin, but clean and +cool, and the black eyes were clear though hollow, +for the poor lad was half-starved. + +"I'm awful shabby, but I ain't dirty. I had a +washin' in the rain last night, and I've jest about lived +on water lately," he explained, wondering why she +looked at him so hard. + +"Put out your tongue." + +He did so, but took it in again to say quickly, -- + +"I ain't sick, -- I'm only hungry; for I haven't had +a mite but what Sanch brought, for three days; and +I always go halves, don't I, Sanch?" + +The poodle gave a shrill bark, and vibrated excitedly +between the door and his master as if he understood all +that was going on, and recommended a +speedy march toward the promised food and shelter. +Mrs. Moss took the hint, and bade the boy follow her +at once and bring his "things" with him. + +"I ain't got any. Some big fellers took away my +bundle, else I wouldn't look so bad. There's only +this. I'm sorry Sanch took it, and I'd like to give it +back if I knew whose it was," said Ben, bringing the +new dinner-pail out from the depths of the coach +where he had gone to housekeeping. + +"That's soon done; it's mine, and you're welcome to the +bits your queer dog ran off with. Come +along, I must lock up," and Mrs. Moss clanked her +keys suggestively. + +Ben limped out, leaning on a broken hoe-handle, +for he was stiff after two days in such damp lodgings, +as well as worn out with a fortnight's wandering +through sun and rain. Sancho was in great spirits, +evidently feeling that their woes were over and his +foraging expeditions at an end, for he frisked about +his master with yelps of pleasure, or made playful +darts at the ankles of his benefactress, which caused +her to cry, "Whish!" and "Scat!" and shake her +skirts at him as if he were a cat or hen. + +A hot fire was roaring in the stove under the broth-skillet +and tea-kettle, and Betty was poking in more +wood, with a great smirch of black on her chubby +cheek, while Bab was cutting away at the loaf as if +bent on slicing her own fingers off. Before Ben knew +what he was about, he found himself in the old rocking-chair +devouring bread and butter as only a hungry +boy can, with Sancho close by gnawing a mutton-bone +like a ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing. + +While the new-comers were thus happily employed, Mrs. +Moss beckoned the little girls out of +the room, and gave them both an errand. + +"Bab, you run over to Mrs. Barton's, and ask her +for any old duds Billy don't want; and Betty, you go +to the Cutters, and tell Miss Clarindy I'd like a couple +of the shirts we made at last sewing circle. Any shoes, +or a hat, or socks, would come handy, for the poor +dear hasn't a whole thread on him." + +Away went the children full of anxiety to clothe +their beggar; and so well did they plead his cause +with the good neighbors, that Ben hardly knew himself when +he emerged from the back bedroom half an +hour later, clothed in Billy Barton's faded flannel suit, +with an unbleached cotton shirt out of the Dorcas +basket, and a pair of Milly Cutter's old shoes on his +feet. + +Sancho also had been put in better trim, for, after +his master had refreshed himself with a warm bath, he +gave his dog a good scrub while Mrs. Moss set a stitch +here and there in the new old clothes; and Sancho +reappeared, looking more like the china poodle than +ever, being as white as snow, his curls well brushed +up, and his tasselly tail waving proudly over his +back. + +Feeling eminently respectable and comfortable, the +wanderers humbly presented themselves, and were +greeted with smiles of approval from the little girls and +a hospitable welcome from the mother, who set +them near the stove to dry, as both were decidedly +damp after their ablutions. + +"I declare I shouldn't have known you!" exclaimed +the good woman, surveying the boy with great satisfaction; +for, though still very thin and tired, the lad +had a tidy look that pleased her, and a lively way of +moving about in his clothes, like an eel in a skin rather +too big for him. The merry black eyes seemed to +see every thing, the voice had an honest sound, and +the sunburnt face looked several years younger since +the unnatural despondency had gone out of it. + +"It's very nice, and me and Sanch are lots +obliged, ma'am," murmured Ben, getting red and +bashful under the three pairs of friendly eyes fixed +upon him. + +Bab and Betty were doing up the tea-things with +unusual despatch, so that they might entertain their +guest, and just as Ben spoke Bab dropped a cup. +To her great surprise no smash followed, for, bending +quickly, the boy caught it as it fell, and presented it +to her on the back of his hand with a little bow. + +"Gracious ! how could you do it? "asked Bab, looking as if +she thought there was magic about. + +"That's nothing; look here," and, taking two plates, +Ben sent them spinning up into the air, catching and +throwing so rapidly that Bab and Betty stood with +their mouths open, as if to swallow the plates should +they fall, while Mrs. Moss, with her dish-cloth suspended, +watched the antics of her crockery with a housewife's anxiety. + +"That does beat all! " was the only exclamation +she had time to make; for, as if desirous of showing +his gratitude in the only way he could, Ben took +clothes-pins from a basket near by, sent several saucers +twirling up, caught them on the pins, +balanced the pins on chin, nose, forehead, and went +walking about with a new and peculiar sort of toadstool +ornamenting his countenance. + +The children were immensely tickled, and Mrs. +Moss was so amused she would have lent her best +soup-tureen if he had expressed a wish for it. But +Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments +at once, and he soon stopped, looking as if he almost +regretted having betrayed that he possessed any. + +"I guess you've been in the juggling business," +said Mrs. Moss, with a wise nod, for she saw the same +look on his face as when he said his name was Ben +Brown, -- the look of one who was not telling the +whole truth. + +"Yes, 'm. I used to help Senor Pedro, the Wizard +of the World, and I learned some of his tricks," +stammered Ben, trying to seem innocent. + +"Now, look here, boy, you'd better tell me the +whole story, and tell it true, or I shall have to send +you up to judge Morris. I wouldn't like to do that, +for he is a harsh sort of a man; so, if you haven't +done any thing bad, you needn't be afraid to speak +out, and I'll do what I can for you," said Mrs. Moss, +rather sternly, as she went and sat down in her rocking-chair, +as if about to open the court. + +"I haven't done any thing bad, and I ain't afraid, +only I don't want to go back; and if I tell, may be +you'll let 'em know where I be," said Ben, much distressed +between his longing to confide in his new +friend and his fear of his old enemies. + +"If they abused you, of course I wouldn't. Tell +the truth, and I'll stand by you. Girls, you go for +the milk." + +"Oh, Ma, do let us stay! We'll never tell, +truly, truly!" cried Bab and Betty, full of dismay +being sent off when secrets were about to be +divulged. + +"I don't mind 'em," said Ben handsomely. + +"Very well, only hold your tongues. Now, boy +where did you come from?" said Mrs. Moss, as the +little girls hastily sat down together on their private +and particular bench opposite their mother, brimming +with curiosity and beaming with satisfaction at the +prospect before them. + + +CHAPTER IV: HIS STORY + +"I ran away from a circus," began Ben, but got +no further, for Bab and Betty gave a simultaneous +bounce of delight, and both cried out at once, -- + +"We've been to one! It was splendid!" + +"You wouldn't think so if you knew as much about +it as I do," answered Ben, with a sudden frown and +wriggle, as if he still felt the smart of the blows he +had received. "We don't call it splendid; do we, +Sancho?" he added, making a queer noise, which +caused the poodle to growl and bang the floor irefully +with his tail, as he lay close to his master's feet, +getting acquainted with the new shoes they wore. + +"How came you there?" asked Mrs. Moss, rather +disturbed at the news. + +"Why, my father was the 'Wild Hunter of the +Plains.' Didn't you ever see or hear of him?" said +Ben, as if surprised at her ignorance. + +"Bless your heart, child, I haven't been to a circus +this ten years, and I'm sure I don't remember what +or who I saw then," answered Mrs. Moss, amused, yet +touched by the son's evident admiration for his father. + +"Didn't you see him?" demanded Ben, turning to +the little girls. + +"We saw Indians and tumbling men, and the Bounding Brothers +of Borneo, and a clown and monkeys, and a little mite of a +pony with blue eyes. Was he any of them?" answered Betty, +innocently. + +"Pooh! he didn't belong to that lot. He always +rode two, four, six, eight horses to oncet, and I used +to ride with him till I got too big. My father was +A No. 1, and didn't do any thing but break horses +and ride 'em," said Ben, with as much pride as if his +parent had been a President. + +"Is he dead?" asked Mrs. Moss. + +"I don't know. Wish I did," -- and poor Ben gave +a gulp as if something rose in his throat and choked +him. + +"Tell us all about it, dear, and may be we can find +out where he is," said Mrs. Moss, leaning forward to +pat the shiny dark head that was suddenly bent over +the dog. + +"Yes, ma'am. I will, thank y'," and with an effort +the boy steadied his voice and plunged into the +middle of his story. + +"Father was always good to me, and I liked bein' +with him after granny died. I lived with her till I +was seven; then father took me, and I was trained for +rider. You jest oughter have seen me when I was +a little feller all in white tights, and a gold belt, and +pink riggin', standing' on father's shoulder, or hangin' +on to old General's tail, and him gallopin' full pelt; +or father ridin' three horses with me on his head wavin' +flags, and every one clapping like fun." + +"Oh, weren't you scared to pieces?" asked Betty, +quaking at the mere thought. + +"Not a bit. I liked it." + +"So should I!" cried Bab enthusiastically. + +"Then I drove the four ponies in the little chariot, +when we paraded," continued Ben, "and I sat on +the great ball up top of the grand car drawed by +Hannibal and Nero. But I didn't like that, 'cause +it was awful high and shaky, and the sun was hot, +and the trees slapped my face, and my legs ached +holdin' on." + +"What's hanny bells and neroes?" demanded +Betty. + +"Big elephants. Father never let 'em put me up +there, and they didn't darst till he was gone; then I +had to, else they'd 'a' thrashed me." + +"Didn't any one take your part? " asked Mrs. +Moss. + +"Yes, 'm, 'most all the ladies did; they were very +good to me, 'specially 'Melia. She vowed she wouldn't +go on in the Tunnymunt act if they didn't stop knockin' +me round when I wouldn't help old Buck with the +bears. So they had to stop it, 'cause she led first +rate, and none of the other ladies rode half as well +as 'Melia." + +"Bears ! oh, do tell about them!" exclaimed Bab, +in great excitement, for at the only circus she had +seen the animals were her delight. + +"Buck had five of 'em, cross old fellers, and he +showed 'em off. I played with 'em once, jest for fun, +and he thought it would make a hit to have me show +off instead of him. But they had a way of clawin' and +huggin' that wasn't nice, and you couldn't never tell +whether they were good-natured or ready to bite your +head off. Buck was all over scars where they'd +scratched and bit him, and I wasn't going to do it; +and I didn't have to, owin' to Miss St. John's standin' +by me like a good one." + +"Who was Miss St. John?" asked Mrs. Moss, +rather confused by the sudden introduction of new +names and people. + +"Why she was 'Melia, -- Mrs. Smithers, the ringmaster's +wife. His name wasn't Montgomery any more'n hers was St. +John. They all change 'em to something fine on the bills, +you know. Father used to be Senor Jose Montebello; and I +was Master Adolphus Bloomsbury, after I stopped bein' a +flyin' Coopid and a infant Progidy." + +Mrs. Moss leaned back in her chair to laugh at +that, greatly to the surprise of the little girls, who +were much impressed with the elegance of these high-sounding +names. + +"Go on with your story, Ben, and tell why you +ran away and what became of your Pa," she said, +composing herself to listen, really interested in the +child. + +"Well, you see, father had a quarrel with old +Smithers, and went off sudden last fall, just before +tenting season' was over. He told me he was +goin' to a great ridin' school in New York and when +he was fixed he'd send for me. I was to stay in +the museum and help Pedro with the trick business. +He was a nice man and I liked him, and 'Melia +was goin' to see to me, and I didn't mind for +awhile. But father didn't send for me, and I began +to have horrid times. If it hadn't been for 'Melia +and Sancho I would have cut away long before I +did." + +"What did you have to do?" + +"Lots of things, for times was dull and I was smart. +Smithers said so, any way, and I had to tumble up +lively when he gave the word. I didn't mind doin' +tricks or showin' off Sancho, for father trained him, +and he always did well with me. But they wanted +me to drink gin to keep me small, and I wouldn't, +'cause father didn't like that kind of thing. I used +to ride tip-top, and that just suited me till I got a fall +and hurt my back; but I had to go on all the same, +though I ached dreadful, and used to tumble off, I +was so dizzy and weak." + +"What a brute that man must have been! Why +didn't 'Melia put a stop to it?" asked Mrs. Moss, +indignantly. + +"She died, ma'am, and then there was no one left +but Sanch; so I run away." + +Then Ben fell to patting his dog again, to hide the +tears he could not keep from coming at the thought +of the kind friend he had lost. + +"What did you mean to do?" + +"Find father; but I couldn't, for he wasn't at the +ridin' school, and they told me he had gone out West +to buy mustangs for a man who wanted a lot. So +then I was in a fix, for I couldn't go to father, didn't +know jest where he was, and I wouldn't sneak back +to Smithers to be abused. Tried to make 'em take +me at the ridin' school, but they didn't want a boy, +and I travelled along and tried to get work. But I'd +have starved if it hadn't been for Sanch. I left him +tied up when I ran off, for fear they'd say I stole him. +He's a very valuable dog, ma'am, the best trick dog +I ever see, and they'd want him back more than they +would me. He belongs to father, and I hated to leave +him; but I did. I hooked it one dark night, and +never thought I'd see him ag'in. Next mornin' I +was eatin' breakfast in a barn miles away, and dreadful +lonesome, when he came tearin' in, all mud and +wet, with a great piece of rope draggin'. He'd +gnawed it and come after me, and wouldn't go back +or be lost; and I'll never leave him again, will I, dear +old feller?" + +Sancho had listened to this portion of the tale with +intense interest, and when Ben spoke to him he stood +straight up, put both paws on the boy's shoulders, +licked his face with a world of dumb affection in his +yellow eyes, and gave a little whine which said as +plainly as words, -- + +"Cheer up, little master; fathers may vanish and +friends die, but I never will desert you." + +Ben hugged him close and smiled over his curly, +white head at the little girls, who clapped their +hands at the pleasing tableau, and then went to pat +and fondle the good creature, assuring him that they +entirely forgave the theft of the cake and the new +dinner-pail. Inspired by these endearments and certain +private signals given by Ben, Sancho suddenly +burst away to perform all his best antics with unusual +grace and dexterity. + +Bab and Betty danced about the room with rapture, +while Mrs. Moss declared she was almost afraid to +have such a wonderfully intelligent animal in the +house. Praises of his dog pleased Ben more than +praises of himself, and when the confusion had subsided +he entertained his audience with a lively account +of Sancho's cleverness, fidelity, and the various +adventures in which he had nobly borne his part. + +While he talked, Mrs. Moss was making up her +mind about him, and when he came to an end of his +dog's perfections, she said, gravely, -- + +"If I can find something for you to do, would you +like to stay here awhile?" + +"Oh, yes, ma'am, I'd be glad to!" answered Ben, +eagerly; for the place seemed home-like already, and +the good woman almost as motherly as the departed +Mrs. Smithers. + +"Well, I'll step over to the Squire's to-morrow +to see what he says. Shouldn't wonder if he'd +take you for a chore-boy, if you are as smart as +you say. He always has one in the summer, and +I haven't seen any round yet. Can you drive +cows?" + +"Hope so;" and Ben gave a shrug, as if it was a +very unnecessary question to put to a person who had +driven four calico ponies in a gilded chariot. + +"It mayn't be as lively as riding elephants and +playing with bears, but it is respectable; and I guess +you'll be happier switching Brindle and Buttercup +than being switched yourself," said Mrs. Moss, shaking +her head at him with a smile. + +"I guess I will, ma'am," answered Ben, with sudden +meekness, remembering the trials from which he had +escaped. + +Very soon after this, he was sent off For a good night's +sleep in the back bedroom, with Sancho to watch over +him. But both found it difficult to slumber till the +racket overhead subsided; for Bab insisted on playing +she was a bear and devouring poor Betty, in +spite of her wails, till their mother came up and put +an end to it by threatening to send Ben and his dog +away in the morning, if the girls "didn't behave and +be as still as mice." + +This they solemnly promised; and they were soon +dreaming of gilded cars and mouldy coaches, runaway +boys and dinner-pails, dancing dogs and twirling teacups. + + +CHAPTER V: BEN GETS A PLACE + +When Ben awoke next morning, he looked about him for a +moment half bewildered, because there was neither a +canvas tent, a barn roof, nor the blue sky above him, +but a neat white ceiling, where several flies buzzed +sociably together, while from without came, not the tramping of +horses, the twitter of swallows, or the chirp of early +birds, but the comfortable cackle of hens and the +sound of two little voices chanting the multiplication +table. + +Sancho sat at the open window, watching the old +cat wash her face, and trying to imitate her with his +great ruffled paw, so awkwardly that Ben laughed; +and Sanch, to hide his confusion at being caught, +made one bound from chair to bed, and licked his +master's face so energetically that the boy dived under +the bedclothes to escape from the rough tongue. +A rap on the floor from below made both jump up, +and in ten minutes a shiny-faced lad and a lively dog +went racing downstairs, -- one to say, "Good-mornin', +ma'am," the other to wag his tail faster than ever +tail wagged before, for ham frizzled on the stove, and +Sancho was fond of it. + +"Did you rest well? " asked Mrs. Moss, nodding +at him, fork in hand. + +"Guess I did! Never saw such a bed. I'm used +to hay and a horse-blanket, and lately nothin' but sky +for a cover and grass for my feather-bed," laughed +Ben, grateful for present comforts and making light of +past hardships. + +"Clean, sweet corn-husks ain't bad for young bones, +even if they haven't got more flesh on them than +yours have," answered Mrs. Moss, giving the smooth +head a motherly stroke as she went by. + +"Fat ain't allowed in our profession, ma'am. The +thinner the better for tight-ropes and tumblin'; +likewise bareback ridin' and spry jugglin'. Muscle's the +thing, and there you are." + +Ben stretched out a wiry little arm with a clenched +fist at the end of it, as if he were a young Hercules, +ready to play ball with the stove if she gave him leave. +Glad to see him in such good spirits, she pointed to +the well outside, saying pleasantly, -- + +"Well, then, just try your muscle by bringing in +some fresh water." + +Ben caught up a pail and ran off, ready to be useful; +but, while he waited for the bucket to fill down +among the mossy stones, he looked about him, well +pleased with all he saw, -- the small brown house with +a pretty curl of smoke rising from its chimney, the +little sisters sitting in the sunshine, green hills and +newly-planted fields far and near, a brook dancing +through the orchard, birds singing in the elm avenue, +and all the world as fresh and lovely as early summer +could make it. + +"Don't you think it's pretty nice here?" asked Bab, +as his eye came back to them after a long look, which +seemed to take in every thing, brightening as it roved. + +"Just the nicest place that ever was. Only needs +a horse round somewhere to be complete," answered +Ben, as the long well-sweep came up with a dripping +bucket at one end, an old grindstone at the other. + +"The judge has three, but he's so fussy about them +he won't even let us pull a few hairs out of old Major's +tail to make rings of," said Betty, shutting her arithmetic, +with an injured expression. + +"Mike lets me ride the white one to water when +the judge isn't round. It's such fun to go jouncing +down the lane and back. I do love horses!" cried +Bab, bobbing up and down on the blue bench to +imitate the motion of white Jenny. + +"I guess you are a plucky sort of a girl," and Ben +gave her an approving look as he went by, taking +care to slop a little water on Mrs. Puss, who stood +curling her whiskers and humping up her back at +Sancho. + +"Come to breakfast!" called Mrs. Moss; and for +about twenty minutes little was said, as mush and +milk vanished in a way that would have astonished +even Jack the Giant-killer with his leather bag. + +"Now, girls, fly round and get your chores done up; +Ben, you go chop me some kindlings; and I'll make +things tidy. Then we can all start off at once," said +Mrs. Moss, as the last mouthful vanished, and Sancho +licked his lips over the savory scraps that fell to his +share. + +Ben fell to chopping so vigorously that chips flew +wildly all about the shed; Bab rattled the cups into +her dish-pan with dangerous haste, and Betty raised +a cloud of dust "sweeping-up;" while mother seemed +to be everywhere at once. Even Sanch, feeling that +his fate was at stake, endeavored to help in his own +somewhat erratic way, -- now frisking about Ben at +the risk of getting his tail chopped off, then trotting +away to poke his inquisitive nose into every closet +and room whither he followed Mrs. Moss in her "flying +round" evolutions; next dragging off the mat +so Betty could brush the door-steps, or inspecting +Bab's dish-washing by standing on his hind-legs to +survey the table with a critical air. When they drove +him out he was not the least offended, but gayly +barked Puss up a tree, chased all the hens over the +fence, and carefully interred an old shoe in the garden, +where the remains of the mutton-bone were already buried. + +By the time the others were ready, he had worked +off his superfluous spirits, and trotted behind the party +like a well-behaved dog accustomed to go out walking with +ladies. At the cross-roads they separated, +the little girls running on to school, while Mrs. Moss +and Ben went up to the Squire's big house on the +hill. + +"Don't you be scared, child. I'LL make it all right +about your running away; and if the Squire gives +you a job, just thank him for it, and do your best to +be steady and industrious; then you'll get on, I +haven't a doubt," she whispered, ringing the Ben at +a side-door, on which the word "Morris" shone in +bright letters. + +"Come in!" called a gruff voice; and, feeling very +much as if he were going to have a tooth out, Ben +meekly followed the good woman, who put on her +pleasantest smile, anxious to make the best possible +impression. + +A white-headed old gentleman sat reading a paper, +and peered over his glasses at the new-comers with a +pair of sharp eyes, saying in a testy tone, which would +have rather daunted any one who did not know what a +kind heart he had under his capacious waistcoat, -- + +"Good-morning, ma'am. What's the matter now? +Young tramp been stealing your chickens?" + +"Oh, dear no, sir! " exclaimed Mrs. Moss, as if +shocked at the idea. Then, in a few words, she told +Ben's story, unconsciously making his wrongs and +destitution so pathetic by her looks and tones, that +the Squire could not help being interested, and even +Ben pitied himself as if he were somebody else. + +"Now, then, boy, what can you do?" asked the +old gentleman, with an approving nod to Mrs. Moss +as she finished, and such a keen glance from under +his bushy brows that Ben felt as if be was perfectly +transparent. + +"'Most any thing, sir, to get my livin'." + +"Can you weed ? " + +"Never did, but I can learn, sir." + +"Pull up all the beets and leave the pigweed, hey? +Can you pick strawberries?" + +"Never tried any thing but eatin' 'em, sir," + +"Not likely to forget that part of the job. Can +you ride a horse to plow?" + +"Guess I could, sir!" -- and Ben's eyes began to +sparkle, for he dearly loved the noble animals who +had been his dearest friends lately. + +"No antics allowed. My horse is a fine fellow, +and I'm very particular about him." +The Squire spoke soberly, but there was a twinkle +in his eye, and Mrs. Moss tried not to smile; for the +Squire's horse was a joke all over the town, being +about twenty years old, and having a peculiar gait of +his own, lifting his fore-feet very high, with a great +show of speed, though never going out of a jog-trot. +The boys used to say he galloped before and walked +behind, and made all sorts of fun of the big, Roman- +nosed beast, who allowed no liberties to be taken +with him. + +"I'm too fond of horses to hurt 'em, Sir. As for +ridin', I ain't afraid of any thing on four legs. The +King of Morocco used to kick and bite like fun, but +I could manage him first-rate." + +"Then you'd be able to drive cows to pasture, +perhaps?" + +"I've drove elephants and camels, ostriches and +grizzly bears, and mules, and six yellow ponies all to +oncet. May be I could manage cows if I tried hard," +answered Ben, endeavoring to be meek and respectful +when scorn filled his soul at the idea of not being +able to drive a cow. + +The Squire liked him all the better for the droll +mixture of indignation and amusement betrayed by +the fire in his eyes and the sly smile round his lips; and beingrather tickled by Ben's list of animals, he answered gravely, -- + +"Don't raise elephants and camels much round +here. Bears used to be plenty, but folks got tired of +them. Mules are numerous, but we have the two-legged kind; +and as a general thing prefer Shanghae fowls to ostriches." + +He got no farther, for Ben laughed out so infectiously that both +the others joined him; and somehow that jolly laugh seemed to +settle matters than words. As they stopped, the Squire tapped on +the window behind him, saying, with an attempt at +the former gruffness, -- + +"We'll try you on cows awhile. My man will +show you where to drive them, and give you some +odd jobs through the day. I'll see what you are +good for, and send you word to-night, Mrs. Moss. +The boy can sleep at your house, can't he?" + +"Yes, indeed, sir. He can go on doing it, and +come up to his work just as well as not. I can see +to him then, and he won't be a care to any one," said +Mrs. Moss, heartily. + +"I'll make inquiries concerning your father, boy; +meantime mind what you are about, and have a good +report to give when he comes for you," returned the +Squire, with a warning wag of a stern fore-finger. + +"Thanky', sir. I will, sir. Father'll come just as +soon as he can, if he isn't sick or lost," murmured +Ben, inwardly thanking his stars that he had not done +any thing to make him quake before that awful finger, +and resolved that he never would. + +Here a red-headed Irishman came to the door, and +stood eying the boy with small favor while the Squire +gave his orders. + +"Pat, this lad wants work. He's to take the cows +and go for them. Give him any light jobs you have, +and let me know if he's good for any thing." + +"Yis, your honor. Come out o' this, b'y, till I +show ye the bastes," responded Pat; and, with a +hasty good-by to Mrs. Moss, Ben followed his new +leader, sorely tempted to play some naughty trick +upon him in return for his ungracious reception. + +But in a moment he forgot that Pat existed, for +in the yard stood the Duke of Wellington, so named +in honor of his Roman nose. If Ben had known any +thing about Shakespeare, he would have cried, "A +horse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" for the +feeling was in his heart, and he ran up to the stately +animal without a fear. Duke put back his ears and +swished his tail as if displeased for a moment; but +Ben looked straight in his eyes, gave a scientific +stroke to the iron-gray nose, and uttered a chirrup +which made the ears prick up as if recognizing a +familiar sound. + +"He'll nip ye, if ye go botherin' that way. Leave +him alone, and attend to the cattle as his honor told +ye," commanded Pat, who made a great show of +respect toward Duke in public, and kicked him +brutally in private. + +"I ain't afraid! You won't hurt me, will you, old +feller? See there now! -- he knows I 'm a friend, and +takes to me right off," said Ben, with an arm around +Duke's neck, and his own cheek confidingly laid +against the animal's; for the intelligent eyes spoke to +him as plainly as the little whinny which he understood +and accepted as a welcome. + +The Squire saw it all from the open window, and +suspecting from Pat's face that trouble was brewing, +called out, -- + +"Let the lad harness Duke, if he can. I'm going +out directly, and he may as well try that as any +thing." + +Ben was delighted, and proved himself so brisk and +handy that the roomy chaise stood at the door in a +surprisingly short time, with a smiling little ostler at +Duke's head when the Squire came out. + +His affection for the horse pleased the old gentleman, +and his neat way of harnessing suited as well; +but Ben got no praise, except a nod and a brief "All +right, boy," as the equipage went creaking and jogging away. + +Four sleek cows filed out of the barnyard when Pat +opened the gate, and Ben drove them down the road +to a distant pasture where the early grass awaited +their eager cropping. By the school they went, and +the boy looked pityingly at the black, brown, and +yellow heads bobbing past the windows as a class +went up to recite; for it seemed a hard thing to the +liberty-loving lad to be shut up there so many hours +on a morning like that. + +But a little breeze that was playing truant round +the steps did Ben a service without knowing it, for a +sudden puff blew a torn leaf to his feet, and seeing a +picture he took it up. It evidently had fallen from +some ill-used history, for the picture showed some +queer ships at anchor, some oddly dressed men just +landing, and a crowd of Indians dancing about on +the shore. Ben spelt out all be could about these +interesting personages, but could not discover what it +meant, because ink evidently had deluged the page, +to the new reader's great disappointment. + +"I'll ask the girls; may be they will know," said +Ben to himself as, after looking vainly for more stray +leaves, he trudged on, enjoying the bobolink's song, +the warm sunshine, and a comfortable sense of friendliness +and safety, which soon set him to whistling as +gayly as any blackbird in the meadow. + + +CHAPTER VI: A CIRCULATING LIBRARY + +After supper that night, Bab and Betty sat +in the old porch playing with Josephus and +Belinda, and discussing the events of the +day; for the appearance of the strange boy and his +dog had been a most exciting occurrence in their +quiet lives. They had seen nothing of him since +morning, as he took his meals at the Squire's, and +was at work with Pat in a distant field when the children +passed. Sancho had stuck closely to his master, +evidently rather bewildered by the new order of +things, and bound to see that no harm happened to +Ben. + +"I wish they'd come. It's sundown, and I heard +the cows mooing, so I know they have gone home," +said Betty, impatiently; for she regarded the new-comer +in the light of an entertaining book, and wished +to read on as fast as possible. + +"I'm going to learn the signs he makes when he +wants Sancho to dance; then we can have fun with +him whenever we like. He's the dearest dog I ever +saw!" answered Bab, who was fonder of animals than +her sister. + +"Ma said -- Ow, what's that?" cried Betty with a +start, as something bumped against the gate outside; +and in a moment Ben's head peeped over the top as +he swung himself up to the iron arch, in the middle +of which was the empty lantern frame. + +"Please to locate, gentlemen; please to locate. +The performance is about to begin with the great +Flyin' Coopid act, in which Master Bloomsbury has +appeared before the crowned heads of Europe. +Pronounced by all beholders the most remarkable youthful +progidy agoin'. Hooray ! here we are!" + +Having rattled off the familiar speech in Mr. +Smithers's elegant manner, Ben begin to cut up such +capers that even a party of dignified hens, going +down the avenue to bed, paused to look on with +clucks of astonishment, evidently fancying that salt +had set him to fluttering and tumbling as it did them. +Never had the old gate beheld such antics, though it +had seen gay doings in its time; for of all the boys +who had climbed over it, not one had ever stood +on his head upon each of the big balls which ornamented +the posts, hung by his heels from the arch, +gone round and round like a wheel with the bar for +an axis, played a tattoo with his toes while holding +on by his chin, walked about the wall on his hands, +or closed the entertainment by festooning himself +in an airy posture over the side of the lantern frame, +and kissing his hand to the audience as a well-bred +Cupid is supposed to do on making his bow. + +The little girls clapped and stamped enthusiastically, +while Sancho, who had been calmly surveying the +show, barked his approval as he leaped up to snap at +Ben's feet. + +"Come down and tell what you did up at the +Squire's. Was he cross? Did you have to work +hard? Do you like it?" asked Bab, when the noise +had subsided. + +"It's cooler up here," answered Ben, composing +himself in the frame, and fanning his hot face with a +green spray broken from the tall bushes rustling odorously +all about him. "I did all sorts of jobs. The +old gentleman wasn't cross; he gave me a dime, and +I like him first-rate. But I just hate 'Carrots; ' he +swears at a feller, and fired a stick of wood at me. +Guess I'll pay him off when I get a chance." + +Fumbling in his pocket to show the bright dime, he +found the torn page, and remembered the thirst for +information which had seized him in the morning. +"Look here, tell me about this, will you? What +are these chaps up to? The ink has spoilt all but the +picture and this bit of reading. I want to know what +it means. Take it to 'em, Sanch." + +The dog caught the leaf as it fluttered to the ground, +and carrying it carefully in his mouth, deposited it at +the feet of the little girls, seating himself before them +with an air of deep interest. Bab and Betty picked it +up and read it aloud in unison, while Ben leaned from +his perch to listen and learn. + +"'When day dawned,land was visible. A pleasant +land it was. There were gay flowers, and tall trees +with leaves and fruit, such as they had never seen before. +On the shore were unclad copper-colored men, +gazing with wonder at the Spanish ships. They took +them for great birds, the white sails for their wings, +and the Spaniards for superior beings brought down +from heaven on their backs." + +"Why, that's Columbus finding San Salvador. +Don't you know about him?" demanded Bab, as if +she were one of the "superior beings," and intimately +acquainted with the immortal Christopher. + +"No, I don't. Who was he any way? I s'pose +that's him paddlin' ahead; but which of the Injuns is +Sam Salvindoor?" asked Ben, rather ashamed of his +ignorance, but bent on finding out now he had begun. + +"My gracious! twelve years old and not know your +Quackenbos!" laughed Bab, much amused, but rather +glad to find that she could teach the "whirligig +boy" something, for she considered him a remarkable +creature. + +"I don't care a bit for your quackin' boss, whoever +he is. Tell about this fine feller with the ships; I +like him," persisted Ben. + +So Bab, with frequent interruptions and hints from +Betty, told the wonderful tale in a simple way, which +made it easy to understand; for she liked history, and +had a lively tongue of her own. + +"I'd like to read some more. Would my ten cents +buy a book?" asked Ben, anxious to learn a little +since Bab laughed at him. + +"No, indeed! I'll lend you mine when I'm not +using it, and tell you all about it," promised Bab; +forgetting that she did not know "all about it" herself +yet. + +"I don't have any time only evenings, and then +may be you'II want it," begun Ben, in whom the inky +page had roused a strong curiosity. + +"I do get my history in the evening, but you could +have it mornings before school." + +"I shall have to go off early, so there won't be any +chance. Yes, there will, -- I'LL tell you how to do it. +Let me read while I drive up the cows. Squire likes +'em to eat slow along the road, so's to keep the grass +short and save mowin'. Pat said so, and I could do +history instead of loafin' round!" cried Ben full of +this bright idea. + +"How will I get my book back in time to recite?" +asked Bab, prudently. + +"Oh, I'll leave it on the window-sill, or put it inside +the door as I go back. I'll be real careful, and just +as soon as I earn enough, I'll buy you a new one and +take the old one. Will you?" + +"Yes; but I'll tell you a nicer way to do. Don't +put the book on the window, 'cause teacher will see +you; or inside the door, 'cause some one may steal +it. You put it in my cubby-houae, right at the corner +of the wall nearest the big maple. You'll find a +cunning place between the roots that stick up under +the flat stone. That's my closet, and I keep things +there. It's the best cubby of all, and we take turns +to have it." + +"I'll find it, and that'll be a first-rate place," said +Ben, much gratified. + +"I could put my reading-book in sometimes, if +you'd like it. There's lots of pretty stories in it and +pictures," proposed Betty, rather timidly; for she +wanted to share the benevolent project, but had little +to offer, not being as good a scholar as Bab. + +"I'd like a 'rithmetic better. I read tip-top, but I +ain't much on 'rithmetic"; so, if you can spare yours, +I might take a look at it. Now I'm goin' to earn +wages, I ought to know about addin' 'em up, and so +on," said Ben, with the air of a Vanderbilt oppressed +with the care of millions. + +"I'll teach you that. Betty doesn't know much +about sums. But she spells splendidly, and is always +at the head of her class. Teacher is real proud of her, +'cause she never misses, and spells hard, fussy words, +like chi-rog-ra-phy and bron-chi-tis as easy as any +thing. + +Bab quite beamed with sisterly pride, and Betty +smoothed down her apron with modest satisfaction, +for Bab seldom praised her, and she liked it very +much. + +"I never went to school, so that's the reason I ain't +smart. I can write, though, better 'n some of the boys +up at school. I saw lots of names on the shed door. +See here, now," -- and scrambling down, Ben pulled +out a cherished bit of chalk, and flourished off ten +letters of the alphabet, one on each of the dark stone +slabs that paved the walk. + +"Those are beautiful! I can't make such curly +ones. Who taught you to do it? " asked Bab, as she +and Betty walked up and down admiring them. + +"Horse blankets," answered Ben, soberly. + +"What!" cried both girls, stopping to stare. + +"Our horses all had their names on their blankets, +and I used to copy 'em. The wagons had signs, and I +learned to read that way after father taught me my +letters off the red and yellow posters. First word I +knew was lion, 'cause I was always goin' to see old +Jubal in his cage. Father was real proud when I read +it right off. I can draw one, too." + +Ben proceeded to depict an animal intended to +represent his lost friend; but Jubal would not have +recognized his portrait, since it looked much more +like Sancho than the king of the forest. The children +admired it immensely, however, and Ben gave them +a lesson in natural history which was so interesting +that it kept them busy and happy till bedtime; for +the boy described what he had seen in such lively +language, and illustrated in such a droll way, it was +no wonder they were charmed. + + +CHAPTER VII + +NEW FRIENDS TROT IN + +Next day Ben ran off to his work with +Quackenbos's "Elementary History of the +United States" in his pocket, and the +Squire's cows had ample time to breakfast on way- +side grass before they were put into their pasture. +Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended, for +Ben had an errand to town; and all the way he read +busily, tumbling over the hard words, and leaving +bits which he did not understand to be explained at +night by Bab. + +At "The First Settlements" he had to stop, for the +schoolhouse was reached, and the book must be returned. +The maple-tree closet was easily found, and +a little surprise hidden under the flat stone; for Ben +paid two sticks of red and white candy for the privilege +of taking books from the new library. + +When recess came, great was the rejoicing of the +children over their unexpected treat, for Mrs. Moss +had few pennies to spare for sweets, and, somehow, +this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of +grateful Ben's solitary dime. The little giris shared +their goodies with their favorite mates, but said +nothing about the new arrangement, fearing it would +be spoilt if generally known. They told their mother, +however, and she gave them leave to lend their books +and encourage Ben to love learning all they could. +She also proposed that they should drop patch-work, +and help her make some blue shirts for Ben. Mrs. +Barton had given her the materials, and she thought +it would be an excellent lesson in needle-work as well +as a useful gift to Ben, -- who, boy-like, never troubled +himself as to what he should wear when his one suit +of clothes gave out. + +Wednesday afternoon was the sewing time; so the +two little B's worked busily at a pair of shirt-sleeves, +sitting on their bench in the doorway, while the rusty +needles creaked in and out, and the childish voices +sang school-songs, with frequent stoppages for lively +chatter. + +For a week, Ben worked away bravely, and never +shirked nor complained, although Pat put many a +hard or disagreeable job upon him, and chores grew +more and more distasteful. His only comfort was +the knowledge that Mrs. Moss and the Squire were +satisfied with him; his only pleasure the lessons he +learned while driving the cows, and recited in the evening +when the three children met under the lilacs +to " play school." + +He had no thought of studying when he began, +and hardly knew that he was doing it as he pored +over the different books he took from the library. +But the little girls tried him with all they Possessed, +and he was mortified to find how ignorant he was. +He never owned it in words, but gladly accepted +all the bits of knowledge they offered from their small store; +getting Betty to hear him spell "just for +fun;" agreeing to draw Bab all the bears and tigers +she wanted if she would show him how to do sums +on the flags, and often beguiled his lonely labors by +trying to chant the multiplication table as they did. +When Tuesday night came round, the Squire paid +him a dollar, said he was "a likely boy," and might +stay another week if he chose. Ben thanked him and +thought he would; but the next morning, after he +had put up the bars, he remained sitting on the top +rail to consider his prospects, for he felt uncommonly +reluctant to go back to the society of rough Pat. +Like most boys, he hated work, unless it was of a +sort which just suited him; then he could toil like a +beaver and never tire. His wandering life had given +him no habits of steady industry; and, while he was +an unusually capable lad of his age, he dearly loved +to "loaf" about and have a good deal of variety and +excitement in his life. + +Now he saw nothing before him but days of patient +and very uninteresting labor. He was heartily sick +of weeding; even riding Duke before the cultivator +had lost its charms, and a great pile of wood lay in +the Squire's yard which he knew he would be set +to piling up in the shed. Strawberry-picking would +soon follow the asparagus cultivation; then haying; +and and so on all the long bright summer, without any +fun, unless his father came for him. + +On the other hand, he was not obliged to stay a +minute longer unless he liked. With a comfortable +suit of clothes, a dollar in his pocket, and a row of +dinner-baskets hanging in the school-house entry to +supply him with provisions if he didn't mind stealing +them, what was easier than to run away again? +Tramping has its charms in fair weather, and Ben +had lived like a gypsy under canvas for years; so he +feared nothing, and began to look down the leafy road +with a restless, wistful expression, as the temptation +grew stronger and stronger every minute. + +Sancho seemed to share the longing, for he kept +running off a little way and stopping to frisk and +bark; then rushed back to sit watching his master +with those intelligent eyes of his, which seemed to +say, "Come on, Ben, let us scamper down this pleasant +road and never stop till we are tired." Swallows +darted by, white clouds fled before the balmy west +wind, a squirrel ran along the wall, and all things +seemed to echo the boy's desire to leave toil behind +and roam away as care-free as they. One thing restrained +him, the thought of his seeming ingratitude +to good Mrs. Moss, and the disappointment of the +little girls at the loss of their two new play-fellows. +While he paused to think of this, something happened +which kept him from doing what he would have been +sure to regret afterward. + +Horses had always been his best friends, and one +came trotting up to help him now; though he did +not know how much he owed it till long after. Just +in the act of swinging himself over the bars to take a +shortcut across the fields, the sound of approaching +hoofs, unaccompanied by the roll of wheels, caught +his ear; and, pausing, he watched eagerly to see who +was coming at such a pace. + +At the turn of road, however, the quick trot +stopped, and in a moment a lady on a bay mare came +pacing slowly into sight, -- a young and pretty lady, +all in dark blue, with a bunch of dandelions like +yellow stars in her button-hole, and a silver-handled +whip hanging from the pommel of her saddle, evidently +more for ornament than use. The handsome +mare limped a little, and shook her head as if something +plagued her; while her mistress leaned down +to see what was the matter, saying, as if she expected +an answer of some sort,-- + +"Now, Chevalita, if you have got a stone in your +foot, I shall have to get off and take it out. Why +don't you look where you step, and save me all this +trouble?" + +"I'll look for you, ma'am; I'd like to!" said an +eager voice so unexpectedly, that both horse and rider +started as a boy came down the bank with a jump. + +"I wish you would. You need not be afraid; Lita +is as gentle as a lamb," answered the young lady, +smilint, as if amused by the boy's earnestness. + +"She's a beauty, any way," muttered Ben, lifting +one foot after another till he found the stone, and +with some trouble got it out. + +"That was nicely done, and I'm much obliged. +Can you tell me if that cross-road leads to the +Elms?" asked the lady, as she went slowly on with +Ben beside her. + +"No, ma'am; I'm new in these parts, and I only +know where Squire Morris and Mrs. Moss live." + +"I want to see both of them, so suppose you show +me the way. I was here long ago, and thought I +should remember how to find the old house with the +elm avenue and the big gate, but I don't." + +"I know it; they call that place the Laylocks now, +'cause there's a hedge of 'em all down the path and +front wall. It's a real pretty place; Bab and Betty +play there, and so do I." + +Ben could not restrain a chuckle at the recollection +of his first appearance there, and, as if his merriment +or his words interested her, the lady said pleasantly, + +"Tell me all about it. Are Bab and Betty your sisters?" +Quite forgetting his intended tramp, Ben plunged +into a copious history of himself and new-made +friends, led on by a kind look, an inquiring word, +and sympathetic smile, till he had told every thing. +At the school-house corner he stopped and said, +spreading his arms like a sign-post, -- + +"That's the way to the Laylocks, and this is the +way to the Squire's." + +"As I'm in a hurry to see the old house, I'll go +this way first, if you will be kind enough to give my +love to Mrs. Morris, and tell the Squire Miss Celia is +coming to dine with him. I won't say good-by, +because I shall see you again." + +With a nod and a smile, the young lady cantered +away, and Ben hurried up the hill to deliver his +message, feeling as if something pleasant was going +to happen; so it would be wise to defer running away, +for the present at least. + +At one o'clock Miss Celia arrived, and Ben had the +delight of helping Pat stable pretty Chevalita; then, +his own dinner hastily eaten, he fell to work at the +detested wood-pile with sudden energy; for as he +worked he could steal peeps into the dining-room, +and see the curly brown head between the two gay +ones, as the three sat round the table. He could not +help hearing a word now and then, as the windows +were open, and these bits of conversation filled him +with curiosity for the names "Thorny," Celia," +and "George" were often repeated, and an occasional +merry laugh from the young lady sounded like music +in that usually quiet place. + +When dinner was over, Ben's industrious fit left +him, and he leisurely trundled his barrow to and fro +till the guest departed. There was no chance for +him to help now, since Pat, anxious to get whatever +trifle might be offered for his services, was quite +devoted in his attentions to the mare and her mistress, +till she was mounted and off. But Miss Celia +did not forget her little guide, and, spying a wistful +face behind the wood-pile, paused at the gate and +beckoned with that winning smile of hers. If ten +Pats had stood scowling in the way, Ben would have +defied them all; and, vaulting over the fence, he ran +up with a shining face, hoping she wanted some last +favor of him. Leaning down, Miss Celia slipped a +new quarter into his hand, saying, + +"Lita wants me to give you this for taking the +stone out of her foot." + +"Thank y', ma'am; I liked to do it, for I hate to +see 'em limp, 'specially such a pretty one as she is," +answered Ben, stroking the glossy neck with a loving +touch. + +"The Squire says you know a good deal about +horses, so I suppose you understand the Houyhnhnm +language? I'm learning it, and it is very nice," +laughed Miss Celia, as Chevalita gave a little whinny +and snuffled her nose into Ben's pocket. + +"No, miss, I never went to school." + +"That is not taught there. I'll bring you a book +all about it when I come back. Mr. Gulliver went to +the horse-country and heard the dear things speak +their own tongue." + +"My father has been on the prairies, where there's +lots of wild ones, but he didn't hear 'em speak. I +know what they want without talkin'," answered Ben, +suspecting a joke, but not exactly seeing what it was. + +"I don't doubt it, but I won't forget the book. +Good-by, my lad, we shall soon meet again," and +away went Miss Celia as if she were in a hurry to +get back. + +"If she only had a red habit and a streamin' white +feather, she'd look as fine as 'Melia used to. She is +'most as kind and rides 'most as well. Wonder +where she's goin' to. Hope she will come soon," +thought Ben, watching till the last flutter of the blue +habit vanished round the corner; and then he went +back to his work with his head full of the promised +book, pausing now and then to chink the two silver +halves and the new quarter together in his pocket, +wondering what be should buy with this vast sum. + +Bab and Betty meantime had had a most exciting +day; for when they went home at noon they found +the pretty lady there, and she had talked to them +like an old friend, given them a ride on the little +horse, and kissed them both good-by when they went +back to school. In the afternoon the lady was gone, +the old house all open, and their mother sweeping, +airing, in great spirits. So they had a splendid +frolic tumbling on feather-beds, beating bits +of carpet, opening closets, and racing from garret to +cellar like a pair of distracted kittens. + +Here Ben found them, and was at once overwhelmed +with a burst of news which excited him as +much as it did them. Miss Celia owned the house, +was coming to liver there, and things were to be made +ready as soon as possible. All thought the prospect +a charming one: Mrs. Moss, because life had been +dull for her during the year she had taken charge of +the old house; the little girls had heard rumors of +various pets who were coming; and Ben, learning +that a boy and a donkey were among them, resolved +that nothing but the arrival of his father should tear +him from this now deeply interesting spot. + +"I'm in such a hurry to see the peacocks and hear +them scream. She said they did, and that we'd laugh +when old Jack brayed," cried Bab, hopping about on +one foot to work off her impatience. + +"Is a faytun a kind of a bird? I heard her say +she could keep it in the coach-house," asked Betty, +inquiringly. + +"It's a little carriage," and Ben rolled in the grass, +much tickled at poor Betty's ignorance. + +"Of course it is. I looked it out in the dic., and +you mustn't call it a payton, though it is spelt with +a p," added Bab, who liked to lay down the law on +all occasions, and did not mention that she had looked +vainly among the Vs till a school-mate set her right. + +"You can't tell me much about carriages. But what +I want to know is where Lita will stay?" said Ben. + +"Oh, she's to be up at the Squire's till things are +fixed, and you are to bring her down. Squire came +and told Ma all about it, and said you were a boy to +be trusted, for he had tried you." + +Ben made no answer, but secretly thanked his stars +that he had not proved himself untrustworthy by running +away, and so missing all this fun. + +"Won't it be fine to have the house open all the +time? We can run over and see the pictures and +books whenever we like. I know we can, Miss Celia is +so kind," began Betty, who cared for these things more +than for screaming peacocks and comical donkeys. + +"Not unless you are invited," answered their +mother, locking the front door behind her. "You'd +better begin to pick up your duds right away, for she +won't want them cluttering round her front yard. If +you are not too tired, Ben, you might rake round a +little while I shut the blinds. I want things to look +nice and tidy." + +Two little groans went up from two afflicted little +girls as they looked about them at the shady bower, +the dear porch, and the winding walks where they +loved to run "till their hair whistled in the wind," as +the fairy-books say. + +"Whatever shall we do! Our attic is so hot and +the shed so small, and the yard always full of hens +or clothes. We shall have to pack all our things +away, and never play any more," said Bab, tragically. + +"May be Ben could build us a little house in the +orchard," proposed Betty, who firmly believed that +Ben could do any thing. + +"He won't have any time. Boys don't care for +baby-houses," returned Bab, collecting her homeless +goods and chattels with a dismal face. + +"We sha'n't want these much when all the new +things come; see if we do," said cheerful little Betty, +who always found out a silver lining to every cloud. + + +CHAPTER VIII: MISS CELIA'S MAN + +Ben was not too tired, and the clearing-up began that very +night. None too soon, for in a day or two things arrived, +to the great delight of the children, who considered moving +a most interesting play. First came the phaeton, which Ben +spent all his leisure moments in admiring; wondering +with secret envy what happy boy would ride in the +little seat up behind, and beguiling his tasks by planning +how, when he got rich, he would pass his time +driving about in just such an equipage, and inviting +all the boys he met to have a ride. + +Then a load of furniture came creaking in at the +lodge gate, and the girls had raptures over a cottage +piano, several small chairs, and a little low table, which +they pronounced just the thing for them to play at. +The live stock appeared next, creating a great stir +in the neighborhood, for peacocks were rare birds +there; the donkey's bray startled the cattle and convulsed +the people with laughter; the rabbits were +continually getting out to burrow in the newly made +garden; and Chevalita scandalized old Duke by +dancing about the stable which he had inhabited for +years in stately solitude. + +Last but by no means least, Miss Celia, her houng +brother, and two maids arrived one evening so late +that only Mrs. Moss went over to help them settle. +The children were much disappointed, but were appeased +by a promise that they should all go to pay +their respects in the morning. + +They were up so early, and were so impatient to be +off, that Mrs. Moss let them go with the warning that +they would find only the servants astir. She was mistaken, +however, for, as the procession approached, a +voice from the porch called out, "Good-morning +little neighbors!" so unexpectedly, that Bab nearly +spilt the new milk she carried, Betty gave such a start +that the fresh-laid eggs quite skipped in the dish, and +Ben's face broke into a broad grin over the armful of +clover which he brought for the bunnies, as he bobbed +his head, saying briskly, -- + +"She's all right, miss, Lita is; and I can bring her +over any minute you say." + +"I shall want her at four o'clock. Thorny will +be too tired to drive, but I must hear from the +post-office, rain or shine;" and Miss Celia's pretty +color brightened as she spoke, either from some +happy thought or because she was bashful, for the +honest young faces before her plainly showed their +admiration of the white-gowned lady under the +honeysuckles. + +The appearance of Miranda, the maid, reminded the +children of their errand; and having delivered their +offerings, they were about to retire in some confusion, +when Miss Celia said pleasantly, -- + +"I want to thank you for helping put things in such +nice order. I see signs of busy hands and feet both +inside the house and all about the grounds, and I +am very much obliged." + +"I raked the beds," said Ben, proudly eying the +neat ovals and circles. + +"I swept all the paths," added Bab, with a reproachful +glance at several green sprigs fallen from +the load of clover on the smooth walk. + +"I cleared up the porch," and Betty's clean pinafore +rose and fell with a long sigh, as she surveyed the late +summer residence of her exiled family. +Miss Celia guessed the meaning of that sigh, and +made haste to turn it into a smile by asking anxiously, -- + +"What has become of the playthings? I don't see +them anywhere." + +"Ma said you wouldn't want our duds round, +so we took them all home," answered Betty, with a +wistful face. + +"But I do want them round. I like dolls and toys +almost as much as ever, and quite miss the little 'duds' +from porch and path. Suppose you come to tea with +me to-night and bring some of them back? I should +be very sorry to rob you of your pleasant play-place." + +"Oh, yes, 'm, we'd love to come! and we'll bring +our best things." + +"Ma always lets us have our shiny pitchers and the +china poodle when we go visiting or have company at +home," said Bab and Betty, both speaking at once. + +"Bring what you like, and I'll hunt up my toys, +too. Ben is to come also, and his poodle is especially +invited," added Miss Celia, as Sancho came and +begged before her, feeling that some agreeable project +was under discussion. + +"Thank you, miss. I told them you'd be willing +they should come sometimes. They like this place +ever so much, and so do I," said Ben, feeling that +few spots combined so many advantages in the way of +climbable trees, arched gates, half-a-dozen gables, and +other charms suited to the taste of an aspiring youth +who had been a flying Cupid at the age of seven. + +"So do I," echoed Miss Celia, heartily. "Ten years +ago I came here a little girl, and made lilac chains +under these very bushes, and picked chickweed over +there for my bird, and rode Thorny in his baby-wagon +up and down these paths. Grandpa lived here then, +and we had fine times; but now they are all gone +except us two." + +"We haven't got any father, either," said Bab, for +something in Miss Celia's face made her feel as if a +cloud had come over the sun. + +"I have a first-rate father, if I only knew where +he'd gone to," said Ben, looking down the path as +eagerly as if one waited for him behind the locked gate. + +"You are a rich boy, and you are happy little girls +to have so good a mother; I've found that out already," +and the sun shone again as the young lady +nodded to the neat, rosy children before her. + +"You may have a piece of her if you want to, 'cause +you haven't got any of your own," said Betty with a +pitiful look which made her blue eyes as sweet as two +wet violets. + +"So I will ! and you shall be my little sisters. I +never had any, and I'd love to try how it seems;" +and Celia took both the chubby hands in hers, +feeling ready to love every one this first bright morning +in the new home, which she hoped to make a very +happy one. + +Bab gave a satisfied nod, and fell to examining the +rings upon the white hand that held her own. But +Betty put her arms about the new friend's neck, and +kissed her so softly that the hungry feeling in Miss +Celia's heart felt better directly; for this was the food +it wanted, and Thorny had not learned yet to return +one half of the affection he received. Holding the +child close, she played with the yellow braids while +she told them about the little German girls in their +funny black-silk caps, short-waisted gowns, and wooden +shoes, whom she used to see watering long webs of +linen bleaching on the grass, watching great flocks of +geese, or driving pigs to market, knitting or spinning +as they went. + +Presently "Randa," as she called her stout maid, +came to tell her that "Master Thorny couldn't wait +another minute;" and she went in to breakfast with +a good appetite, while the children raced home to +bounce in upon Mrs. Moss, talking all at once like +little lunatics. + +"The phaeton at four, -- so sweet in a beautiful +white gown, -- going to tea, and Sancho and all the +baby things invited. Can't we wear our Sunday +frocks? A splendid new net for Lita. And she likes +dolls. Goody, goody, won't it be fun!" + +With much difficulty their mother got a clear account +of the approaching festivity out of the eager +mouths, and with still more diffculty, got breakfast +into them, for the children had few pleasures, and this +brilliant prospect rather turned their heads. + +Bab and Betty thought the day would never end, +and cheered the long hours by expatiating on the +pleasures in store for them, till their playmates were +much afflicted because they were not going also. At +noon their mother kept them from running over to +the old house lest they should be in the way; so they +consoled themselves by going to the syringa bush at +the corner and sniffing the savory odors which came +from the kitchen, where Katy, the cook, was evidently +making nice things for tea. + +Ben worked as if for a wager till four; then stood +over Pat while he curried Lita till her coat shone like +satin, then drove her gently down to the coach-house, +where he had the satisfaction of harnessing her "all +his own self". + +"Shall I go round to the great gate and wait for +you there, miss?" he asked, when all was ready, +looking up at the porch, where the young lady stood +watching him as she put on her gloves. + +"No, Ben, the great gate is not to be opened till +next October. I shall go in and out by the lodge, and +leave the avenue to grass and dandelions, meantime," +answered Miss Celia, as she stepped in and took the +reins, with a sudden smile. + +But she did not start, even when Ben had shaken +out the new duster and laid it neatly over her knees. + +"Isn't it all right now?" asked the boy, anxiously. + +"Not quite; I need one thing more. Can't you +guess what it is?" and Miss Celia watched his +anxious face as his eyes wandered from the tips of +Lita's ears to the hind-wheel of the phaeton, trying +to discover what had been omitted. + +"No, miss, I don't see -- " he began, much mortified +to think he had forgotten any thing. + +"Wouldn't a little groom up behind improve the +appearance of my turnout?" she said, with a look +which left no doubt in his mind that he was to be the +happy boy to occupy that proud perch. + +He grew red with pleasure, but stammered, as he +hesitated, looking down at his bare feet and blue +shirt, -- + +"I ain't fit, miss; and I haven't got any other +clothes." + +Miss Celia only smiled again more kindly than +before, and answered, in a tone which he understood +better than her words, -- +"A great man said his coat-of-arms was a pair of +shirt-sleeves, and a sweet poet sang about a barefooted +boy; so I need not be too proud to ride with one. +Up with you, Ben, my man, and let us be off, or we +shall be late for our party." + +With one bound the new groom was in his place, +sitting very erect, with his legs stiff, arms folded, and +nose in the air, as he had seen real grooms sit behind +their masters in fine dog-carts or carriages. Mrs. +Moss nodded as they drove past the lodge, and Ben +touched his torn hat-brim in the most dignified manner, +though he could not suppress a broad grin of delight, +which deepened into a chuckle when Lita went off at +a brisk trot along the smooth road toward town. + +It takes so little to make a child happy, it is a pity +grown people do not oftener remember it and scatter +little bits of pleasure before the small people, as they +throw crumbs to the hungry sparrows. Miss Celia +knew the boy was pleased, but he had no words in +which to express his gratitude for the great contentment +she had given him. He could only beam at all +he met, smile when the floating ends of the gray veil +blew against his face, and long in his heart to give the +new friend a boyish hug, as he used to do his dear +'Melia when she was very good to him. + +School was just out as they passed; and it was a +spectacle, I assure you, to see the boys and girls stare +at Ben up aloft in such state; also to see the superb +indifference with which that young man regarded the +vulgar herd who went afoot. He couldn't resist an +affable nod to Bab and Betty, for they stood under +the maple-tree, and the memory of their circulating +library made him forget his dignity in his gratitude. + +"We will take them next time, but now I want to +talk to you," began Miss Celia, as Lita climbed the +hill. "My brother has been ill, and I have brought +him here to get well. I want to do all sorts of things +to amuse him, and I think you can help me in many +ways. Would you like to work for me instead of the +Squire? + +"I guess I would!" ejaculated Ben, so heartily that +no further assurances were needed, and Miss Celia +went on, well pleased: -- + +"You see, poor Thorny is weak and fretful, and +does not like to exert himself, though he ought to be +out a great deal, and kept from thinking of his little +troubles. He cannot walk much yet, so I have a +wheeled chair to push him in; and the paths are so hard, +it will be easy to roll him about. That will be one thing +you can do. Another is to take care of his pets till he +is able to do it himself. Then you can +tell him your adventures, and talk to him as only a +boy can talk to a boy. That will amuse him when I +want to write or go out; but I never leave him long, +and hope he will soon be running about as well as the +rest of us. How does that sort of work look to you?" + +"First-rate! I'll take real good care of the little +feller, and do every thing I know to please him, and +so will Sanch; he's fond of children," answered Ben, +heartily, for the new place looked very inviting to him. +Miss Celia laughed, and rather damped his ardor +by her next words. + +"I don't know what Thorny would say to hear you +call him 'little.' He is fourteen, and appears to get +taller and taller every day. He seems like a child to +me, because I am nearly ten years older than he is; +but you needn't be afraid of his long legs and big +eyes, he is too feeble to do any harm; only you +mustn't mind if he orders you about." + +"I'm used to that. I don't mind it if he won't call +me a 'spalpeen,' and fire things at me," said Ben, +thinking of his late trials with Pat. + +"I can promise that; and I am sure Thorny will +like you, for I told him your story, and he is anxious +to see 'the circus boy' as he called you. Squire +Allen says I may trust you, and I am glad to do so, +for it saves me much trouble to find what I want all +ready for me. You shall be well fed and clothed, +kindly treated and honestly paid, if you like to stay +with me." + +"I know I shall like it -- till father comes, anyway. +Squire wrote to Smithers right off, but hasn't got any +answer yet. I know they are on the go now, so may +be we won't hear for ever so long," answered Ben, +feeling less impatient to be off than before this fine +proposal was made to him. + +"I dare say; meantime, we will see how we get on +together, and perhaps your father will be willing +leave you for the summer if he is away. Now show +me the baker's, the candy-shop, and the post-office," +said Miss Celia, as they rattled down the main street +of the village. + +Ben made himself useful; and when all the other +errands were done, received his reward in the shape +of a new pair of shoes and a straw hat with a streaming +blue ribbon, on the ends of which shone silvery +anchors. He was also allowed to drive home, while +his new mistress read her letters. One particularly +long one, with a queer stamp on the envelope, she +read twice, never speaking a word till they got back. +Then Ben was sent off with Lita and the Squire's +letters, promising to get his chores done in time +for tea. + + +CHAPTER IX: A HAPPY TEA + +Exactly five minutes before six the party +arrived in great state, for Bab and Betty wore +their best frocks and hair-ribbons, Ben had +a new blue shirt and his shoes on as full-dress, and +Sancho's curls were nicely brushed, his frills as white +as if just done up. + +No one was visible to receive them, but the low +table stood in the middle of the walk, with four chairs +and a foot-stool around it. A pretty set of green and +white china caused the girls to cast admiring looks +upon the little cups and plates, while Ben eyed the +feast longingly, and Sancho with difficulty restrained +himself from repeating his former naughtiness. No +wonder the dog sniffed and the children smiled, for +there was a noble display of little tarts and cakes, +little biscuits and sandwiches, a pretty milk-pitcher +shaped like a white calla rising out of its green leaves, +and a jolly little tea-kettle singing away over the +spirit-lamp as cosily as you please. + +"Isn't it perfectly lovely?" whispered Betty, who +had never seen any thing like it before. + +"I just wish Sally could see us now," answered Bab, +who had not yet forgiven her enemy. + +"Wonder where the boy is," added Ben, feeling +as good as any one, but rather doubtful how others +might regard him. + +Here a rumbling sound caused the guests to look +toward the garden, and in a moment Miss Celia appeared, +pushing a wheeled chair, in which sat her +brother. A gay afghan covered the long legs, a +broad-brimmed hat half hid the big eyes, and a discontented +expression made the thin face as unattractive as the +fretful voice, which said, complainingly, -- + +"If they make a noise, I'll go in. Don't see what +you asked them for." + +"To amuse you, dear. I know they will, if you +will only try to like them," whispered the sister, smiling, +and nodding over the chair-back as she came on, +adding aloud, "Such a punctual party! I am all +ready, however, and we will sit down at once. This +is my brother Thornton, and we are all going to be +very good friends by-and-by. Here 's the droll dog, +Thorny; isn't he nice and curly?" + +Now, Ben had heard what the other boy said, and +made up his mind that he shouldn't like him; and +Thorny had decided beforehand that he wouldn't +play with a tramp, even if he cut capers; go +both looked decidedly cool and indifferent when Miss +Celia introduced them. But Sancho had better manners +and no foolish pride; he, therefore, set them a good +example by approaching the chair, with his tail waving +like a flag of truce, and politely presented his +ruffled paw for a hearty shake. + +Thorny could not resist that appeal, and patted the +white head, with a friendly look into the affectionate +eyes of the dog, saying to his sister as he did so, -- + +"What a wise old fellow he is! It seems as if he +could almost speak, doesn't it?" + +"He can. Say 'How do you do,' Sanch," commanded Ben, +relenting at once, for he saw admiration in Thorny's face. + +"Wow, wow, wow!" remarked Sancho, in a mild +and conversational tone, sitting up and touching one +paw to his head, as if he saluted by taking off his hat. +Thorny laughed in spite of himself, and Miss Celia +seeing that the ice was broken, wheeled him to his +place at the foot of the table. Then, seating the little +girls on one side, Ben and the dog on the other, took +the head herself and told her guests to begin. +Bab and Betty were soon chattering away to their +pleasant hostess as freely as if they had known her for +months; but the boys were still rather shy, and made +Sancho the medium through which they addressed +one another. The excellent beast behaved with wonderful +propriety, sitting upon his cushion in an attitude of such +dignity that it seemed almost a libertyto offer him food. +A dish of thick sandwiches had been provided for his especial +refreshment; and, as Ben from time to time laid one on his +plate, he affected entire unconsciousness of it till the word +was given, when it vanished at one gulp, and Sancho again +appeared absorbed in deep thought. + +But, having once tasted of this pleasing delicacy, it +was very hard to repress his longing for more; and, in +spite of all his efforts, his nose would work, his eye +kept a keen watch upon that particular dish, and his +tail quivered with excitement as it lay like a train +over the red cushion. At last, a moment came when +temptation proved too strong for him. Ben was +listening to something Miss Celia said; a tart lay +unguarded upon his plate; Sanch looked at Thorny +who was watching him; Thorny nodded, Sanch gave +one wink, bolted the tart, and then gazed pensively +up at a sparrow swinging on a twig overhead. + +The slyness of the rascal tickled the boy so much +that he pushed back his hat, clapped his hands, +and burst out laughing as he had not done before +for weeks. Every one looked round surprised, and +Sancho regarded them with a mildly inquiring air, as +if he said, "Why this unseemly mirth, my friends?" + +Thorny forgot both sulks and shyness after that, +and suddenly began to talk. Ben was flattered by his +interest in the dear dog, and opened out so delightfully +that he soon charmed the other by his lively +tales of circus-life. Then Miss Celia felt relieved, and +every thing went splendidly, especially the food; for +the plates were emptied several times, the little tea-pot +ran dry twice, and the hostess was just wondering +if she ought to stop her voracious guests, when something +occurred which spared her that painful task. + +A small boy was suddenly discovered standing in +the path behind them, regarding the company with +an air of solemn interest. A pretty, well-dressed child +of six, with dark hair cut short across the brow, a +rosy face, a stout pair of legs, left bare by the socks +which had slipped down over the dusty little shoes. +One end of a wide sash trailed behind him, a straw +hat hung at his back, his right hand firmly +grasped a small turtle, and his left a choice collection +of sticks. Before Miss Celia could speak, the stranger +calmly announced his mission. + +"I have come to see the peacocks." + +"You shall presently --" began Miss Celia, but got +no further, for the child added, coming a step nearer,-- + +"And the wabbits." + +"Yes, but first won't you --" + +"And the curly dog," continued the small voice, +as another step brought the resolute young personage +nearer. + +"There he is." + +A pause, a long look; then a new demand with the +same solemn tone, the same advance. + +"I wish to hear the donkey bray." + +"Certainly, if he will." + +"And the peacocks scream." + +"Any thing more, sir? + +Having reached the table by this time, the insatiable +infant surveyed its ravaged surface, then pointed a fat +little finger at the last cake, left for manners, and said, +commandingly, -- + +"I will have some of that." + +"Help yourself; and sit upon the step to eat it, +while you tell me whose boy you are," said Miss +Celia, much amused at his proceedings. + +Deliberately putting down his sticks, the child took +the cake, and, composing himself upon the step, answered +with his rosy mouth full, -- + +"I am papa's boy. He makes a paper. I help +him a great deal." + +"What is his name?" + +"Mr. Barlow. We live in Springfield," volunteered +the new guest, unbending a trifle, thanks to the charms +of the cake. + +"Have you a mamma, dear?" + +"She takes naps. I go to walk then." + +"Without leave, I suspect. Have you no brothers or +sisters to go with you?" asked Miss Celia, wondering +where the little runaway belonged. + +"I have two brothers, Thomas Merton Barlow +and Harry Sanford Barlow. I am Alfred Tennyson +Barlow. We don't have any girls in our house, only +Bridget." + +"Don't you go to school?" + +"The boys do. I don't learn any Greeks and +Latins yet. I dig, and read to mamma, and make +poetrys for her." + +"Couldn't you make some for me? I'm very fond +of poetrys," proposed Miss Celia, seeing that this +prattle amused the children. + +"I guess I couldn't make any now; I made some +coming along. I will say it to you." +And, crossing his short legs, the inspired babe half +said, half sung the following poem: (1) + +"Sweet are the flowers of life, +Swept o'er my happy days at home; +Sweet are the flowers of life +When I was a little child. + +"Sweet are the flowers of life +That I spent with my father at home; +Sweet are the flowers of life +When children played about the house. + +"Sweet are the flowers of life +When the lamps are lighted at night; +Sweet are the flowers of life +When the flowers of summer bloomed. + +"Sweet are the flowers of life +Dead with the snows of winter; +Sweet are the flowers of life +When the days of spring come on. + +(1) These lines were actually composed by a six-year +old child. + +"That's all of that one. I made another one when +I digged after the turtle. I will say that. It is a +very pretty one," observed the poet with charming +candor; and, taking a long breath, he tuned his little +lyre afresh: + +Sweet, sweet days are passing +O'er my happy home. +Passing on swift wings through the valley of life. +Cold are the days when winter comes again. +When my sweet days were passing at my happy home, +Sweet were the days on the rivulet's green brink ; +Sweet were the days when I read my father's books; +Sweet were the winter days when bright fires are blazing." + +"Bless the baby! where did he get all that?" exclaimed +Miss Celia, amazed; while the children giggled as Tennyson, +Jr., took a bite at the turtle instead of the half-eaten cake, +and then, to prevent further mistakes, crammed the unhappy +creature into a diminutive pocket in the most business-like way +imaginable. + +"It comes out of my head. I make lots of them," +began the imperturbable one, yielding more and more +to the social influences of the hour. + +"Here are the peacocks coming to be fed," interrupted Bab, as +the handsome birds appeared with their splendid plumage +glittering in the sun. + +Young Barlow rose to admire; but his thirst for +knowledge was not yet quenched, and he was about +to request a song from Juno and Jupiter, when old +Jack, pininng for society, put his head over the garden +wall with a tremendous bray. + +This unexpected sound startled the inquiring +stranger half out of his wits; for a moment the stout +legs staggered and the solemn countenance lost its +composure, as he whispered, with an astonished air, + +"Is that the way peacocks scream?" + +The children were in fits of laughter, and Miss +Celia could hardly make herself heard as she answered +merrily, -- + +"No, dear; that is the donkey asking you to come +and see him: will you go? + +"I guess I couldn't stop now. Mamma might want +me." + +And, without another word, the discomfited poet +precipitately retired, leaving his cherished sticks +behind him. + +Ben ran after the child to see that he came to no +harm, and presently returned to report that Alfred +had been met by a servant, and gone away chanting a +new verse of his poem, in which peacocks, donkeys, +and "the flowers of life" were sweetly mingled. + +"Now I'll show you my toys, and we';; have a +little play before it gets too late for Thorny to stay +with us," said Miss Celia, as Randa carried away the +tea-things and brought back a large tray full of +picture-books, dissected maps, puzzles, games, and +several pretty models of animals, the whole crowned +with a large doll dressed as a baby. + +At sight of that, Betty stretched out her arms to +receive it with a cry of delight. Bab seized the games, +and Ben was lost in admiration of the little Arab chief +prancing on the white horse, -- all saddled and bridled +and fit for the fight. Thorny poked about to find a +certain curious puzzle which he could put together +without a mistake after long study. Even Sancho +found something to interest him; and, standing on his +hind-legs, thrust his head between the boys to paw +at several red and blue letters on square blocks. + +"He looks as if he knew them," said Thorny, +amused at the dog's eager whine and scratch. + +"He does. Spell your name, Sanch;" and Ben put +all the gay letters down upon the flags with a chirrup +which set the dog's tail to wagging as he waited till the +alphabet was spread before him. Then, with great +deliberation, he pushed the letters about till he had +picked out six; these he arranged with nose and +paw till the word "Sancho" lay before him correctly +spelt. + +"Isn't that clever? Can he do any more?" cried +Thorny, delighted. + +"Lots; that's the way he gets his livin', and mine +too," answered Ben; and proudly put his poodle +through his well-learned lessons sith Such success +that even Miss Celia was surprised. + +"He has been carefully trained. Do you know how +it was done?" she asked, when Sancho lay down to +rest and be caressed by the children. + +"No, 'm, father did it when I was a little chap, and +never told me how. I used to help teach him to dance, +and that was easy enough, he is so smart. Father said +the middle of the night was the best time to give him +his lessons; it was so still then, and nothing disturbed +Sanch and made him forget. I can't do half the tricks, +but I'm goin' to learn when father comes back. He'd +rather have me show off Sanch than ride, till I'm +older." + +"I have a charming book about animals, and in it an +interesting account of some trained poodles who could +do the most wonderful things. Would you like to hear +it while you put your maps and puzzles together?" +asked Miss Celia, glad to keep her brother interested +in their four-footed guest at least. + +"Yes,'m, yes,'m," answered the children; and, fetching +the book, she read the pretty account, shortening +and simplifying it here and there to suit her hearers. + +"I invited the two dogs to dine and spend the +evening; and they came with their master, who was a +Frenchman. He had been a teacher in a deaf and +dumb school, and thought he would try the same plan +with dogs. He had also been a conjurer, and now was +supported by Blanche and her daughter Lyda. These +dogs behaved at dinner just like other dogs; but when +I gave Blanche a bit of cheese and asked if she knew +the word for it, her master said she could spell it. So +a table was arranged with a lamp on it, and round the +table were laid the letters of the alphabet painted on +cards. Blanche sat in the middle, waiting till her +master told her to spell cheese, which she at once +did in French, F R O M A G E. Then she translated a +word for us very cleverly. Some one wrote pferd, the +German for horse, on a slate. Blanche looked at it and +pretended to read it, putting by the slate with her paw +when she had done. 'Now give us the French for that +word,' said the man; and she instantly brought +CHEVAL. 'Now, as you are at an Englishman's +house, give it to us in English;' and she brought me +HORSE. Then we spelt some words wrong, and she +corrected them with wonderful accuracy. But she did +not seem to like it, and whined and growled and looked +so worried, that she was allowed to go and rest and eat +cakes in a corner. + +"Then Lyda took her place on the table, and did +sums on the slate with a set of figures. Also mental +arithmetic, which was very pretty. 'Now, Lyda,' +said her master, 'I want to see if you understand +division. Suppose you had ten bits of sugar, and you +met ten Prussian dogs, how many lumps would you, a +French dog, give to each of the Prussians?' Lyda +very decidedly replied to this with a cipher. 'But, +suppose you divided your sugar with me, how many +lumps would you give me?' Lyda took up the figure +five and politely presented it to her master." + +"Wasn't she smart? Sanch can't do that," exclaimed +Ben, forced to own that the French doggie +beat his cherished pet. + +"He is not too old to learn. Shall I go on?" +asked Miss Celia, seeing that the boys liked it, though +Betty was absorbed with the doll, and Bab deep in a +puzzle. + +"Oh, yes! What else did they do?" + +"They played a game of dominoes together, sitting +in chairs opposite each other, and touched the dominoes +that were wanted; but the man placed them and +kept telling how the game went. Lyda was beaten, +and hid under the sofa, evidently feeling very badly +about it. Blanche was then surrounded with playing-cards, +while her master held another pack and told us to choose +a card; then he asked her what one had been chosen, and +she always took up the right one in her teeth. I was asked +to go into another room, put a light on the floor with cards +round it, and leave the doors nearly shut. Then the man +begged some one to whisper in the dog's ear what card she +was to bring, and she went at once and fetched it, thus showing +that she understood their names. Lyda did many tricks +with the numbers, so curious that no dog could possibly +understand them; yet what the secret sign was I could +not discover, but suppose it must have been in the +tones of the master's voice, for he certainly made none +with either head or hands. + +"It took an hour a day for eighteen months to +educate a dog enough to appear in public, and (as +you say, Ben) the night was the best time to give the +lessons. Soon after this visit, the master died; and +these wonderful dogs were sold because their mistress +did not know how to exhibit them." + +"Wouldn't I have liked to see 'em and find out how +they were taught! Sanch, you'll have to study up +lively, for I'm not going to have you beaten by French +dogs," said Ben, shaking his finger so sternly that +Sancho grovelled at his feet and put both paws over +his eyes in the most abject manner. + +"Is there a picture of those smart little poodles?" +asked Ben, eying the book, which Miss Celia left open +before her. + +"Not of them, but of other interesting creatures; +also anecdotes about horses, which will please you, +I know," and she turned the pages for him, neither +guessing how much good Mr. Hamerton's charming +Chapters on Animals" were to do the boy when he +needed comfort for a sorrow which was very near. + +CHAPTER X: A HEAVY TROUBLE + +"Thank you, ma'am, that's a tip-top book, 'specially the +pictures. But I can't bear to see these poor fellows;" +and Ben brooded over the fine etching of the dead and dying +horses on a battle-field, one past all further pain, the other +helpless, but lifting his head from his dead master to +neigh a farewell to the comrades who go galloping away in a +cloud of dust. + +"They ought to stop for him, some of 'em," muttered Ben, +hastily turning back to the cheerful picture of the three +happy horses in the field, standing knee-deep among the +grass as they prepare to drink at the wide stream. + +"Ain't that black one a beauty? Seems as if I could +see his mane blow in the wind, and hear him whinny +to that small feller trotting down to see if he can't +get over and be sociable. How I'd like to take a +rousin' run round that meadow on the whole lot of +'em!" and Ben swayed about in his chair as if he was +already doing it in imagination. + +"You may take a turn round my field on Lita any +day. She would like it, and Thorny's saddle will be +here next week," said Miss Celia, pleased to see that +the boy appreciated the fine pictures, and felt such +hearty sympathy with the noble animals whom she +dearly loved herself. + +"Needn't wait for that. I'd rather ride bareback. +Oh, I say, is this the book you told about, where +the horses talked?" asked Ben, suddenly recollecting +the speech he had puzzled over ever since he heard it. + +"No; I brought the book, but in the hurry of my +tea-party forgot to unpack it. I'll hunt it up to- +night. Remind me, Thorny." + +"There, now, I've forgotten something, too! Squire +sent you a letter; and I'm having such a jolly time, I +never thought of it." + +Ben rummaged out the note with remorseful haste, +protesting that he was in no hurry for Mr. Gulliver, +and very glad to save him for another day. +Leaving the young folks busy with their games, +Miss Celia sat in the porch to read her letters, for +there were two; and as she read her face grew so +sober, then so sad, that if any one had been looking +he would have wondered what bad news had chased +away the sunshine so suddenly. No one did look; +no one saw how pitifully her eyes rested on Ben's +happy face when the letters were put away, and no +one minded the new gentleness in her manner as she +came back, to the table. But Ben thought there never +was so sweet a lady as the one who leaned over him +to show him how the dissected map went together +and never smiled at his mistakes. + +So kind, so very kind was she to them all, that +when, after an hour of merry play, she took her +brother in to bed, the three who remained fell to +praising her enthusiastically as they put things to +rights before taking leave. + +"She's like the good fairies in the books, and has +all sorts of nice, pretty things in her house," said +Betty, enjoying a last hug of the fascinating doll +whose lids would shut so that it was a pleasure to +Sing, "Bye, sweet baby, bye," with no staring eyes to +Spoil the illusion. + +"What heaps she knows! More than Teacher, I do +believe; and she doesn't mind how many questions +we ask. I like folks that will tell me things," added +Bab, whose inquisitive mind was always hungry. + +"I like that boy first-rate, and I guess he likes me, +though I didn't know where Nantucket ought to go. +He wants me to teach him to ride when he's on his +pins again, and Miss Celia says I may. She knows +how to make folks feel good, don't she?" and Ben +gratefully surveyed the Arab chief, now his own, +though the best of all the collection. + +"Won't we have splendid times? She Says we +may come over every night and play with her and +Thorny." + +"And she's goin', to have the seats in the porch +lift up, so we can put our things in there all day and +have 'em handy." + +"And I'm going to be her boy, and stay here all +the time. I guess the letter I brought was a +recommend from the Squire." + +"Yes, Ben; and if I had not already made up my +mind to keep you before, I certainly would now, my +boy." + +Something in Miss Celia's voice, as she said the last +two words with her hand on Ben's shoulder, made him +look up quickly and turn red with pleasure, wondering +what the Squire had written about him. + +"Mother must have some of the party; so you +shall take her these, Bab, and Betty may carry Baby +home for the night. She is so nicely asleep, it is a +pity to wake her. Good by till to-morrow, little +neighbors," continued Miss Celia, and dismissed the +girls with a kiss. + +"Is Ben coming, too?" asked Bab, as Betty +trotted off in a silent rapture with the big darling +bobbing over her shoulder. + +"Not yet; I've several things to settle with my +new man. Tell mother he will come by-and-by." + +Off rushed Bab with the plateful of goodies; and, +drawing Ben down beside her on the wide step, Miss +Celia took out the letters, with a shadow creeping +over her face as softly as the twilight was stealing +over the world, while the dew fell, and every thing +grew still and dim. + +"Ben, dear, I've something to tell you," she began, +slowly; and the boy waited with a happy face, for no +one had called him so since 'Melia died. + +"The Squire has heard about your father, and this +is the letter Mr. Smithers sends." + +"Hooray! where is he, please?" cried Ben, wishing +she would hurry up; for Miss Celia did not even offer +him the letter, but sat looking down at Sancho on the +lower step, as if she wanted him to come and help her. +"He went after the mustangs, and sent some home, +but could not come himself." + +"Went further on, I s'pose. Yes, he said he might +go as far as California, and if he did he'd send for me. +I'd like to go there; it's a real splendid place, they +say." + +"He has gone further away than that, to a lovelier +country than California, I hope." And Miss Celia's +eyes turned to the deep sky, where early stars were +shining. + +"Didn't he send for me? Where's he gone? +When 's he coming back?" asked Ben, quickly; for +there was a quiver in her voice, the meaning of which +he felt before he understood. + +Miss Celia put her arms about him, and answered +very tenderly, -- +"Ben, dear, if I were to tell you that he was never +coming back, could you bear it?" + +"I guess I could, -- but you don't mean it? Oh, +ma'am, he isn't dead?" cried Ben, with a cry that +made her heart ache, and Sancho leap up with a +bark. + +"My poor little boy, I wish I could say no." + +There was no need of any more words, no need +of tears or kind arms around him. He knew he was +an orphan now, and turned instinctively to the old +friend who loved him best. Throwing himself down +beside his dog, Ben clung about the curly neck, +sobbing bitterly, -- + +"Oh, Sanch, he's never coming back again; never, +never any more!" + +Poor Sancho could only whine and lick away the +tears that wet the half-hidden face, questioning the +new friend meantime with eyes so full of dumb love +and sympathy and sorrow that they seemed almost +human. Wiping away her own tears, Miss Celia +stooped to pat the white head, and to stroke the +black one lying so near it that the dog's breast was +the boy's pillow. Presently the sobbing ceased, and +Ben whispered, without looking up,-- + +"Tell me all about it; I'll be good." + +Then, as kindly as she could, Miss Celia read the +brief letter which told the hard news bluntly; for +Mr. Smithers was obliged to confess that he had +known the truth months before, and never told the +boy, lest he should be unfitted for the work they +gave him. Of Ben Brown the elder's death there +was little to tell, except that he was killed in some +wild place at the West, and a stranger wrote the fact +to the only person whose name was found in Ben's +pocket-book. Mr. Smithers offered to take the boy +back and "do well by him," averring that the father +wished his son to remain where he left him, and +follow the profession to which he was trained. + +"Will you go, Ben?" asked Miss Celia, hoping to +distract his mind from his grief by speaking of other +things. + +"No, no; I'd rather tramp and starve. He's +awful hard to me and Sanch; and he'd be worse, +now father's gone. Don't send me back! Let me +stay here; folks are good to me; there's nowhere +else to go." And the head Ben had lifted up with a +desperate sort of look, went down again on Sancho's +breast as if there were no other refuge left. + +"You shall stay here, and no one shall take you +away against your will. I called you 'my boy' in +play, now you shall be my boy in earnest; this shall +be your home, and Thorny your brother. We are +orphans, too; and we will stand by one another till a +stronger friend comes to help us," said Miss Celia, +with such a mixture of resolution and tenderness in +her voice, that Ben felt comforted at once, and +thanked her by laying his cheek against the pretty +slipper that rested on the step beside him, as if he +had no words in which to swear loyalty to the gentle +mistress whom be meant henceforth to serve with +grateful fidelity. + +Sancho felt that he must follow suit; and gravely +put his paw upon her knee, with a low whine, as if +he said, "Count me in, and let me help to pay my +master's debt if I can." + +Miss Celia shook the offered paw cordially, and +the good creature crouched at her feet like a small +lion, bound to guard her and her house for evermore. + +"Don't lie on that cold stone, Ben; come here +and let me try to comfort you," she said, stooping +to wipe away the great drops that kept rolling down +the brown cheek half hidden in her dress. +But Ben put his arm over his face, and sobbed out +with a fresh burst of grief, -- + +"You can't, you didn't know him! Oh, daddy! +daddy! if I'd only seen you jest once more!" + +No one could grant that wish; but Miss Celia did +comfort him, for presently the sound of music floated +out from the parlor, -- music so soft, so sweet, that +involuntarily the boy stopped his crying to listen; +then quieter tears dropped slowly, seeming to soothe +his pain as they fell, while the sense of loneliness +passed away, and it grew possible to wait till it was +time to go to father in that far-off country lovelier +than golden California. + +How long she played Miss Celia never minded; +but, when she stole out to see if Ben had gone, she +found that other friends, even kinder than herself, +had taken the boy into their gentle keeping. The +wind had sung a lullaby among the rustling lilacs, +the moon's mild face looked through the leafy arch +to kiss the heavy eyelids, and faithful Sancho still +kept guard beside his little master, who, with his +head pillowed on his arm, lay fast asleep, dreaming, +happily, that Daddy had come home again. + +CHAPTER XI: SUNDAY + +Mrs. Moss woke Ben with a kiss next morning, for +her heart yearned over the fatherless lad as if he +had been her own, and she had no other way of showing +her sympathy. Ben had forgotten his troubles in sleep; +but the memory of them returned as soon as he opened +his eyes, heavy with the tears they had shed. He +did not cry any more, but felt strange and lonely +till he called Sancho and told him all about it, for +he was shy even with kind Mrs. Moss, and glad +when she went away. + +Sancho seemed to understand that his master was +in trouble, and listened to the sad little story with +gurgles of interest, whines of condolence, and intelligent +barks whenever the word "daddy " was uttered. He was only +a brute, but his dumb affection comforted the boy more +than any words; for Sanch had known and loved "father" +almost as long and well as his son, and that seemed to +draw them closely together, now they were left alone. + +"We must put on mourning, old feller. It's the +proper thing, and there's nobody else to do it now," +said Ben, as he dressed, remembering how all the +company wore bits of crape somewhere about them +at 'Melia's funeral. + +It was a real sacrifice of boyish vanity to take the +blue ribbon with its silver anchors off the new hat, +and replace it with the dingy black band from the +old one; but Ben was quite sincere in doing this, +though doubtless his theatrical life made him think +of the effect more than other lads would have done. +He could find nothing in his limited wardrobe with +which to decorate Sanch except a black cambric +pocket. It was already half torn out of his trousers +with the weight of nails, pebbles, and other light +trifles; so he gave it a final wrench and tied it +into the dog's collar, saying to himself, as he put +away his treasures, with a sigh,-- + +"One pocket is enough; I sha'n't want anything +but a han'k'chi'f to-day." + +Fortunately, that article of dress was clean, for he +had but one; and, with this somewhat ostentatiously +drooping from the solitary pocket, the serious hat +upon his head, the new shoes creaking mournfully, +and Sanch gravely following, much impressed with +his black bow, the chief mourner descended, feeling +that he had done his best to show respect to the +dead. + +Mrs. Moss's eyes filled as she saw the rusty band, +and guessed why it was there; but she found it difficult +to repress a smile when she beheld the cambric +symbol of woe on the dog's neck. Not a word was +said to disturb the boy's comfort in these poor attempts, +however; and he went out to do his chores, conscious that +he was an object of interest to his friends, especially so +to Bab and Betty, who, havinq been told of Ben's loss, now +regarded him with a sort of pitying awe very grateful to his +feelings. + +"I want you to drive me to church by-and-by. +It is going to be pretty warm, and Thorny is hardly +strong enough to venture yet," said Miss Celia, when +Ben ran over after breakfast to see if she had any +thing for him to do; for he considered her his mistress +now, though he was not to take possession of +his new quarters till the morrow. + +"Yes, 'm, I'd like to, if I look well enough," +answered Ben, pleased to be asked, but impressed +with the idea that people had to be very fine on +such occasions. + +"You will do very well when I have given you a +touch. God doesn't mind our clothes, Ben, and the +poor are as welcome as the rich to him. You have +not been much, have you?" asked Miss Celia, anxious +to help the boy, and not quite sure how to begin. + +"No, 'm; our folks didn't hardly ever go, and +father was so tired he used to rest Sundays, or go +off in the woods with me." + +A little quaver came into Ben's voice as he spoke, +and a sudden motion made his hat-brim hide his eyes, +for the thought of the happy times that would never +come any more was almost too much for him. + +"That was a pleasant way to rest. I often do so, +and we will go to the grove this afternoon and try it. +But I have to go to church in the morning,; it seems to +start me right for the week; and if one has a sorrow +that is the place where one can always find comfort. +Will you come and try it, Ben, dear?" + +"I'd do any thing to please you," muttered Ben, +without looking up; for, though he felt her kindness +to the bottom of his heart, he did wish that no one +would talk about father for a little while; it was so +hard to keep from crying, and he hated to be a +baby. + +Miss Celia seemed to understand, for the next thing +she said, in a very cheerful tone, was, "See what a +pretty sight that is. When I was a little girl I used +to think spiders spun cloth for the fairies, and spread +it on the grass to bleach." + +Ben stopped digging a hole in the ground with his +toe, and looked up, to see a lovely cobweb like a +wheel, circle within circle, spun across a corner of +the arch over the gate. Tiny drops glittered on every +thread as the light shone through the gossamer curtain, +and a soft breath of air made it tremble as if +about to blow it away. + +"It's mighty pretty, but it will fly off. just as the +others did. I never saw such a chap as that spider +is. He keeps on spinning a new one every day, for +they always get broke. and he don't seem to be +discouraged a mite," said Ben, glad to change the +subject, as she knew he would be. + +"That is the way he gets his living. he spins his +web and waits for his daily bread, -- or fly, rather; +and it always comes, I fancy. By-and-by you will +see that pretty trap full of insects, and Mr. Spider +will lay up his provisions for the day. After that he +doesn't care how soon his fine web blows away." + +"I know him; he's a handsome feller, all black +and yellow, and lives up in that corner where the +shiny sort of hole is. He dives down the minute I +touch the gate, but comes up after I've kept still a +minute. I like to watch him. But he must hate me, +for I took away a nice green fly and some little +millers one day." + +"Did you ever hear the story of Bruce and his +spider? Most children know and like that," said +Miss Celia, seeing that he seemed interested. + +"No, 'm ; I don't know ever so many things most +children do," answered Ben, soberly; for, since he +had been among his new friends, he had often felt +his own deficiencies. + +"Ah, but you also know many things which they +do not. Half the boys in town would give a great +deal to be able to ride and run and leap as you do; +and even the oldest are not as capable of taking care +of themselves as you are. Your active life has done +much in some ways to make a man of you; but in +other ways it was bad, as I think you begin to see. +Now, suppose you try to forget the harmful part, and +remember only the good, while learning to be more +like our boys, who go to school and church, and fit +themselves to become industrious, honest men." +Ben had been looking straight up in Miss Celia's +face as she spoke, feeling that every word was true, +though he could not have expressed it if he had +tried; and, when she paused, with her bright eyes +inquiringly fixed on his, he answered heartily,-- + +"I'd like to stay here and be respectable; for, +since I came, I've found out that folks don't think +much of circus riders, though they like to go and see +'em. I didn't use to care about school and such +things, but I do now; and I guess he'd like it better +than to have me knockin' round that way without him +to look after me." + +"I know he would; so we will try, Benny. I dare +say it will seem dull and hard at first, after the gay +sort of life you have led, and you will miss the excitement. +But it was not good for you, and we will do our best to find +something safer. Don't be discouraged; and, when things trouble +you, come to me as Thorny does, and I'll try to straighten them +out for you. I've got two boys now, and I want to +do my duty by both." + +Before Ben had time for more than a grateful look, +a tumbled head appeared at an upper window, and a +sleepy voice drawled out, -- + +"Celia! I can't find a bit of a shoe-string, and I +wish you'd come and do my neck-tie." + +"Lazy boy, come down here, and bring one of +your black ties with you. Shoe-strings are in the +little brown bag on my bureau," called back Miss +Celia; adding, with a laugh, as the tumbled head +disappeared mumbling something about "bothering +old bags, "Thorny has been half spoiled since he +was ill. You mustn't mind his fidgets and dawdling ways. +He'll get over them soon, and then I know you two +will be good friends." + +Ben had his doubts about that, but resolved to +do his best for her sake; so, when Master Thorny +presently appeared, with a careless "How are you, +Ben?" that young person answered respectfully, -- +"Very well, thank you," though his nod was as +condescending as his new master's; because he felt +that a boy who could ride bareback and turn a +double somersault in the air ought not to "knuckle +under" to a fellow who had not the strength of a +pussy-cat. + +"Sailor's knot, please; keeps better so," said +Thorny, holding up his chin to have a blue-silk scarf +tied to suit him, for he was already beginning to be +something of a dandy. + +"You ought to wear red till you get more color, +dear;" and his sister rubbed her blooming cheek +against his pale one, as if to lend him some of her +own roses. + +"Men don't care how they look," said Thorny, +squirming out of her hold, for he hated to be +"cuddled" before people. + +"Oh, don't they? Here 's a vain boy who brushes +his hair a dozen times a day, and quiddles over his +collar till he is so tired he can hardly stand," laughed +Miss Celia, with a little tweak of his ear. + +"I should like to know what this is for? " demanded +Thorny, in a dignified tone, presenting a black tie. + +"For my other boy. He is going to church with +me," and Miss Celia tied a second knot for this young +gentleman, with a smile that seemed to brighten up +even the rusty hat-band. + +"Well, I like that--" began Thorny, in a tone +that contradicted his words. + +A look from his sister reminded him of what she +had told him half an hour ago, and he stopped short, +understanding now why she was "extra good to the +little tramp." + +"So do I, for you are of no use as a driver yet, +and I don't like to fasten Lita when I have my best +gloves on," said Miss Celia, in a tone that rather +nettled Master Thorny. + +"Is Ben going to black my boots before he goes? +with a glance at the new shoes which caused them to +creak uneasily. + +"No; he is going to black mine, if he will be so kind. +You won't need boots for a week yet, so we +won't waste any time over them. You will find +every thing in the shed, Ben; and at ten you may go +for Lita." + +With that, Miss Celia walked her brother off to the +diningroom, and Ben retired to vent his ire in such +energetic demonstrations with the blacking-brush that +the little boots shone splendidly. + +He thought he had never seen any thing as pretty +as his mistress when, an hour later, she came out of +the house in her white shawl and bonnet, holding a +book and a late lily-of-the-valley in the pearl-colored +gloves, which he hardly dared to touch as he helped +her into the carriage. He had seen a good many fine +ladies in his life; and those he had known had been +very gay in the colors of their hats and gowns, very +fond of cheap jewelry, and much given to feathers, +lace, and furbelows; so it rather puzzled him to discover +why Miss Celia looked so sweet and elegant in +such a simple suit. He did not then know that the +charm was in the woman, not the clothes; or that +merely living near such a person would do more to +give him gentle manners, good principles, and pure +thoughts, than almost any other training he could +have had. But he was conscious that it was pleasant +to be there, neatly dressed, in good company, and +going to church like a respectable boy. Somehow, +the lonely feeling got better as be rolled along +between green fields, with the June sunshine brightening +every thing, a restful quiet in the air, and a friend +beside him who sat silently looking out at the lovely +world with what he afterward learned to call her +"Sunday face," -- a soft, happy look, as if all the +work and weariness of the past week were forgotten, +and she was ready to begin afresh when this blessed +day was over. + +"Well, child, what is it?" she asked, catching his +eye as he stole a shy glance at her, one of many which +she had not seen. + +"I was only thinking, you looked as if --" + +"As if what? Don't be afraid," she said, for Ben +paused and fumbled at the reins, feeling half ashamed +to tell his fancy. + +"You were saying prayers," he added, wishing +she had not caught him. + +"So I was. Don't you, when you are happy? + +"No,'m. I'm glad, but I don't say any thing." + +"Words are not needed; but they help, sometimes, +if they are sincere and sweet. Did you never learn +any prayers, Ben?" +"Only 'Now I lay me.' Grandma taught me that +when I was a little mite of a boy." + +"I will teach you another, the best that was ever +made, because it says all we need ask." + +"Our folks wasn't very pious; they didn't have +time, I s'pose." + +"I wonder if you know just what it means to be +pious?" + +"Goin' to church, and readin' the Bible, and sayin' +prayers and hymns, ain't it?" + +"Those things are a part of it; but being kind and +cheerful, doing one's duty, helping others, and loving +God, is the best way to show that we are pious in the +true sense of the word." + +"Then you are! " and Ben looked as if her acts had +been a better definition than her words. + +"I try to be, but I very often fail; so every Sunday +I make new resolutions, and work hard to keep them +through the week. That is a great help, as you will +find when you begin to try it." + +"Do you think if I said in meetin', ' I won't ever +swear any more,' that I wouldn't do it again?" asked +Ben, soberly; for that was his besetting sin just now. + +"I'm afraid we can't get rid of our faults quite so +easily; I wish we could: but I do believe that if you +keep saying that, and trying to stop, you will cure the +habit sooner than you think." + +"I never did swear very bad, and I didn't mind +much till I came here; but Bab and Betty looked so +scared when I said 'damn,' and Mrs. Moss scolded +me so, I tried to leave off. It's dreadful hard, though, +when I get mad. 'Hang it!' don't seem half so good +if I want to let off steam." + +"Thorny used to 'confound!' every thing, so I +proposed that he should whistle instead; and now he +sometimes pipes up so suddenly and shrilly that it +makes me jump. How would that do, instead of +swearing?" proposed Miss Celia, not the least surprised +at the habit of profanity, which the boy could +hardly help learning among his former associates. + +Ben laughed, and promised to try it, feeling a mischievous +satisfaction at the prospect of out-whistling +Master Thorny, as he knew he should; for the objectionable +words rose to his lips a dozen times a day. + +The Ben was ringing as they drove into town; and, +by the time Lita was comfortably settled in her shed, +people were coming up from all quarters to cluster +around the steps of the old meeting-house like bees +about a hive. Accustomed to a tent, where people +kept their hats on, Ben forgot all about his, and was +going down the aisle covered, when a gentle hand +took it off, and Miss Celia whispered, as she gave it +to him, -- + +"This is a holy place; remember that, and uncover +at the door." + +Much abashed, Ben followed to the pew, where the +Squire and his wife soon joined them. + +"Glad to see him here," said the old gentleman +with an appioving nod, as he recognized the boy and +remembered his loss. + +"Hope he won't nestle round in meeting-time," +whispered Mrs. Allen, composing herself in the corner +with much rustling of black silk. + +"I'll take care that he doesn't disturb you," answered +Miss Celia, pushing a stool under the short +legs, and drawing a palm-leaf fan within reach. + +Ben gave an inward sigh at the prospect before +him; for an hour's captivity to an active lad is hard +to bear, and he really did want to behave well. So +he folded his arms and sat like a statue, with nothing +moving but his eyes. They rolled to and fro, up and +down, from the high red pulpit to the worn hymnbooks +in the rack, recognizing two little faces under +blue-ribboned hats in a distant pew, and finding it +impossible to restrain a momentary twinkle in return +for the solemn wink Billy Barton bestowed upon him +across the aisle. Ten minutes of this decorous demeanor +made it absolutely necessary for him to stir; +so he unfolded his arms and crossed his legs as +cautiously as a mouse moves in the presence of a +cat; for Mrs. Allen's eye was on him, and he knew by +experience that it was a very sharp one. + +The music which presently began was a great relief +to him, for under cover of it he could wag his foot +and no one heard the creak thereof; and when they +stood up to sing, he was so sure that all the boys were +looking at him, he was glad to sit down again. The +good old minister read the sixteenth chapter of Samuel, +and then proceeded to preach a long and somewhat dull +sermon. Ben listened with all his ears, for +he was interested in the young shepherd, " uddy and +of a beautiful countenance," who was chosen to be +Saul's armor-bearer. He wanted to hear more about +him, and how he got on, and whether the evil spirits +troubled Saul again after David had harped them +out. But nothing more came; and the old gentleman +droned on about other things till poor Ben felt that +he must either go to sleep like the Squire, or tip the +stool over by accident, since "nestling" was forbidden, +and relief of some sort he must have. + +Mrs. Allen gave him a peppermint, and he dutifully +ate it, though it was so hot it made his eyes water. +Then she fanned him, to his great annoyance, for it +blew his hair about; and the pride of his life was to +have his head as smooth and shiny as black satin. +An irrepressible sigh of weariness attracted Miss +Celia's attention at last; for, though she seemed to +be listening devoutly, her thoughts had flown over +the sea, with tender prayers for one whom she loved +even more than David did his Jonathan. She guessed +the trouble in a minute, and had provided for it, knowing +by experience that few small boys can keep quiet +through sermon-time. Finding a certain place in the +little book she had brought, she put it into his hands, +with the whisper, "Read if you are tired." + +Ben clutched the book and gladly obeyed, though +the title, "Scripture Narratives," did not look very +inviting. Then his eye fell on the picture of a slender +youth cutting a large man's head off, while many +people stood looking on. + +"Jack, the giant-killer," thought Ben, and turned +the page to see the words "David and Goliath", +which was enough to set him to reading the story +with great interest; for here was the shepherd boy +turned into a hero. No more fidgets now; the sermon +was no longer heard, the fan flapped unfelt, and +Billy Barton's spirited sketches in the hymnbook +were vainly held up for admiration. Ben was quite +absorbed in the stirring history of King David, told +in a way that fitted it for children's reading, and illustrated +with fine pictures which charmed the boy's eye. + +Sermon and story ended at the same time; and, +while he listened to the prayer, Ben felt as if he understood +now what Miss Celia meant by saying that +words helped when they were well chosen and sincere. +Several petitions seemed as if especially intended for +him; and he repeated them to himself that he might +remember them, they sounded so sweet and comfortable +heard for the first time just when he most +needed comfort. Miss Celia saw a new expression +in the boy's face as she glanced down at him, and +heard a little huniming at her side when all stood up +to sing the cheerful hymn with which they were +dismissed. + +"How do you like church?" asked the young lady, +as they drove away. + +"First-rate!" answered Ben, heartily. + +"Especially the sermon?" + +Ben laughed, and said, with an affectionate glance +at the little book in her lap,-- + +"I couldn't understand it; but that story was just +elegant. There's more; and I'd admire to read 'em, +if I could." + +"I'm glad you like them; and we will keep the +rest for another sermon-time. Thorny used to do +so, and always called this his 'pew book.' I don't +expect you to understand much that you hear yet +awhile; but it is good to be there, and after reading +these stories you will be more interested when you +hear the names of the people mentioned here." + +"Yes, 'm. Wasn't David a fine feller? I liked all +about the kid and the corn and the ten cheeses, and +killin' the lion and bear, and slingin' old Goliath dead +first shot. I want to know about Joseph next time, +for I saw a gang of robbers puttin' him in a hole, and +it looked real interesting." + +Miss Celia could not help smiling at Ben's way of +telling things; but she was pleased to see that he was +attracted by the music and the stories, and resolved +to make church-going so pleasant that he would learn +to love it for its own sake. + +"Now, you have tried my way this morning, and +we will try yours this afternoon. Come over about +four and help me roll Thorny down to the grove. I +am going to put one of the hanmmocks there, because +the smell of the pines is good for him, and you can +talk or read or amuse yourselves in any quiet way +you like." + +"Can I take Sanch along? He doesn't like to be +left, and felt real bad because I shut him up, for fear +he'd follow and come walkin' into meetin' to find me." + +"Yes, indeed; let the clever Bow-wow have a good +time and enjoy Sunday as much as I want my boys to." + +Quite content with this arrangement, Ben went home +to dinner, which he made very lively by recounting +Billy Barton's ingenious devices to beguile the tedium +of sermon time. He said nothing of his conversation +with Miss Celia, because he had not quite made up +his mind whether he liked it or not; it was so new +and serious, he felt as if he had better lay it by, to +think over a good deal before he could understand all +about it. But he had time to get dismal again, and +long for four o'clock; because he had nothing to do +except whittle. Mrs. Moss went to take a nap; Bab +and Betty sat demurely on their bench reading Sunday +books; no boys were allowed to come and play; +even the hens retired under the currant-bushes, and +the cock stood among them, clucking drowsily, as if +reading them a sermon. + +"Dreadful slow day!" thought Ben; and, retiring +to the recesses of his own room, he read over the two +letters which seemed already old to him. Now that +the first shock was over, he could not make it true +that his father was dead, and he gave up trying; for +he was an honest boy, and felt that it was foolish to +pretend to be more unhappy than he really was. So +he put away his letters, took the black pocket off +Sanch's neck, and allowed himself to whistle softly as +he packed up his possessions, ready to move next +day, with few regrets and many bright anticipations +for the future. + +"Thorny, I want you to be good to Ben, and +amuse him in some quiet way this afternoon. I +must stay and see the Morrises, who are coming +over; but you can go to the grove and have a +pleasant time," said Miss Celia to her brother. + +"Not much fun in talking to that horsey fellow. +I'm sorry for him, but I can't do anything to amuse +him," objected Thorny, pulling himself up from the +sofa with a great yawn. + +You can be very agreeable when you like; and +Ben has had enough of me for this time. To-morrow +he will have his work, and do very well; but we +must try to help him through to-day, because he +doesn't know what to do with himself. Besides, it +is just the time to make a good impression on him, +while grief for his father softens him, and gives us a +chance. I like him, and I'm sure he wants to do +well; so it is our duty to help him, as there seems +to be no one else." + +"Here goes, then! Where is he?" and Thorny +stood up, won by his sister's sweet earnestness, but +very doubtful of his own success with the "horsey +fellow." + +"Waiting with the chair. Randa has gone on +with the hammock. Be a dear boy, and I'll do as +much for you some day." + +"Don't see how you can be a dear boy. You're +the best sister that ever was; so I'lllove all the +scallywags you ask me to." + +With a laugh and a kiss, Thorny shambled off +to ascend his chariot, good-humoredly saluting his +pusher, whom he found sitting on the high rail +behind, with his feet on Sanch. + +"Drive on, Benjamin. I don't know the way, so I +can't direct. Don't spill me out, -- that's all I've +got to say." + +:All right, sir," -- and away Ben trundled down +the long walk that led through the orchard to a little +grove of seven pines. + +A pleasant spot; for a soft rustle filled the air, +a brown carpet of pine needles, with fallen cones +for a pattern, lay under foot; and over the tops +of the tall brakes that fringed the knoll one had +glimpses of hill and valley, farm-houses and winding +river, like a silver ribbon through the low, green +meadows. + +"A regular summer house!" said Thorny, surveying +it with approval. "What's the matter, Randa? +Won't it do?" he asked, as the stout maid dropped +her arms with a puff, after vainly trying to throw the +hammock rope over a branch. + +"That end went up beautiful, but this one won't; +the branches is so high, I can't reach 'em; and I'm +no hand at flinging ropes round." + +"I'll fix it;" and Ben went up the pine like a +squirrel, tied a stout knot, and swung himself down +again before Thorny could get out of the chair. + +"My patience, what a spry boy!" exclaimed +Randa, admiringly. + +"That 's nothing; you ought to see me shin up a +smooth tent-pole," said Ben, rubbing the pitch off +his hands, with a boastful wag of the head. + +"You can go, Randa. just hand me my cushion +and books, Ben; then you can sit in the chair while +I talk to you," commanded Thorny, tumbling into +the hammock. + +"What's he goin' to say to me?" wondered Ben +to himself, as he sat down with Sanch sprawling +among the wheels. + +"Now, Ben, I think you'd better learn a hymn; I +always used to when I was a little chap, and it is a +good thing to do Sundays," began the new teacher, +with a patronizing air, which ruffled his pupil as +much as the opprobrious term "little chap." + +"I'll be -- whew -- if I do! " whistled Ben, stopping +an oath just in time. + +"It is not polite to whistle in company," said +Thorny, with great dignity. + +"Miss Celia told me to. I'll say 'confound it,' if +you like that better," answered Ben, as a sly smile +twinkled in his eyes. + +"Oh, I see! She 's told you about it? Well, +then, if you want to please her, you'll learn a hymn +right off. Come, now, she wants me to be clever to +you, and I'd like to do it; but if you get peppery, +how can I?" + +Thorny spoke in a hearty, blunt way, which suited +Ben much better than the other, and he responded +pleasantly, -- + +"If you won't be grand I won't be peppery. +Nobody is going to boss me but Miss Celia; so I'll +learn hymns if she wants me to." + +"'In the soft season of thy youth' is a good one +to begin with. I learned it when I was six. Nice +thing; better have it." And Thorny offered the +book like a patriarch addressing an infant. + +Ben surveyed the yellow page with small favor, for +the long s in the old-fashioned printing bewildered +him; and when he came to the last two lines, he +could not resist reading them wrong, -- + +"The earth affords no lovelier fight +Than a religious youth." + +"I don't believe I could ever get that into my +head straight. Haven't you got a plain one any +where round?" he asked, turning over the leaves +with some anxiety. + +"Look at the end, and see if there isn't a piece of +poetry pasted in. You learn that, and see how funny +Celia will look when you say it to her. She wrote it +when she was a girl, and somebody had it printed for +other children. I like it best, myself." + +Pleased by the prospect of a little fun to cheer his +virtuous task, Ben whisked over the leaves, and read +with interest the lines Miss Celia had written in her +girlhood: + +"MY KINGDOM + +A little kingdom I possess, +Where thoughts and feelings dwell; +And very hard I find the task +Of governing it well. +For passion tempts and troubles me, +A wayward will misleads, +And selfishness its shadow casts +On all my words and deeds. + +"How can I learn to rule myself, +To be the child I should, -- +Honest and brave, -- nor ever tire +Of trying to be good? +How can I keep a sunny soul +To shine along life's way? +How can I tune my little heart +To sweetly sing all day? + +"Dear Father, help me With the love +That casteth out my fear! +Teach me to lean on thee, and feel +That thou art very near; +That no temptation is unseen, +No childish grief too small, +Since Thou, with patience infinite, +Doth soothe and comfort all. + +"I do not ask for any crown, +But that which all may will +Nor seek to conquer any world +Except the one within. +Be then my guide until I find, +Led by a tender hand, +Thy happy kingdom in myself, +And dare to take command." + +"I like that!" said Ben, emphatically, when he had +read the little hymn. "I understand it, and I'll learn +it right away. Don't see how she could make it all +come out so nice and pretty." + +"Celia can do any thing!" and Thorny gave an +all-embracing wave of the hand, which forcibly +expressed his firm belief in his sister's boundless +powers. + +"I made some poetry once. Bab and Betty thought +it was first-rate, I didn't," said Ben, moved to confidence +by the discovery of Miss Celia's poetic skill. + +"Say it," commanded Thorny, adding with tact, +I can't make any to save my life, -- never could +but I'm fond of it." + +"Chevalita, +Pretty cretr, +I do love her +Like a brother; +Just to ride +Is my delight, +For she does not +Kick or bite," + +recited Ben, with modest pride, for his first attempt +had been inspired by sincere affection, and pronounced +"lovely" by the admiring girls. + +"Very good! You must say them to Celia, too. +She likes to hear Lita praised. You and she and that +little Barlow boy ought to try for a prize, as the poets +did in Athens. I'II tell you all about it some time. +Now, yao peg away at your hymn." + +Cheered by Thorny's commendation, Ben fell to +work at his new task, squirming about in the chair as +if the process of getting words into his memory was a +very painful one. But he had quick wits, and had +often learned comic songs; so he soon was able to +repeat the four verses without mistake, much to his +own and Thorny's satisfaction. + +"Now we'll talk," said the well-pleased preceptor; +and talk they did, one swinging in the hammock, the +other rolling about on the pine-needles, as they related +their experiences boy fashion. Ben's were the most +exciting; but Thorny's were not without interest, +for he had lived abroad for several years, and could +tell all sorts of droll stories of the countries he had +seen. + +Busied with friends, Miss Celia could not help wondering +how the lads got on; and, when the tea-Ben +rang, waited a little anxiously for their return, knowing +that she could tell at a glance if they had enjoyed +thernselves. + +"All goes well so far," she thought, as she watched +their approach with a smile; for Sancho sat bolt upright +in the chair which Ben pushed, while Thorny +strolled beside him, leaning on a stout cane newly +cut. Both boys were talking busily, and Thorny +laughed from time to time, as if his comrade's chat +was very amusing. + +"See what a jolly cane Ben cut for me! He's +great fun if you don't stroke him the wrong way", +said the elder lad, flourishing his staff as they +came up. + +"What have you been doing down there? You +look so merry, I suspect mischief," asked Miss Celia, +surveying them front the steps. + +"We've been as good as gold. I talked, and Ben +learned a hymn to please you. Come, young man, +say your piece," said Thorny, with an expression of +virtuous content. + +Taking off his hat, Ben soberly obeyed, much enjoying +the quick color that came up in Miss Celia's +face as she listened, and feeling as if well repaid for +the labor of learning by the pleased look with which +She said, as he ended with a bow, -- + +"I feel very proud to think you chose that, and to +hear you say it as if it meant something to you. I +was only fourteen when I wrote it; but it came right +out of my heart, and did me good. I hope it may +help you a little." + +Ben murmured that he guessed it would; but felt +too shy to talk about such things before Thorny, so +hastily retired to put the chair away, and the others +went in to tea. But later in the evening, when Miss +Celia was singing like a nightingale, the boy slipped +away from sleepy Bab and Betty to stand by the +syringa bush and listen, with his heart full of new +thoughts and happy feelings; for never before had he +spent a Sunday like this. And when he went to bed, +instead of saying "Now I lay me," he repeated the +third verse of Miss Celia's hymn; for that was his +favorite, because his longing for the father whom he +had seen made it seem sweet and natural now to love +and lean, without fear upon the Father whom he had +not seen. + +CHAPTER XII: GOOD TIMES + +Every one was very kind to Ben when his loss +was known. The Squire wrote to Mr. Smithers +that the boy had found friends and would stay +where he was. Mrs. Moss consoled him in her motherly +way, and the little girls did their very best to "be +good to poor Benny." But Miss Celia was his truest +comforter, and completely won his heart, not only by +the friendly words she said and the pleasant things she +did, but by the unspoken sympathy which showed itself +just at the right minute, in a look, a touch, a smile, +more helpful than any amount of condolence. She +called him "my man," and Ben tried to be one, bearing +his trouble so bravely that she respected him. although +he was only a little boy, because it promised well for +the future. + +Then she was so happy herself, it was impossible for +those about her to be sad, and Ben soon grew cheerful +again in spite of the very tender memory of his father +laid quietly away in the safest corner of his heart. He +would have been a very unboyish boy if he had not been +happy, for the new place was such a pleasant one, he +soon felt as if, for the first time, he really had a home. +No more grubbing now, but daily tasks which never +grew tiresome, they were so varied and so light. No +more cross Pats to try his temper, but the sweetest +mistress that ever was, since praise was oftener on her +lips than blame, and gratitude made willing service a +delight. + +At first, it seemed as if there was going to be trouble +between the two boys; for Thorny was naturally masterful, +and illness had left him weak and nervous, so he +was often both domineering and petulant. Ben had +been taught instant obedience to those older than him +self, and if Thorny had been a man Ben would have +made no complaint; but it was hard to be "ordered +round" by a boy, and an unreasonable one into the +bargain. + +A word from Miss Celia blew away the threatening +cloud, however; and for her sake her brother promised +to try to be patient; for her sake Ben declared he never +would "get mad" if Mr. Thorny did fidget; and both +very soon forgot all about master and man and lived +together like two friendly lads, taking each other's ups +and downs good-naturedly, and finding mutual pleasure +and profit in the new companionship. + +The only point on which they never could agree was +legs, and many a hearty laugh did they give Miss Celia +by their warm and serious discussion of this vexed question. +Thorny insisted that Ben was bow1egged; Ben +resented the epithet, and declared that the legs of all +good horsemen must have a slight curve, and any one +who knew any thing about the matter would acknowledge +both its necessity and its beauty. Then Thorny +Would observe that it might be all very well in the saddle, +but it made a man waddle like a duck when afoot; +whereat Ben would retort that, for his part, he would +rather waddle like a duck than tumble about like a +horse with the staggers. He had his opponent there, +for poor Thorny did look very like a weak-kneed colt +when he tried to walk; but he would never own it, and +came down upon Ben with crushing allusions to centaurs, +or the Greeks and Romans, who were famous both +for their horsemanship and fine limbs. Ben could not +answer that, except by proudly referring to the chariot- +races copied from the ancients, in which he had borne +a part, which was more than somefolks with long legs +could say. Gentlemen never did that sort of thing, +nor did they twit their best friends with their misfortunes, +Thorny would remark; casting a pensive glance +at his thin hands, longing the while to give Ben a good +shaking. This hint would remind the other of his +young master's late sufferings and all he owed his dear +mistress; and he usually ended the controversy by +turning a few lively somersaults as a vent for his swelling +wrath, and come up with his temper all right again. +Or, if Thorny happened to be in the wheeled chair, he +would trot him round the garden at a pace which nearly +took his breath away, thereby proving that if "bow- +legs" were not beautiful to some benighted beings they +were "good to go." + +Thorny liked that, and would drop the subject for +the time by politely introducing some more agreeable +topic; so the impending quarrel would end in a +laugh over some boyish joke, and the word "legs +be avoided by mutual consent till accident brought +it up again. + +The spirit of rivalry is hidden in the best of us, and +is a helpful and inspiring power if we know how to use +it. Miss Celia knew this, and tried to make the lads +help one another by means of it, -- not in boastful or +ungenerous comparison of each other's gifts, but by +interchanging them, giving and taking freely, kindly, +and being glad to love what was admirable wherever +they found it. Thorny admired Ben's strength, activ- +ity, and independence; Ben envied Thorny's learning, +good manners, and comfortable surroundings; and, +when a wise word had set the matter rightly before +them, both enjoyed the feeling that there was a certain +equality between them, since money could not buy +health, and practical knowledge was as useful as any +that can be found in books. So they interchanged +their small experiences, accomplishments, and pleasures, +and both were the better, as well as the happier, +for it; because in this way only can we truly love our +neighbor as ourself, and get the real sweetness out of +life. + +There was no end to the new and pleasant things +Ben had to do, from keeping paths and flower-beds +neat, feeding the pets, and running errands, to waiting +on Thorny and being right-hand man to Miss Celia. +He had a little room in the old house, newly papered +with hunting scenes, which he was never tired of admiring. +In the closet hung several out-grown suits +of Thorny's, made over for his valet; and, what Ben +valued infinitely more, a pair of boots, well blacked +and ready for grand occasions, when he rode abroad, +with one old spur, found in the attic, brightened up +and merely worn for show, since nothing would have +induced him to prick beloved Lita with it. + +Many pictures, cut from illustrated papers, of races, +animals, and birds, were stuck round the room, giving +it rather the air of a circus and menagerie. This, however, +made it only the more home-like to its present +owner, who felt exceedingly rich and respectable as he +surveyed his premises; almost like a retired showman +who still fondly remembers past successes, though now +happy in the more private walks of life. + +In one drawer of the quaint little bureau which he +used, were kept the relics of his father; very few and +poor, and of no interest to any one but himself, -- +only the letter telling of his death, a worn-out watch-chain, +and a photograph of Senor Jose Montebello, +with his youthful son standing on his head, both airily +attired, and both smiling with the calmly superior expression +which gentlemen of their profession usually +wear in public. Ben's other treasures had been stolen +with his bundle; but these he cherished and often +looked at when he went to bed, wondering what +heaven was like, since it was lovelier than California, +and usually fell asleep with a dreamy impression that +it must be something like America when Columbus +found it, -- "a pleasant land, where were gay flowers +and tall trees, with leaves and fruit such as they had +never seen before." And through this happy hunt-ing-ground +"father" was for ever riding on a beautiful white horse +with wings, like the one of which Miss +Celia had a picture. + +Nice times Ben had in his little room poring over +his books, for he soon had several of his own; but +his favorites were Hamerton's "Animals" and "Our +Dumb Friends," both full of interesting pictures and +anecdotes such as boys love. Still nicer times working +about the house, helping get things in order; and +best of all were the daily drives with Miss Celia and +Thorny, when weather permitted, or solitary rides to +town through the heaviest rain, for certain letters +must go and come, no matter how the elements raged. +The neighbors soon got used to the "antics of that +boy," but Ben knew that he was an object of interest +as he careered down the main street in a way that +made old ladies cry out and brought people flying to +the window, sure that some one was being run away +with. Lita enjoyed the fun as much as he, and apparently +did her best to send him heels over head, having rapidly +earned to understand the signs he gave +her by the touch of hand and foot, or the tones of +his voice. + +These performances caused the boys to regard Ben +Brown with intense admiration, the girls with timid +awe, all but Bab, who burned to imitate him, and tried +her best whenever she got a chance, much to the anguish +and dismay of poor Jack, for that long-suffering +animal was the only steed she was allowed to ride. +Fortunately, neither she nor Betty had much time for +play just now, as school was about to close for the +long vacation, and all the little people were busy +finishing up, that they might go to play with free +minds. So the "lilac-parties," as they called them, +were deferred till later, and the lads amused themselves +in their own way, with Miss Celia to suggest +and advise. + +It took Thorny a long time to arrange his possessions, +for he could only direct while Ben unpacked, +wondering and adiniring as he worked, because he had +never seen so many boyish treasures before. The +litte printing-press was his especial delight, and leaving +every thing else in confusion, Thorny taught him +its and planned a newspaper on the spot, with Ben +for printer, himself for editor, and "Sister" for chief +contributor, while Bab should be carrier and Betty +office-boy. Next came a postage-stamp book, and a +rainy day was happily spent in pasting a new collection +where each particular one belonged, with copious +explanations from Thorny as they went along. Ben +did not feel any great interest in this amusement after +one trial of it, but when a book containing patterns +of the flags of all nations turned up, he was seized +with a desire to copy them all, so that the house +could be fitly decorated on gala occasions. Finding +that it amused her brother, Miss Celia generously +opened her piece-drawer and rag-bag, and as the +mania grew till her resources were exhausted, she +bought bits of gay cambric and many-colured papers, +and startled the store-keeper by purchasing several +bottles of mucilage at once. Bab and Betty were +invited to sew the bright strips of stars, and pricked +their little fingers assiduously, finding this sort of +needle-work much more attractive than piecing bed- +quilts. + +Such a snipping and pasting, planning and stitching +as went on in the big back room, which was given +up to them, and such a noble array of banners and +petitions as soon decorated its walls, would have +caused the dullest eye to brighten with amusement, +if not with admiration. Of course, the Stars and +Stripes hung highest, with the English lion ramping +on the royal standard close by; then followed a regular +picture-gallery, for there was the white elephant of +Siam, the splendid peacock of Burmah, the double- +headed Russian eagle, and black dragon of China, +the winged lion of Venice, and the prancing pair on +the red, white, and blue flag of Holland. The keys +and mitre of the Papal States were a hard job, but up +they went at last, with the yellow crescent of Turkey +on one side and the red full moon of Japan on the +other; the pretty blue and white flag of Greece hung +below and the cross of free Switzerland above. If +materials had held out, the flags of all the United +States would have followed; but paste and patience +were exhausted, so the busy workers rested awhile +before they "flung their banner to the breeze," as +the newspapers have it. + +A spell of ship-building and rigging followed the +flag fit; for Thorny, feeling too old now for such +toys, made over his whole fleet to "the children," +condescending, however, to superintend a thorough +repairing of the sa,e before he disposed of all but +the big man-of-war, which continued to ornament his +own room, with all sail set and a little red officer +perpetually waving his sword on the quarter-deck. + +These gifts led to out-of-door water-works, for the +brook had to be dammed up, that a shallow ocean +might be made, where Ben's piratical "Red Rover," +with the black flag, might chase and capture Bab's +smart frigate, "Queen," while the "Bounding Betsey," +laden with lumber, safely sailed from Kennebunkport to +Massachusetts Bay. Thorny, from his +chair, was chief-engineer, and directed his gang of +one how to dig the basin, throw up the embankment, +and finally let in the water till the mimic ocean was +full; then regulate the little watrr-gate, lest it should +overflow and wreck the pretty squadron or ships, boats, +canoes, and rafts, which soon rode at anchor there. + +Digging and paddling in mud and water proved +such a delightful pastime that the boys kept it up, till +a series of water-wheels, little mills and cataracts +made the once quiet brook look as if a manufacturing +town was about to spring up where hitheto minnows had +played in peace and the retiring frog had +chanted his serenade unmolested. + +Miss Celia liked all this, for any thing which would +keep Thorny happy out-of-doors in the sweet June +weather found favor in her eyes, and when the novelty +had worn off from home affairs, she planned a series +of exploring expeditions which filled their boyish souls +with delight. As none of them knew much about the +place, it really was quite exciting to start off on a +bright morning with a roll of wraps and cushions, +lunch, books, and drawing materials packed into the +phaeton, and drive at random about the shady roads +and lanes, pausing when and where they liked. Wonderful +discoveries were made, pretty places were +named, plans were drawn, and all sorts of mrrry +adventures befell the pilgrims. + +Each day they camped in a new spot, and while Lita +nibbled the fresh grass at her ease, Miss Celia sketched +under the big umbrella, Thorny read or lounged or +slept on his rubber blanket, and Ben made himself +generally useful. Unloading, filling the artist's water- +bottle, piling the invalid's cushions, setting out the +lunch, running to and fro for a Bower or a butterfly, +climbing a tree to report the view, reading, chatting, or +frolicking with Sancho,-- any sort of duty was in +Ben's line, and he did them all well, for an out-of-door +life was natural to him and he liked it. + +"Ben, I want an amanuensis," said Thorny, dropping +book and pencil one day after a brief interval of +silence, broken only by the whisper of the young +leaves overhead and the soft babble of the brook +close by. + +"A what?" asked Ben, pushing back his hat with +such an air of amazement that Thorny rather loftily +inquired: + +"Don't you know what an amanuensis is?" + +"Well, no; not unless it's some relation to an anaconda. +Shouldn't think you'd want one of them, anyway." + +Thorny rolled over with a hoot of derision, and his +sister, who sat close by, sketching an old gate, looked +up to see what was going on. + +"Well, you needn't laugh at a feller. You didn't +know what a wombat was when I asked you, and I +didn't roar," said Ben, giving his hat a slap, as nothing +else was handy. + +"The idea of wanting an anaconda tickled me so, I +couldn't help it. I dare say you'd have got me one +if I had asked for it, you are such an obliging chap," + +"Of course I would if I could. Shouldn't be surprised +if you did some day, you want such funny +things," answered Ben, appeased by the compliment. + +"I'll try the amanuensis first. It's only some one +to write for me; I get so tired doing it without a table. +You write well enough, and it will be good for you to +know something about botany. I intend to teach you, +Ben," said Thorny, as if conferring a great favor. + +"It looks pretty hard," muttered Ben, with a doleful +Glance at the book laid open upon a strew of torn +leaves and flowers. + +"No, it isn't; it's regularly jolly; and you'd be no +end of a help if you only knew a little. Now, suppose +I say, 'Bring me a "ranunculus bulbosus,"' how +would yoy know what I wanted?" demanded Thorny, +waving his microscope with a learned air. + +"Shouldn't." + +"There are quantities of them all round us; and I +want to analyze one. See if you can't guess." + +Ben stared vaguely from earth to sky, and was about +to give it up, when a buttercup fell at his feet, and he +caught sight of Miss Celia smiling at him from behind +her brother, who did not see the flower. + +"S'pose you mean this? I don't call 'em rhinocerus +bulburses, so I wasn't sure." And, taking the hint as +quickly as it was given, Ben presented the buttercup +as if he knew all about it. + +"You guessed that remarkably well. Now bring +me a 'leontodon taraxacum,'" said Thorny, charmed +with the quickness of his pupil, and glad to display his +learning. + +Again Ben gazed, but the field was full of early +flowers; and, if a long pencil had not pointed to a +dandelion close by, he would have been lost. + +"Here you are, sir," he answered with a chuckle +and Thorny took his turn at being astonished now. + +"How the dickens did you know that?" + +"Try it again, and may be you'll find out," laughed +Ben. + +Diving hap-hazard into his book, Thorny demanded +a "trifolium pratense." + +The clever pencil pointed, and Ben brought a red +clover, mightily enjoying the joke, and thinking that +their kind of botany wasn't bad fun. + +"Look here, no fooling!" and Thorny sat up to investigate +the matter, so quickly that his sister had not +time to sober down. "Ah, I've caught you! Not +fair to tell, Celia. Now, Ben, you've got to learn all +about this buttercup, to pay for cheating." + +"Werry good, sir; bring on your rhinoceriouses," +answered Ben, who couldn't help imitating his old +friend the clown when he felt particularly jolly. + +"Sit there and write what I tell you," ordered +Thorny, with all the severity of a strict schoolmaster. +Perching himself on the mossy stump, Ben obediently +floundered through the following analysis, with +constant help in the spelling, and much private wonder +what would come of it: -- + +"Phaenogamous. Exogenous. Angiosperm. Polypetalous. +Stamens, more than ten. Stamens on the +receptacle. Pistils, more than one and separate. +Leaves without stipules. Crowfoot family. Genus +ranunculus. Botanical name, Ranunculus bulbosus." + +"Jerusalem! what a flower! Pistols and crows' +feet, and Polly put the kettles on, and Angy sperms +and all the rest of 'em! If that's your botany, I +won't take any more, thank you," said Ben, as he +paused as hot and red as if he had been running a +race. + +"Yes, you Will; you'll learn that all by heart, and +then I shall give you a dandelion to do. You'll like +that, because it means dent de lion, or lion's tooth; +and I'll show them to you through my glass. You've +no idea how interesting it is, and what heaps of pretty +things you'll see," answered Thorny, who had already +discovered how charming the study was, and had +found great satisfaction in it, since he had been +forbidden more active pleasures. + +"What's the good of it, anyway?" asked Ben, who +would rather have been set to mowing the big field +than to the task before him. + +"It tells all about it in my book here, -- 'Gray's +Botany for Young People.' But I can tell you what +use it is to us," continued Thorny, crossing his legs in +the air and preparing to argue the matter, comfortably +lying flat on his back. "We are a Scientific Exploration +Society, and we must keep an account of all +the plants, animals, minerals, and so on, as we come +across them. Then, suppose we get lost, and have +to hunt for food, how are we to know what is safe +and what isn't? Come, now, do you know the +difference between a toadstool and a mushroom?" + +"No, I don't." + +"Then I'll teach you some day. There is sweet +flag and poisonous flag, and all sorts of berries and +things; and you'd better look out when you are +in the woods, or you'll touch ivy and dogwood, +and have a horrid time, if you don't know your +botany." + +"Thorny learned much of his by sad experience; +and you will be wise to take his advice," said Miss +Celia, recalling her brother's various mishaps before +the new fancy came on. + +"Didn't I have a time of it, though, when I had to +go round for a week with plantain leaves and cream +stuck all over my face! Just picked some pretty red +dogwood, Ben; and then I was a regular guy, with a +face like a lobster, and my eyes swelled out of sight. +Come along, and learn right away, and never get into +scrapes like most fellows." + +Impressed by this warning, and attracted by +Thorny's enthusiasm, Ben cast himself down upon +the blanket, and for an hour the two heads bobbed +to and fro, from microscope to book, the teacher +airing his small knowledge, the pupil more and more +interested in the new and curious things he saw or +heard, -- though it must be confessed that Ben infinitely +prefered to watch ants and bugs, queer little +worms and gauzy-winged flies, rather than "putter" +over plants with long names. He did not dare to +say so, however; but, when Thorny asked him if it +wasn't capital fun, he dodged cleverly by proposing +to hunt up the flowers for his master to gtudy, offering +to learn about the dangerous ones, but pleading +want of time to investigate this pleasing science very +deeply. + +As Thorny had talked himself hoarse, he was very +ready to dismiss his class of one to fish the milk- +bottle out of the brook; and recess was prolonged +till next day. But both boys found a new pleasure +in the pretty pastime they made of it; for active Ben +ranged the woods and fields with a tin box slung over +his shoulder, and feeble Thorny had a little room +fitted up for his own use, where he pressed flowers +in newspaper books, dried herbs on the walls, had +bottles and cups, pans and platters, for his treasures, +and made as much litter as he liked. + +Presently, Ben brought such lively accounts of the +green nooks where jacks-in-the-pulpit preached their +little sermons; brooks, beside which grew blue violets +and lovely ferns; rocks, round which danced the +columbines like rosy elves, or the trees where birds +built, squirrels chattered, and woodchucks burrowed, +that Thorny was seized with a desire to go and see +these beauties for himself. So Jack was saddled, and +went plodding, scrambling, and wandering into all +manner of pleasant places, always bringing home a +stronger, browner rider than he carried away. + +This delighted Miss Celia; and she gladly saw +them ramble off together, leaving her time to stitch +happily at certain dainty bits of sewing, write voluminons +letters, or dream over others quite as long, +swinging in her hammock under the lilacs. + +CHAPTER XIII: SOMEBODY RUNS AWAY + +"'School is done, +Now we'll have fun," + +Sung Bab and Betty, slamming down their +books as if they never meant to take them up +again, when they came home on the last day +of June. + +Tired teacher had dismissed them for eight whole +weeks, and gone away to rest; the little school-house +was shut up, lessons were over, spirits rising fast, +and vacation had begun. The quiet town seemed +suddenly inundated with children, all in such a +rampant state that busy mothers wondered how they +ever should be able to keep their frisky darlings out +of mischief; thrifty fathers planned how they could +bribe the idle hands to pick berries or rake hay; and +the old folks, while wishing the young folks well, +secretly blessed the man who invented schools. + +The girls immediately began to talk about picnics, +and have them, too; for little hats sprung up in the +fields like a new sort of mushroom, -- every hillside +bloomed with gay gowns, looking as if the flowers +had gone out for a walk; and the woods were full of +featherless birds chirping away as blithely as the +thrushes, robins, and wrens. + +The boys took to base-ball like ducks to water, +and the common was the scene of tremendous battles, +waged with much tumult, but little bloodshed. To +the uninitiated, it appeared as if these young men +had lost their wits; for, no matter how warm it was, +there they were, tearing about in the maddest mannet, +jackets off, sleeves rolled up, queer caps flung on +any way, all batting shabby leather balls, and catching +the same, as if their lives depended on it. Every +one talking in his gruffest tone, bawling at the top of +his voice, squabbling over every point of the game, +and seeming to enjoy himself immensely, in spite +of the heat, dust, uproar, and imminent danger of +getting eyes or teeth knocked out. + +Thorny was an excellent player, but, not being +strong enough to show his prowess, he made Ben +his proxy; and, sitting on the fence, acted as umpire +to his heart's content. Ben was a promising pupil, +and made rapid progress; for eye, foot, and hand +had been so well trained, that they did him good +service now; and Brown was considered a first-rate +"catcher". + +Sancho distinguished himself by his skill in hunting +up stray balls, and guarding jackets when not +needed, with the air of one of the Old Guard on duty +at the tomb of Napoleon. Bab also longed to join +in the fun, which suited her better than "stupid picnics" +or "fussing over dolls;" but her heroes would not +have her at any price; and she was obliged to content +herself with sitting by Thorny, and watching +with breathless interest the varying fortunes of "our +side." + +A grand match was planned for the Fourth of +July; but when the club met, things were found to +be unpropitious. Thorny had gone out of town with +his sister to pass the day, two of the best players did +not appear, and the others were somewhat exhausted +by the festivities, which began at sunrise for them. +So they lay about on the grass in the shade of the +big elm, languidly discussing their various wrongs +and disappointments. + +"It's the meanest Fourth I ever saw. Can't have +no crackers, because somebody's horse got scared +last year," growled Sam Kitteridge, bitterly resenting +the stern edict which forbade feee-born citizens to +burn as much gunpowder as they liked on that glorious +day. + +"Last year Jimmy got his arm blown off when +they fired the old cannon. Didn't we have a lively +time going for the doctors and getting him home?" +asked another boy, looking as if he felt defrauded of +the most interesting part of the anniversary, because +no accident had occurred. + +"Ain't going to be fireworks either, unless somebody's +barn burns up. Don't I just wish there would,: +gloomily responded another youth who had so rashly +indulged in pyrotechnics on a former occasion that a +neighbor's cow had been roasted whole. + +"I wouldn't give two cents for such a slow old +place as this. Why, last Fourth at this time, I was +rumbling thiough Boston streets on top of our big +car, all in my best toggery. Ht as pepper, but +good fun looking in at the upper windows and hearing +the women scream when the old thing waggled +round and I made believe I was going to tumble off, +said Ben, leaning on his bat with the air of a man +who had seen the world and felt some natural regret +at descending from so lofty a sphere. + +"Catch me cuttin, away if I had such a chance +as that!" answered Sam, trying to balance his bat on +his chin and getting a smart rap across the nose as he +failed to perform the feat. + +"Much you know about it, old chap. It's hard +work, I can tell you, and that wouldn't suit such a +lazy-bones. Then you are too big to begin, though you +might do for a fat boy if Smithers wanted one," said +Ben, surveying the stout youth, with calm contempt. + +"Let's go in swimming, not loaf round here, if we +can't play," proposed a red and shiny boy, panting +for a game of leap-frog in Sandy pond. + +"May as well; don't see much else to do," sighed +Sam, rising like a young elephant. + +The others were about to follow, when a shrill " Hi, +hi, boys, hold on!" made them turn about to behold +Billy Barton tearing down the street like a runaway +colt, waving a long strip of paper as he ran. + +"Now, then, what's the matter? " demanded Ben, +as the other came up grinning and puffing, but full +of great news. + +"Look here, read it! I'm going; come along, +the whole of you," panted Billy, putting the paper +into Sam's hand, and surveying the crowd with a face +as beaming as a full moon. + +"Look out for the big show," read Sam. "Van +Amburgh & Co.'s New Great Golden Menagerie, Circus +and Colosseum, will exhibit at Berryville, July +4th, at 1 and 7 precisely. Admission 50 cents, chil- +dren half-price. Don't forget day and date. H. +Frost, Manager." + +While Sam read, the other boys had been gloating +over the enticing pictures which covered the bill. +There was the golden car, filled with noble beings in +helmits, all playing on immense trumpets; the twenty- +four prancing steeds with manes, tails, and feathered +heads tossing in the breeze; the clowns, the tumblers, +the strong men, and the riders flying about in the air +as if the laws of gravitation no longer existed. But, +best of all, was the grand conglomeration of animals +where the giraffe appears to stand on the elephant's +back, the zebra to be jumping over the seal, the hippopotamus +to be lunching off a couple of crocodiles, +and lions and tigers to be raining down in all directions +with their mouths, wide open and their tails as stiff as +that of the famous Northumberland House lion. + +"Cricky! wouldn't I like to see that," said little +Cyrus Fay, devoutly hoping that the cage, in which +this pleasing spectacle took place, was a very strong +one. + +"You never would, it's only a picture! That, +now, is something like," and Ben, who had pricked +up his ears at the word "circus," laid his finger on a +smaller cut of a man hanging by the back of his neck +with a child in each hand, two men suspended from +his feet, and the third swinging forward to alight on +his head. + +"I 'm going," said Sam, with calm decision, for this +superb array of unknown pleasures fired his soul and +made him forget his weight. + +"How will you fix it?" asked Ben, fingering the +bill with a nervous thrill all through his wiry limbs, +just as he used to feel it when his father caught him +up to dash into the ring. + +"Foot it with Billy. It's only four miles, and +we've got lots of time, so we can take it easy. Mother +won't care, if I send word by Cy," answered Sam, producing +half a dollar, as if such magnificent sums were +no strangers to his pocket. + +"Come on, Brown; you'll be a first-rate fellow to +show us round, as you know all the dodges," said +Billy, anxious to get his money's worth. + +"Well, I don't know," began Ben, longing to go, +but afraid Mrs. Moss would say "No!" if he asked +leave. + +"He's afraid," sneered the red-faced boy, who felt +bitterly toward all mankind at that instant, because +he knew there was no hope of his going. + +"Say that again, and I'll knock your head off," +and Ben faced round with a gesture which caused the +other to skip out of reach precipitately. + +"Hasn't got any money, more likely," observed a +shabby youth, whose pockets never had any thing in +them but a pair of dirty hands. + +Ben calmly produced a dollar bill and waved it +defiantly before this doubter, observing with dignity: + +"I've got money enough to treat the whole crowd, +if I choose to, which I don't." + +"Then come along and have a jolly time with Sam +and me. We can buy some dinner and get a ride +home, as like as not," said the amiable Billy, with +a slap on the shoulder, and a cordial grin which made +it impossible for Ben to resist. + +"What are you stopping for?" demanded Sam, +ready to be off, that they might "take it rasy." + +"Don't know what to do with Sancho. He'll get +lost or stolen if I take him, and it's too far to carry +him home if you are in a hurry," began Ben, persuading +himself that this was the true reason of his delay. + +"Let Cy take him back. He'll do it for a cent; +won't you, Cy?" proposed Billy, smoothing away all +objections, for he liked Ben, and saw that he wanted +to go. + +"No, I won't; I don't like him. He winks at me, +and growls when I touch him," muttered naughty Cy, +remembering how much reason poor Sanch had to +distrust his tormentor. + +"There 's Bab; she'll do it. Come here, sissy; +Ben wants you," called Sam, beckoning to a small +figure just perching on the fence. + +Down it jumped and Came fluttering up, much +elated at being summoned by the captain of the +sacred nine. + +"I want you to take Sanch home, and tell your +mother I'm going to walk, and may be won't be back +till sundown. Miss Celia said I Might do what I +pleased, all day. You remember, now." + +Ben spoke without looking up, and affected to be +very busy buckling a strap into Sanch's collar, for the +two were so seldom parted that the dog always rebelled. +It was a mistake on Ben's part, for while his eyes +were on his work Bab's were devouring the bill which +Sam still held, and her suspicions were aroused by +the boys' faces. + +"Where are you going? Ma will want to know," +she said, as curious as a magpie all at once. + +"Never you mind; girls can't know every thing. +You just catch hold of this and run along home. +Lock Sanch up for an hour, and tell your mother I'm +all right," answered Ben, bound to assert his manly +supremacy before his mates. + +"He's going to the circus," whispered Fay, hoping +to make mischief. + +"Circus! Oh, Ben, do take me!" cried Bab, +falling into a state of great excitement at the mere +thought of such delight. + +"You couldn't walk four miles," began Ben. + +"Yes, I could, as easy as not." + +"You haven't got any money." + +"You have; I saw you showing your dollar, and +you could pay for me, and Ma would pay it back." + +"Can't wait for you to get ready." + +"I'll go as I am. I don't care if it is my old hat," +and Bab jerked it on to her head. + +"Your mother wouldn't like it." + +"She won't like your going, either." + +"She isn't my missis now. Miss Celia wouldn't +care, and I'm going, any way." + +"Do, do take me, Ben! I'll be just as good as +ever was, and I'll take care of Sanch all the way," +pleaded Bab, clasping her hands and looking round +for some sign of relenting in the faces of the boys. + +"Don't you bother; we don't want any girls tagging +after us," said Sam, walking off to escape the +annoyance. + +"I'll bring you a roll of chickerberry lozengers, if +you won't tease," whispered kind-hearted Billy, with a +consoling pat on the crown of the shabby straw hat. + +"When the circus comes here you shall go, certain +sure, and Betty too," said Ben, feeling mean while he +proposed what he knew was a hollow mockery. + +"They never do come to such little towns; you +said so, and I think you are very cross, and I won't +take care of Sanch, so, now!" cried Bab, getting into +a passion, yet ready to cry, she was so disappointed. + +"I Suppose it wouldn't do -- " hinted Billy, with a +look from Ben to the little girl, who stood winking +hard to keep the tears back. + +"Of Course it wouldn't. I'd like to see her walking +eight miles. I don't mind paying for her; it's +getting her there and back. Girls are such a bother +when you want to knock round. No, Bab, you can't +go. Travel right home and don't make a fuss. Come +along, boys; it 's most eleven, and we don't want +to walk fast." + +Ben spoke very decidedly; and, taking Billy's arm, +away they went, leaving poor Bab and Sanch to watch +them out of sight, one sobbing, the other whining +dismally. + +Somehow those two figures seemed to go before +Ben all along the pleasant road, and half spoilt his +fun; for though he laughed and talked, cut canes, and +seemed as merry as a grig, he could not help feeling +that he ought to have asked leave to go, and been +kinder to Bab. + +"Perhaps Mrs. Moss would have planned somehow +so we could all go, if I'd told her, I'd like to show +her round, and she's been real good to me. No use +now. I'll take the girls a lot of candy and make +it all right." + +He tried to settle it in that way and trudged gayly +off, hoping Sancho wouldn't feel hurt at being left, +wondering if any of "Smithers's lot" would be round, +and planning to do the honors handsomely to the +boys. + +It was very warm; and just outside of the town they +paused by a wayside watering-trough to wash their +dusty faces, and cool off before plunging into the excitements +of the afternoon. As they stood refreshing +themselves, a baker's cart came jingling by; and Sam +proposed a hasty lunch while they rested. A supply +of gingerbread was soon bought; and, climbing the +green bank above, they lay on the grass under a wild +cherry-tree, munching luxuriously, while they feasted +their eyes at the same time on the splendors awaiting +them; for the great tent, with all its flags flying, was +visible from the hill. + +"We'll cut across those fields, -- it 's shorter than +going by the road, -- and then we can look round +outside till it's time to go in. I want to have a good +go at every thing, especially the lions," said Sam, beginning +on his last cookie. + +"I heard 'em roar just now;" and Billy stood up +to gaze with big eyes at the flapping canvas which hid +the king of beasts from his longing sight. + +"That was a cow mooing. Don't you be a donkey, +Bill. When you hear a real roar, you'll shake in your +boots," said Ben, holding up his handkerchief to dry, +after it had done double duty as towel and napkin. + +"I wish you'd hurry up, Sam. Folks are going in +now. I see 'em!" and Billy pranced with impatience; +for this was his first circus, and he firmly +believed that he was going to behold all that the +pictures promised. + +"Hold on a minute, while I get one more drink. +Buns are dry fodder," said Sam, rolling over to the +edge of the bank and preparing to descend with as +little trouble as possible. + +He nearly went down head first, however; for, as +he looked before he leaped, he beheld a sight which +caused him to stare with all his might for an instant, +then turn and beckon, saying in an eager whisper, +Look here, boys, -- quick!" + +Ben and Billy peered over, and both suppressed an +astonished "Hullo!" for there stood Bab, waiting for +Sancho to lap his fill out of the overflowing trough. + +Such a shabby, tired-looking couple as they were! +Bab with a face as red as a lobster and streaked with +tears, shoes white with dust, Playfrock torn at the +gathers, something bundled up in her apron, and one +shoe down at the heel as if it hurt her. Sancho lapped +eagerly, with his eyes shut; all his ruffles were gray +with dust, and his tail hung wearily down, the tassel +at half mast, as if in mourning for the master whom +be had come to find. Bab still held the strap, intent +on keeping her charge safe, though she lost herself; +but her courage seemed to be giving out, as she +looked anxiously up and down the road,seeing no sign +of the three familiar figures she had been following as +steadily as a little Indian on the war-trail. + +"Oh, Sanch, what shall I do if they don't come +along? We must have gone by them somewhere, for +I don't see any one that way, and there isn't any +other road to the circus, seems to me." + +Bab spoke as if the dog could understand and +answer; and Sancho looked as if he did both, for he +stopped drinking, pricked up his cars, and, fixing his +sharp eyes on the grass above him, gave a suspicious +bark. + +"It's only squirrels; don't mind, but come along +and be good; for I 'm so tired, I don't know what to +do!" sighed Bab, trying to pull him after her as she +trudged on, bound to see the outside of that wonderful +tent, even if she never got in. + +But Sancho had heard a soft chirrup; and, with a +sudden bound, twitched the strap away, sprang up the +bank, and landed directly on Ben's back as he lay +peeping over. A peal of laughter greeted him; and, +having got the better of his master in more ways than +one, he made the most of the advantage by playfully +worrying him as he kept him down, licking his face +in spite of his struggles, burrowing in his neck with a +ticklish nose, snapping at his buttons, and yelping +joyfully, as if it was the best joke in the world to play +hide-and-seek for four long miles. + +Before Ben could quiet him, Bab came climbing up +the bank, with such a funny mixture of fear, fatigue, +determination, and relief in her dirty little face, that +the boys could not look awful if they tried. + +"How dared you come after us, miss?" demanded +Sam, as she looked calmly about her, and took a seat +before she was asked. + +"Sanch would come after Ben; I couldn't make +him go home, so I had to hold on till he was safe here, +else he'd be lost, and then Ben would feel bad." + +The cleverness of that excuse tickled the boys immensely; +and Sam tried again, while Ben was getting +the dog down and sitting on him. + +"Now you expect to go to the circus, I suppose." + +"Course I do. Ben said he didn't mind paying, if +I could get there without bothering him, and I have; +and I'll go home alone. I ain't afraid. Sanch will take +care of me, if you won't," answered Bab, stoutly. + +"What do you suppose your mother will say to +you?" asked Ben, feeling much reproached by her +last words. + +"I guess she'll say you led me into mischief; +and the sharp child nodded, as if she defied him to +deny the truth of that. + +"You'll catch it when you get home, Ben; so you'd +better have a good time while you can," advised Sam. +thinking Bab great fun, since none of the blame of +her pranks would fall on him. +"What would you have done if you hadn't found us?" a +sked Billy, forgetting his impatience in his admiration +for this plucky young lady. + +"I'd have gone on and seen the circus, and then I'd +have gone home again and told Betty all about it," +was the prompt answer. + +"But you haven't any money." + +"Oh, I'd ask somebody to pay for me. I 'm so +little, it wouldn't be much." + +"Nobody would do it; so you'd have to stay outside, +you see." + +"No, I wouldn't. I thought of that, and planned +how I'd fix it if I didn't find Ben. I'd make Sanch +do his tricks, and get a quarter that way; so, now! +answered Bab, undaunted by any obstacle. + +"I do believe she would! You are a smart child, +Bab; and if I had enough I'd take you in myself," +said Billy, heartily; for, having sisters of his own, +he kept a soft place in his heart for girls, especially +enterprising ones. + +"I'll take care of her. It was very naughty to +come, Bab; but, so long as you did, you needn't +worry about any thing. I'll see to you; and you +shall have a real good time," said Ben, accepting his +responsibilities without a murmur, and bound to do +the handsome thing by his persistent friend. + +"I thought you would;" and Bab folded her arms, +as if she had nothing further to do but enjoy herself. + +"Are you hungry?" asked Billy, fishing out several +fragments of gingerbread. + +"Starving!" and Bab ate them with such a relish +that Sam added a small contribution; and Ben +caught some water for her in his hand, where the +little spring bubbled up beside a stone. + +"Now, you wash your face and spat down your +hair, and put your hat on straight, and then we'll +go," commanded Ben, giving Sanch a roll on the +grass to clean him. + +Bab scrubbed her face till it shone; and, pulling +down her apron to wipe it, scattered a load of +treasures collected in her walk. Some of the dead +flowers, bits of moss, and green twigs fell near Ben, +and one attracted his attention, -- a spray of broad, +smooth leaves, with a bunch of whitish berries on it. + +"Where did you get that?" he asked, poking it +with his foot. + +"In a swampy place, coming along. Sanch saw +something down there; and I went with him, 'cause +I thought may be it was a musk-rat, and you'd like +one if we could get him." + +"Was it?" asked the boys all at once, and with +intense interest. + +"No; only a snake, and I don't care for snakes. +I picked some of that, it was so green and pretty. +Thorny likes queer leaves and berries, you know," +answered Bab, "spatting," down her rough locks. + +"Well, he won't like that, nor you either; it's +poisonous, and I shouldn't wonder if you'd got +poisoned, Bab. Don't touch it! Swamp-sumach is +horrid stuff, -- Miss Celia said so;" and Ben looked +anxiously at Bab, who felt her chubby face all over, +and examined her dingy hands with a solemn air, +asking, eagerly, -- + +"Will it break out on me 'fore I get to the circus?" + +"Not for a day or so, I guess; but it's bad when +it does come." + +"I don't care, if I see the animals first. Come +quick, and never mind the old weeds and things," +said Bab, much relieved; for present bliss was all +she had room for now in her happy little heart. + + +CHAPTER XIV: SOMEBODY GETS LOST + +Putting all care behind them, the young folks +ran down the hill, with a very lively dog gambolling +beside them, and took a delightfully +tantalizing survey of the external charms of the big +tent. But people were beginning to go in, and it +was impossible to delay when they came round to +the entrance. + +Ben felt that now "his foot was on his native +heath," and the superb air of indifference with which +he threw down his dollar at the ticket-office, carelessly +swept up the change, and strolled into the tent +with his hands in his pockets, was so impressive that +even big Sam repressed his excitement and meekly +followed their leader, as he led them from cage to +cage, doing the honors as if he owned the whole concern. +Bab held tight to the flap of his jacket, staring +about her with round eyes, and listening with +little gasps of astonishment or delight to the roaring +of lions, the snarling of tigers, the chatter of the +monkeys, the groaning of camels, and the music of +the very brass band shut up in a red bin. + +Five elephants were tossing their hay about in the +middle of the menagerie, and Billy's legs shook under +him as he looked up at the big beasts whose long +noses and small, sagacious eyes filled him with awe. +Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys that the +others left him before the cage and went on to see +the zebra, "striped just like Ma's muslin gown," Bab +declared. But the next minute she forgot all about +him in her raptures over the ponies and their tiny +colts; especially one mite of a thing who lay asleep +on the hay, such a miniature copy of its little mouse-colored +mamma that one could hardly believe it was alive. + +"Oh, Ben, I must feel of it! -- the cunning baby +horse!" and down went Bab inside the rope to pat +and admire the pretty creature, while its mother +smelt suspiciously at the brown hat, and baby lazily +opened one eye to see what was going on. + +"Come out of that, it isn't allowed" commanded +Ben, longing to do the same thing, but mindful of the +proprieties and his own dignity. + +Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolation +in watching the young lions, who looked so like +big puppies, and the tigers washing their faces just +as puss did. + +"If I stroked 'em, wouldn't they purr?" she +asked, bent on enjoying herself, while Ben held her +skirts lest she should try the experiment. + +"You'd better not go to patting them, or you'll +get your hands clawed up. Tigers do purr like fun +when they are happy, but these fellers never are, and +you'll only see 'em spit and snarl," said Ben, leading +the way to the humpy carrels, who were peacefully +chewing their cud and longing for the desert, +with a dreamy, far-away look in their mournful eyes. + +Here, leaning on the rope, and scientifically biting +a straw while he talked, Ben played showman to his +heart's content till the neigh of a horse from the +circus tent beyond reminded him of the joys to come. + +"We'd better hurry along and get good seats before +folks begin to crowd. I want to sit near the curtain +and see if any of Smitthers's lot are 'round." + +"I ain't going way off there; you can't see half so +well, and that big drum makes such a noise you can't +hear yourself think," said Sam, who had rejoined +them. + +So they settled in good places where they could +see and hear all that went on in the ring and still +catch glimpses of white horses, bright colors, and the +glitter of helmets beyond the dingy red curtains. Ben +treated Bab to peanuts and pop-corn like an indulgent +parent, and she murmured protestations of undying +gratitude with her mouth full, as she sat blissfully +between him and the congenial Billy. + +Sancho, meantime, had been much excited by the +familiar sights and sounds, and now was greatly exercised +in his doggish mind at the unusual proceeding +of his master; for he was sure that they ought to be +within there, putting on their costumes, ready to take +their turn. He looked anxiously at Ben, sniffed +disdainfully at the strap as if to remind him that a +scarlet ribbon ought to take its place, and poked peanut +shells about with his paw as if searching for the letters +with which to spell his famous name. + +"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done. +We've quit the busin'ess and must just look on. No +larks for us this time, Sanch, so keep quiet and behave,' +whispered Ben, tucking the dog away under +the seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the curly head +that peeped out from between his feet. + +"He wants to go and cut up, don't he?" said Billy, +"and so do you, I guess. Wish you were going +to. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing off in +there?" + +"I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of elephants +and jump through hoops like these folks," answered +Bab, poring over her pictured play-bill with +unabated relish. + +"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like to +show you what I can do. They don't seem to have +any boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if they'd take +me if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily on his +seat and casting wistful glances toward the inner tent +where he knew he would feel more at home than in +his present place. + +"I heard some men say that it's against the law to +have small boys now; it's so dangerous and not good +for them, this kind of thing. If that's so, you're done +for, Ben," observed Sam, with his most grown-up air, +remembering Ben's remarks on "fat boys." + +"Don't believe a word of it, and Sanch and I could +go this minute and get taken on, I'll bet. We are a +valuable couple, and I could prove it if I chose to," +began Ben, getting excited and boastful. + +"Oh, see, they're coming! -- gold carriages and +lovely horses, and flags and elephants, and every +thing, cried Bab, giving a clutch at Ben's arm as +the opening procession appeared headed by the band, +tooting and banging till their faces were as red as +their uniforms. + +Round and round they went till every one had seen +their fill, then the riders alone were left caracoling +about the ring with feathers flying, horses prancing, +and performers looking as tired and indifferent as if +they would all like to go to sleep then and there. + +"How splendid!" sighed Bab, as they went dashing out, +to tumble off almost before the horses stopped. + +"That's nothing! You wait till you see the bareback +riding and the 'acrobatic exercises,' " said Ben, +quoting from the play-bill, with the air of one who +knew all about the feats to come, and could never be +surprised any more. + +"What are 'crowbackic exercises'?" asked Billy, +thirsting for information. + +"Leaping and climbing and tumbling; you'll see +George! what a stunning horse!" and Ben forgot +every thing else to feast his eyes on the handsome +creature who now came pacing in to dance, upset +and replace chairs, kneel, bow, and perform many +wonderful or graceful feats, ending with a swift gallop +while the rider sat in a chair on its back fanning +himself, with his legs crossed, as comfortably as you +please. + +"That, now, is something like," and Ben's eyes shone +with admiration and envy as the pair vanished, and the +pink and silver acrobats came leaping into the ring. + +The boys were especially interested in this part, +and well they might be; for strength and agility are +manly attributes which lads appreciate, and these +lively fellows flew about like India-rubber balls, each +trying to outdo the other, till the leader of the acrobats +capped the climax by turning a double somersault +over five elephants standing side by side. + +"There, Sir, how's that for a jump?" asked Ben, +rubbing his hands with satisfaction as his friends +clapped till their palms tingled. + +"We'll rig up a spring-board and try it," said +Billy, fired with emulation. + +"Where'll you get your elephants?" asked Sam, +scornfully. for gymnastics were not in his line. + +"You'll do for one," retorted Ben, and Billy and +Bab joined in his laugh so heartily that a rough- +looking, man who sat behind them, hearing all they +said, pronounced them a "jolly set," and kept his eye +on Sancho, who now showed signs of insubordination. + +"Hullo, that wasn't on the bill!" cried Ben, as a +parti-colored clown came in, followed by half a dozen +dogs. + +"I'm so glad; now Sancho will like it. There's a +poodle that might be his ownty donty brother -- the +one with the blue ribbon," said Bab. beaming with delight +as the dogs took their seats in the chairs arranged +for them. + +Sancho did like it only too well, for be scrambled +out from under the seat in a great hurry to go and +greet his friends; and, being sharply checked, sat up +and begged so piteously that Ben found it very hard +to refuse and order him down. He subsided for a +moment, but when the black spaniel, who acted the +canine clown, did something funny and was applauded, +Sancho made a dart as if bent on leaping into the +ring to outdo his rival, and Ben was forced to box +his ears and put his feet on the poor beast, fearing he +would be ordered out if he made any disturbance. + +Too well trained to rebel again, Sancho lay meditating +on his wrongs till the dog act was over, carefully +abstaining from any further sign of interest in +their tricks, and only giving a sidelong g;ance at the +two little poodles who came out of a basket to run +up and down stairs on their fore-paws, dance jigs on +their hind-legs, and play various pretty pranks to the +great delight of all the children in the audience. If +ever a dog expressed by look and attitude, "Pooh! +I could fo much better than that, and astonish you +all, if I were only allowed to," that dog was Sancho, +as he curled himself up and affected to turn his back +on an unappreciative world. + +"It's too bad, when he knows motr than all those +chaps put together. I'd give any thing if I could +show him off as I used to. Folks always like it, and +I was ever so proud of him. He's mad now because +I had to cuff him, and won't take any notice of me +till I make up," said Ben, regretfully eying his offended +friend, but not daring to beg pardon yet. + +More riding followed, and Bab was kept in a breathless +state by the marvellous agility and skill of the +gauzy lady who drove four horses at once, leaped +through hoops, over banners and bars, sprang off and +on at full speed, and seemed to enjoy it all so much +it was impossible to believe that there could be any +danger or exertion in it. Then two girls flew about +on the trapeze, and walked on a tight rope, causing +Bab to feel that she had at last found her sphere; for, +young as she was, her mother often said, + +"I really don't know what this child is fit for, except +mischief, like a monkey." + +"I'll fix the clothes-line when I get home, and +show Ma how nice it is. Then, may be, she'd let me +wear red and gold trousers, and climb round like +these girls," thought the busy little brain, much excited +by all it saw on that memorable day. + +Nothing short of a pyramid of elephants with a +glittering gentleman in a turban and top boots on the +summit would have made her forget this new and +charming plan. But that astonishing spectacle, and +the prospect of a cage of Bengal tigers with a man +among them, in immenent danger of being eaten +before her eyes, entirely absorbed her thoughts till, +just as the big animals went lumbering out, a peal of +thunder caused considerable commotion in the audience. +Men on the highest seats popped their heads +through the openings in the tent-cover and reported +that a heavy shower was coming up. Anxious mothers +began to collect their flocks of children as hens do +their chickens at sunset; timid people told cheerful +stories of tents blown over in gales, cages upset and +wild beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and the +performers hurried to finish as soon as possible. + +"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I can +get a lift home. I see two or three folks I know, so +I'm off;" and, climbing hastily down, Sam vanished +without further ceremony. + +"Better wait till the shower is over. We can go +and see the animals again, and get home all dry, just +as well as not," observed Ben, encouraginly, as Billy +looked anxiously at the billowing canvas over his +head, the swaying posts before him, and heard the +quick patter of drops outside, not to mention the +melancholy roar of the lion which sounded rather awful +through the sudden gloom which filled the strange +place. + +"I wouldn't miss the tigers for any thing. See, +they are pulling in the cart now, and the shiny man +is all ready with his gun. Will he shoot any of them, +apprehension, for the sharp crack of a rifle startled her +more than the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard. + +"Bless you, no, child; it 's only powder to make +a noise and scare 'em. I wouldn't like to be in his +place, though; father says you can never trust tiglers +as you can lions, no matter how tame they are. Sly +fellers, like cats, and when they scratch it's no joke, +I tell you," answered Ben, with a knowing wag of the +head, as the sides of the cage rattled down, and the +poor, fierce creatures were seen leaping and snarling +as if they resented this display of their captivity. + +Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with excitement +as she watched the "shiny man" fondle the +great cats, lie down among them, pull open their red +mouths, and make them leap over him or crouch at +his feet as be snapped the long whip. When he fired +the gun and they all fell as if dead, she with difficulty +suppressed a small scream and clapped her hands +over her ears; but poor Billy never minded it a bit, +for he was pale and quaking with the fear of "heaven's +artillery" thundering overhead, and as a brighht flash +of lightning seemed to run down the tall tent-poles he +hid his eyes and wished with all his heart that he was +safe with mother. + +"Afraid of thunder, Bill?" asked Ben, trying to +speak stoutly, while a sense of his own responsibilities +began to worry him, for how was Bab to be got home +in such a pouring rain? + +"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn't +come," sighed Billy, feeling, all too late, that lemonade +and "lozengers" were not the fittest food for man, or +a stifling tent the best place to be in on a hot July +day, especially in a thunder-storm. + +"I didn't ask you to come; you asked me; so it +isn't my fault," said Ben, rather gruffly, as people +crowded by without pausing to hear the comic song +the clown was singing in spite of the confusion. + +"Oh, I'm so tired," groaned Bab, getting up with +a long stretch of arms and legs. + +"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess. +Nobody asked you to Come, any way;" and Ben +gazed dolefully round him, wishing he could see a +familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to help +him out of the scrape he was in. + +"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I won't. I'll +walk right home this minute. I ain't afraid of thunder, +and the rain won't hurt these old clothes. Come +along," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping her word, +though it looked much harder after the fun was all +over than before. + +"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old Jack +was here to take me back," said Billy, following his +companions in misfortune with sudden energy, as a +louder peal than before rolled overhead. + +"You might as well wish for Lita and the covered +wagon while you are about it, then we could all ride," +answered Ben, leading the way to the outer tent, where +many people were lingering in hopes of fair weather. + +"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you get +here? " cried a surprised voice as the crook of a cane +caught the boy by the collar and jerkcd him face to +face with a young farmer, who was pushing along, +followed by his, wife and two or three children. + +"Oh, Uncle Eben, I'm so glad you found Me! I +walked over, and it's raining, and I don't feel well. +Let me go with you, can't I? " asked Billy, casting +himself and all his woes upon the strong arm that +had laid hold of him. + +"Don't see what your mother was about to let you +come so far alone, and you just over scarlet fever. +We are as full as ever we can be, but we'll tuck you +in somehow," said the pleasant-faced woman, bundling +up her baby, and bidding the two little lads +"keep close to father." + +"I didn't come alone. Sam got a ride, and can't +you tuck Ben and Bab in too? They ain't very big, +either of them," whispeied Billy, anxious to serve his +friends now that he was provided for himself. + +"Can't do it, any way. Got to pick up mother at +the corner, and that will be all I can carry. It's +lifting a little; hurry along, Lizzie, and let us get +out of this as quick is possible," said Uncle Eben, +impatiently; for going to a circus with a young +family is not an easy task, as every one knows who +has ever tried it. + +"Ben, I'm real sorry there isn't room for you. +I'll tell Bab's mother where she is, and may be some +one will come for you," said Billy, hurriedly, as he +tore himself away, feeling rather mean to desert the +others, though he could be of no use. + +"Cut away, and don't mind us. I'm all right, and +Bab must do the best she can," was all Ben had time +to answer before his comrade was hustled away by +the crowd pressing round the entrance with much +clashing of umbrellas and scrambling of boys and +men, who rather enjoyed the flurry. + +"No use for us to get knocked about in that +scrimmage. We'll wait a minute and then go out +easy. It's a regular rouser, and you'll be as wet as +a sop before we get home. Hope you'll like that?" +added Ben, looking out at the heavy rain poring +down as if it never meant to stop. + +"Don't care a bit," said Bab, swinging on one of +the ropes with a happy-go-lucky air, for her spirits +were not extinguished yet, and she was bound to +enjoy this exciting holiday to the very end. "I like +circuses so much! I wish I lived here all the time, +and slept in a wagon, as you did, and had these dear +little colties to play with." + +"It wouldn't be fun if you didn't have any folks +to take care of you," began Ben, thoughtfully looking +about the familiar place where the men were now +feeding the animals, setting their refreshment tables, +or lounging on the hay to get such rest as they +could before the evening entertainment. Suddenly +he started, gave a long look, then turned to Bab, and +thrusting Sancho's strap into her hand, said, hastily: + +"I see a fellow I used to know. May be he can tell +me something about father. Don't you stir till I +come back." + +Then he was off like a shot, and Bab saw him run +after a man with a bucket who bad been watering the +zebra. Sancho tried to follow, but was checked with +an impatient,-- + +"No, you can't go! What a plague you are, +tagging around when people don't want you." + +Sancho might have answered, "So are you," but, +being a gentlemanly dog, he sat down with a resigned +expression to watch the little colts, who were now +awake and seemed ready for a game of bo-peep behind +their mammas. Bab enjoyed their funny little +frisks so much that she tied the wearisome strap to +a post, and crept under the rope to pet the tiny +mouse-colored one who came and talked to her with +baby whinnies and confiding glances of its soft, dark +eyes. + +"Oh, luckless Bab! why did you turn your back? +Oh, too accomplished Sancho! why did you neatly +untie that knot and trot away to confer with the disreputable +bull-dog who stood in the entrance beckoning with +friendly wavings of an abbreviated tail? +Oh, much afflicted Ben! why did you delay till it +was too late to save your pet from the rough man +who set his foot upon the trailing strap, and led poor +Sanch quickly out of sight among the crowd? + +"It was Bascum, but he didn't know any thing. +Why, where's Sanch?" said Ben, returning. +A breathless voice made Bab turn to see Ben +looking about him with as much alarm in his hot +face as if the dog had been a two years' child. + +"I tied him -- he's here somewhere --ith the +ponies," stammered Bab, in sudden dismay, for no +sign of a dog appeared as her eyes roved wildly to +and fro. + +Ben whistled, called and searched in vain, till one +of the lounging men said, lazily, + +"If you are looking after the big poodle you'd +better go outside; I saw him trotting off with another +dog." + +Away rushed Ben, with Bab following, regardless +of the rain, for both felt that a great misfortune had +befallen them. But, long before this, Sancho had +vanished, and no one minded his indignant howls as +he was driven off in a covered cart. + +"If he is lost I'll never forgive you; never, never, +never!" and Ben found it impossible to resist giving +Bab several hard shakes, which made her yellow +braids fly up and down like pump handles. + +"I'm dreadful sorry. He'll come back -- you +said he always did," pleaded Bab, quite crushed by +her own afflictions, and rather scared to see Ben look +so fierce, for he seldom lost his temper or was rough +with the little girls. + +"If he doesn't come back, don't you speak to me +for a year. Now, I'm going home." And, feeling +that words were powerless to express his emotions, +Ben walked away, looking as grim as a small boy +could. + +A more unhappy little lass is seldom to be found +than Bab was, as she pattered after him, splashing +recklessly through the puddles, and getting as wet +and muddy as possible, as a sort of penance for her +sins. For a mile or two she trudged stoutly along, +while Ben marched before in solemn silence, which +soon became both impressive and oppressive because +so unnsual, and such a proof of his deep displeasure. +Penitent Bab longed for just one word, one sign of +relenting; and when none came, she began to wonder +how she could possibly bear it if he kept his dreadful +threat and did not speak to her for a whole year. + +But presently her own discomfort absorbed her, +for her feet were wet and cold as well as very tired; +pop-corn and peanuts were not particularly nourishing food; +and hunger made her feel faint; excitement +was a new thing, and now that it was over she longed +to lie down and go to sleep; then the long walk with +a circus at the end seemed a very different affair from +the homeward trip with a distracted mother awaiting +her. The shower had subsided into a dreary drizzle, +a chilly east wind blew up, the hilly road seemed to +lengthen before the weary feet, and the mute, blue +flannel figure going on so fast with never a look +or sound, added the last touch to Bab's remorseful +anguish. + +Wagons passed, but all were full, and no one offered +a ride. Men and boys went by with rough jokes on +the forlorn pair, for rain soon made them look like +young tramps. But there was no brave Sancho to +resent the impertinence, and this fact was sadly +brought to both their minds by the appearance of a +great Newfoundland dog who came trotting after a +carriage. The good creature stopped to say a friendly +word in his dumb fashion, looking up at Bab with +benevolent eyes, and poking his nose into Ben's hand +before he bounded away with his plumy tail curled +over his back. + +Ben started as the cold nose touched his fingers, +gave the soft head a lingering pat, and watched the +dog out of sight through a thicker mist than any the +rain made. But Bab broke down; for the wistful look +of the creature's eyes reminded her of lost Sancho, +and she sobbed quietly as she glanced back longing +to see the dear old fellow jogging along in the rear. + +Ben heard the piteous sound and took a sly peep +over his shoulder, seeing such a mournful spectacle +that he felt appeased, saying to himself as if to excuse +his late sternness, -- + +"She is a naughty girl, but I guess she is about +sorry enough now. When we get to that sign-post +I'll speak to her, only I won't forgive her till Sanch +comes back." + +But he was better than his word; for, just before +the post was reached, Bab, blinded by tears, tripped +over the root of a tree, and, rolling down the bank, +landed in a bed of wet nettles. Ben had her out in a +jiffy, and vainly tried to comfort her; but she was +past any consolation he could offer, and roared dismally +as she wrung her tingling hands, with great +drops running over her cheeks almost as fast as the +muddy little rills ran down the road. + +"Oh dear, oh dear! I'm all stinged up, and I want +my supper; and my feet ache, and I'm cold, and +every thing is so horrid!" wailed the poor child lying +on the grass, such a miserable little wet bunch that +the sternest parent would have melted at the sight. + +"Don't cry so, Babby; I was real cross, and I'm +sorry. I'll forgive you right away now, and never +shake you any more," cried Ben, so full of pity for +her tribulations that he forgot his own, like a +generous little man. + +"Shake me again, if you want to; I know I was +very bad to tag and lose Sanch. I never will any +more, and I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do," +answered Bab, completely bowed down by this magnanimity. + +"Never mind; you just wipe up your face and come +along, and we'll tell Ma all about it, and she'll fix us +as nice as can be. I shouldn't wonder if Sanch got +home now before we did," said Ben, cheering himself +as well as her by the fond hope. + +"I don't believe I ever shall. I'm so tired my legs +won't go, and the water in my boots makes them feel +dreadfully. I wish that boy would wheel me a piece. +Don't you s'pose he would? asked Bab, wearily picking +herself up as a tall lad trundling a barrow came +out of a yard near by. + +"Hullo, Joslyn!" said Ben, recognizing the boy as +one of the "hill fellows" who came to town Saturday +nights for play or business. + +"Hullo, Brown! " responded the other, arresting +his squeaking progress with signs of surprise at the +moist tableau before him. + +"Where goin'? " asked Ben with masculine brevity. + +"Got to carry this home, hang the old thing." + +"Where to?" + +"Batchelor's, down yonder," and the boy pointed +to a farm-house at the foot of the next hill. + +"Goin' that way, take it right along." + +"What for?" questioned the prudent youth, +distrusting such unusual neighborliness. + +"She's tired, wants a ride; I'll leave it all right, +true as I live and breathe," explained Ben, half +ashamed yet anxious to get his little responsibility +home as soon as possible, for mishaps seemed to +thicken. + +"Ho, you couldn't cart her all that way! she's +most as heavy as a bag of meal," jeered the taller lad, +amused at the proposition. + +"I'm stronger than most fellers of my size. Try, +if I ain't," and Ben squared off in such scientific style +that Joslyn responded with sudden amiability, -- + +"All right, let's see you do it." + +Bab huddled into her new equipage without the +least fear, and Ben trundled her off at a good pace, +while the boy retired to the shelter of a barn to watch +their progress, glad to be rid of an irksome errand. + +At first, all went well, for the way was down hill, +and the wheel squeaked briskly round and round; +Bab smiled gratefully upon her bearer, and Ben +"went in on his muscle with a will," as he expressed +it. But presently the road grew sandy, began to +ascend, and the load seemed to grow heavier with +every step. + +"I'll get out now. It's real nice, but I guess I am +too heavy," said Bab, as the face before her got redder +and redder, and the breath began to come in puffs. + +"Sit still. He said I couldn't. I'm not going to +give in with him looking on," panted Ben, and he +pushed gallantly up the rise, over the grassy lawn to +the side gate of the Batchelors' door-yard, with his +head down, teeth set, and every muscle of his slender +body braced to the task. + +"Did ever ye see the like of that now? Ah, ha! + +"The streets were so wide, and the lanes were so narry, +He brought his wife home on a little wheelbarry," + +sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his +load and push back his hat, to see Pat's red head +looking over the fence. + +To have his enemy behold him then and there was +the last bitter drop in poor Ben's cup of humiliation. +A shrill approving whistle from the hill was some +comfort, however, and gave him spirit to help Bab +out with composure, though his hands were blistered +and he had hardly breath enough to issue the Command, -- + +"Go along home, and don't mind him." + +"Nice childer, ye are, runnin' off this way, settin' +the women distracted, and me wastin' me time comin' +after ye when I'd be milkin' airly so I'd get a bit of +pleasure the day," grumbled Pat, coming up to untie +the Duke, whose Roman nose Ben had already recognized, +as well as the roomy chaise standing before the +door. + +"Did Billy tell you about us?" asked Bab, gladly +following toward this welcome refuge. + +"Faith he did, and the Squire sent me to fetch ye +home quiet and aisy. When ye found me, I'd jist +stopped here to borry a light for me pipe. Up wid +ye, b'y, and not be wastin' me time stramashin' after a +spalpeen that I'd like to lay me whip over," said Pat, +gruffly, as Ben came along, having left the barrow in +the shed. + +"Don't you wish you could? You needn't wait +for me; I'll come when I'm ready," answered Ben +dodging round the chaise, bound not to mind Pat, if +he spent the night by the road-side in consequence. + +"Bedad, and I won't then. It's lively ye are; but +four legs is better than two, as ye'll find this night, +me young man." + +With that he whipped up and was off before Bab +could say a word to persuade Ben to humble himself +for the sake of a ride. She lamented and Pat chuckled, +both forgetting what an agile monkey the boy was, +and as neither looked back, they were unaware +Master Ben was hanging on behind among the straps +and springs, making derisive grimaces at his unconscious +foe through the little glass in the leathern +back. + +At the lodge gate Ben jumped down to run before +with whoops of naughty satisfaction, which brought +the anxious waiters to the door in a flock; so Pat +could only shake his fist at the exulting little rascal +as he drove away, leaving the wanderers to be +welcomed as warmly as if they were a pair of model +children. + +Mrs. Moss had not been very much troubled after +all; for Cy had told her that Bab went after Ben, and +Billy had lately reported her safe arrival among them, +so, mother-like, she fed, dried, and warmed the runaways, +before she scolded them. + +Even then, the lecture was a mild one, for when +they tried to tell the adventures which to them seemed +so exciting, not to say tragical, the effect astonished +them immensely, as their audience went into gales of +laughter, especially at the wheelbarrow episode, which +Pat insisted on telling, with grateful minuteness, to +Ben's confusion. Thorny shouted, and even tender- +hearted Betty forgot her tears over the lost dog to +join in the familiar melody when Bab mimicked Pat's +quotation from Mother Goose. + +"We must not laugh any more, or these naughty +children will think they have done something very +clever in running away," said Miss Celia, when the +fun subsided, adding, soberly, "I am displeased, but +I will say nothing, for I think Ben is already punished +enough." + +"Guess I am," muttered Ben, with a choke in his +voice as he glanced towaid the empty mat where a +dear curly bunch used to he with a bright eye twinkling +out of the middle of it. + + +CHAPTER XV: BEN'S RIDE + +Great was the mourning for Sancho, because +his talents and virtues made him universally +admired and beloved. Miss Celia advertised, +Thorny offered rewards, and even surly Pat kept a +sharp look-out for poodle dogs when he went to +market; but no Sancho or any trace of him appeared. +Ben was inconsolable, and sternly said it +served Bab right when the dogwood poison affected +both face and hands. Poor Bab thought so, too, +and dared ask no sympathy from him, though Thorny +eagerly prescribed plantain leaves, and Betty kept her +supplied with an endless succession of them steeped +in cream and pitying tears. This treatment was so +successful that the patient soon took her place in +society as well as ever, but for Ben's affliction there was +no cure, and the boy really suffered in his spirits. + +"I don't think it's fair that I should have so much +trouble, -- first losing father and then Sanch. If it +wasn't for Lita and Miss Celia, I don't believe I could +stand it," he said, one day, in a fit of despair, about a +week after the sad event. + +"Oh, come now, don't give up so, old fellow. We'll +find him if he s alive, and if he isn't I'll try and get +you another as good," answered Thorny, with a +friendly slap on the shoulder, as Ben sat disconsolately +among the beans he had been hoeing. + +"As if there ever could be another half as good!" +cried Ben, indignant at the idea; "or as if I'd ever +try to fill his place with the best and biggest dog that +ever wagged a tail! No, sir, there's only one Sanch +in all the world, and if I can't have him I'll never +have a dog again." + +"Try some other sort of pet, then. You may have +any of mine you like. Have the peacocks; do now," +urged Thorny, full of boyish sympathy and good-will. + +"They are dreadful pretty, but I don't seem to care +about em, thank you," replied the mourner. + +"Have the rabbits, all of them," which was a handsome +offer on Thorny's part, for there were a dozen +at least. + +"They don't love a fellow as a dog does; all they +care for is stuff to eat and dirt to burrow in. I'm +sick of rabbits." And well he might be, for he had +had the charge of them ever since they came, and +any boy who has ever kept bunnies knows what a +care they are. + +"So am I! Guess we'll have an auction and sell +out. Would Jack be a comfort to you? If he will, +you may have him. I'm so well now, I can walk, +or ride anything," added Thorny, in a burst of +generosity. + +"Jack couldn't be with me always, as Sanch was, +and I couldn't keep him if I had him." + +Ben tried to be grateful, but nothing short of Lita +would have healed his wounded heart, and she was +not Thorny's to give, or he would probably have +offered her to his afflicted friend. + +"Well, no, you couldn't take Jack to bed with you, +or keep him up in your room, and I'm afraid he +Would never learn to do any thing clever. I do wish +I had something you wanted, I'd so love to give it to +you." + +He spoke so heartily and was so kind that Ben looked +up, feeling that he had given him one of the sweetest +things in the world -- friendship; he wanted to tell him +so, but did not know how to do it, so caught up his hoe +and fell to work, saying, in a tone Thorny understood +better than words, -- + +"You are real good to me -never mind, I won't +worry about it; only it seems extra hard coming so soon +after the other--" + +He stopped there, and a bright drop fell on the bean +leaves, to shine like dew till Ben saw clearly enough to +bury it out of sight in a great flurry. + +"By Jove! I'll find that dog, if he is out of the +ground. Keep your spirits up, my lad, and we'll have +the dear old fellow back yet." + +With which cheering prophecy Thorny went off to +rack his brains as to what could be done about the +matter. + +Half an hour afterward, the sound of a hand-organ in +the avenue roused him from the brown study into which +he had fallen as he lay on the newly mown grass of the +lawn. Peeping over the wall, Thorny reconnoitred, +and, finding the organ a good one, the man a pleasant- +faced Italian, and the monkey a lively animal, he +ordered them all in, as a delicate attention to Ben, +for music and monkey together might suggest soothing +memories of the past, and so be a comfort. + +In they came by way of the Lodge, escorted by Bab +and Betty, full of glee, for hand-organs were rare in +those parts, and the children delighted in them. Smiling +till his white teeth shone and his black eyes +sparkled, the man played away while the monkey +made his pathetic little bows, and picked up the pennies +Thorny threw him. + +"It is warm, and you look tired. Sit down and I'll +get you Some dinner," said the young master, pointing +to the seat which now stood near the great gate. + +With thanks in broken English the man gladly +obeyed, and Ben begged to be allowed to make Jacko +equally comfortable, explaining that he knew all about +monkeys and what they liked. So the poor thing was +freed from his cocked hat and uniform, fed with bread +and milk, and allowed to curl himself up in the cool +grass for a nap, looking so like a tired littie old man +in a fur coat that the children were never weary of +watching him. + +Meantime, Miss Celia had come out, and was talking +Italian to Giacomo in a way that delighted his +homesick heart. She had been to Naples, and could +understand his longing for the lovely city of his birth, +so they had a little chat in the language which is all +Music, andd the good fellow was so grattful that he +played for the children to dance till they were glad to +stop, lingering afterward as if he hated to set out again +upon his lonely, dusty walk. + +"I'd rather like to tramp round with him for a week +or so. Could make enough to live on as easy as not, +if I only I had sanch to show off," said Ben, as he was +coaxing Jacko into the suit which he detested. +"You go wid me, yes?" asked the man, nodding and +smiling, well pleased at the prospect of company, for +his quick eye and what the boys let fall in their talk +showed him that Ben was not one of them. + +If I had my dog I'd love to," and with sad eagerness +Ben told the tale of his loss, for the thought of it +was never long out of his mind. + +"I tink I see droll dog like he, way off in New York. +He do leetle trick wid letter, and dance, and go on he +head, and many tings to make laugh," said the man, +when he had listened to a list of Sanch's beauties and +accomplishments. + +"Who had him? " asked Thorny, full of interest at +once. + +"A man I not know. Cross fellow what beat him +when he do letters bad." + +"Did he spell his name?" cried Ben, breathlessly. + +"No; that for why man beat him. He name Generale, +and he go spell Sancho all times, and cry when +whip fall on him. Ha! yes! that name true one; not +Generale? " and the man nodded, waved his hands, +and showed his teeth, almost as much excited as the +boys. + +"It's Sanch! let's go and get him now, right off! +cried Ben, in a fever to be gone. + +"A hundred miles away, and no clue but this man's +story? We must wait a little, Ben, and be sure before +we set out," said Miss Celia, ready to do almost any +thing, but not so certain as the boys. " What sort of +a dog was it? A large, curly, white poodle, with a +queer tail ?" she asked of Giacomo. + +"No, Signorina mia, he no curly, no wite; he black, +smooth dog, littel tail, small, so;" and the man held +up one brown finger with a gesture which suggested a +short, wagging tail. + +"There, you see how mistaken we were. Dogs are +often named Sancho, especially Spanish poodles; for +the original Sancho was a Spaniard, you know. This +dog is not ours, and I'm so sorry." + +The boys' faces had fallen dismally as their hope was +destroyed; but Ben would not give up. For him there +was and could be only one Sancho in the world, and +his quick wits suggested an explanation which no one +else thought of. + +"It may be my dog, -- they color 'em as we used to +paint over trick horses. I told you he was a valuable +chap, and those that stole him hide him that way, else +he'd be no use, don't you see? because we'd know +him." + +"But the black dog had no tail," began Thorny, +longing to be convinced, but still doubtful. + +Ben shivered as if the mere thought hurt him, as he +said, in a grim tone, -- + +"They might have cut Sanch's off." + +"Oh, no! no! they mustn't, -- they wouldn't! +How Could any one be so wicked?" cried Bab and +Betty, horrified at the suggestion. + +"You don't know what such fellows would do to +make all safe, so they could use a dog to earn their +living for 'em," said Ben, with mysterious significance, +quite forgetting in his wrath that be had just proposed +to get his own living in that way himself. + +"He no your dog? Sorry I not find him for you. +Addio, signorina! Grazia, signor! Buon giorno, buon +giorno!" and, kissing his hand, the Italian shouldered +organ and monkey, ready to go. + +Miss Celia detained him long enough to give him +her address, and beg him to let her know if he met +poot Sanch in any of his wanderings; for such itinerant +showmen often cross each other's paths. Ben and +Thorny walked to the school-corner with him, getting +more exact information about the black dog and his +owner, for they had no intention of giving it up so +soon. + +That very evening, Thorny wrote to a boy cousin +in New York, giving all the particulars of the case, +and begging him to hunt up the man, investigate the +dog, and see that the police made sure that every thing +was right. Much relieved by this performance, the +boys waited anxiously for a reply, and when it came +found little comfort in it. Cousin Horace had done +his duty like a man, but regretted that he could only +report a failure. The owner of the black poodle was +a suspicious character, but told a straight story, how +he had bought the dog from a stranger, and exhibited +him with success till he was stolen. Knew nothing of +his history, and was very sorry to lose him, for he +was a remarkably clever beast. + +"I told my dog-man to look about for him, but he +says he has probably been killed, with ever so many +more; so there is an end of it, and I call it a mean +shame." + +"Good for Horace! I told you he'd do it up +thoroughly and see the end of it," said Thorny, as +he read that paragraph in the deeply interesting letter. + +"May be the end of that dog, but not of mine. +I'll bet he ran away; and if it was Sanch, he'll come +home. You see if he doesn't!" cried Ben, refusing +to believe that all was over. + +"A hundred wiles off? Oh, he couldn't find you +without help, smart as he is," answered Thorny, +incredulously. + +Ben looked discouraged, but Miss Celia cheered +him up again by saying, -- + +"Yes, he could. My father had a friend who left +a little dog in Paris; and the creature found her in +Milan, and died of fatigue next day. That was very +wonderful, but true; and I've no doubt that if Sanch +is alive he will come home. Let us hope so, and be +happy, while we wait." + +"We will!" said the boys; and day after day +looked for the wanderer's return, kept a bone ready +in the old place if he should arrive at night, and +shook his mat to keep it soft for his weary bones +when he came. But weeks passed, and still no +Sanch. + +Something else happened, however, so absorbing +that he was almost forgotten for a time; and Ben +found a way to repay a part of all he owed his best +friend. + +Miss Celia went off for a ride one afternoon, and an +hour afterward, as Ben sat in the porch reading, Lita +dashed into the yard with the reins dangling about +her legs, the saddle turned round, and one side covered +with black mud, showing that she had been +down. For a minute, Ben's heart stood still; then +he flung away his book, ran to the horse, and saw at +once by her heaving flanks, dilated nostrils, and wet +coat, that she must have come a long way and at full +speed. + +"She has had a fall, but isn't hurt or frightened," +thought the boy, as the pretty creature rubbed her nose +against his shoulder, pawed the ground, and champed +her bit, as if she tried to tell him all about the +disaster, whatever it was. + +"Lita, where's Miss Celia?" he asked, looking +straight into the intelligent eyes, which were troubled +but not wild. + +Lita threw up her head, and neighed loud and +clear, as if she called her mistress; and, turning, would +have gone again if Ben had not caught the reins and +held her. + +"All right, we'll find her;" and, pulling off the +broken saddle, kicking away his shoes, and ramming +his hat firmly on, Ben was up like a flash, tingling all +over with a sense of power as he felt the bare back +between his knees, and caught the roll of Lita's eye +as she looked round with an air of satisfaction. + +"Hi, there! Mrs. Moss! Something has happened +to Miss Celia, and I'm going to find her. Thorny +is asleep; tell him easy, and I'll come back as soon +as I can!" + +Then, giving Lita her head, he was off before the +startled woman had time to do more than wring her +hands and cry out, -- + +"Go for the Squire! Oh, what shall we do?" + +As if she knew exactly what was wanted of her, +Lita went back the way she had come, as Ben could +see by the fresh, irregular tracks that cut up the road +where she had galloped for help. For a mile or +more they went, then she paused at a pair of bars, +which were let down to allow the carts to pass into the +wide hay-fields beyond. On she went again, cantering +across the new-mown turf toward a brook, across +which she had evidently taken a leap before; for, on +the further side, at a place where cattle went to drink, +the mud showed signs of a fall. + +"You were a fool to try there; but where is Miss +Celia?" said Ben, who talked to animals as if they +were people, and was understood much better than +any one not used to their companionship would imagine. + +Now Lita seemed at a loss, and put her head down, +as if she expected to find her mistress where she had +left her, somewhere on the ground. Ben called, but +there was no answer; and he rode slowly along the +brook-side, looking far and wide with anxious +eyes. + +"May be she wasn't hurt, and has gone to that +house to wait," thought the boy, pausing for a last +survey of the great, sunny field, which had no place +of shelter in it but one rock on the other side of the +little stream. As his eye wandered over it, something +dark seemed to blow out from behind it, as if the +wind played in the folds of a shirt, or a human limb +moved. Away went Lita, and in a moment Ben had +found Miss Celia, lying in the shadow of the rock, +so white and motionless, he feared that she was dead. +He leaped down, touched her, spoke to her; and, +receiving no answer, rushed away to bring a little +water in his leaky hat to sprinkle in her face, as he +had seen them do when any of the riders got a fall +in the circus, or fainted from exhaustion after they +left the ring, where "do or die" was the motto all +adopted. + +In a minute, the blue eyes opened, and she recognized +the anxious face bending over her, saying +faintly, as she touched it, -- + +"My good little Ben, I knew you'd find me, -- I +sent Lita for you, -- I'm so hurt, I couldn't come." + +"Oh,where? What shall I do? Had I better run +up to the house?" asked Ben, overjoyed to hear +her speak, but much dismayed by her seeming +helplessness, for he had seen bad falls, and had them, +too. + +"I feel bruised all over, and my arm is broken, I'm +afraid. Lita tried not to hurt me. She slipped, and +we went down. I came here into the shade, and the +pain made me faint, I suppose. Call somebody, and +get me home." + +Then she shut her eyes, and looked so white +that Ben hurried away, and burst upon old Mrs. +Paine, placidly knitting at the end door, so suddenly +that, as she afterward said, "It sca't her like a clap o' +thunder." + +"Ain't a man nowheres around. All down in the +big medder gettin' in hay," was her reply to Ben's +breathless demand for "everybody to come and see +to Miss Celia." + +He turned to mount, for he had flung himself off +before Lita stopped, but the old lady caught his jacket, +and asked half a dozen questions in a breath. + +"Who's your folks? What's broke? How'd she +fall? Where is she? Why didn't she come right +here? Is it a sunstroke?" + +As fast as words could tumble out of his mouth, +Ben answered, and then tried to free himself; but the +old lady held on, while she gave her directions, +expressed her sympathy, and offered her hospitality +with incoherent warmth. + +"Sakes alive! poor dear! Fetch her right in. +Liddy, get out the camphire; and, Melissy, you haul +down a bed to lay her on. Falls is dretful uncert'in +things; shouldn't wonder if her back was broke. +Father's down yender, and he and Bijah will see +to her. You go call 'em, and I'll blow the horn to +start 'em up. Tell her we'd be pleased to see her, +and it won't make a mite of trouble." + +Ben heard no more, fur as Mrs. Paine turned to take +down the tin horn he was up and away. + +Several long and dismal toots sent Lita galloping +through the grassy path as the sound of the trumpet +excites a war-horse, and "father and Bijah," alarmed +by the signal at that hour, leaned on their rakes to +survey with wonder the distracted-looking little horseman +approaching like a whirlwind. + +"Guess likely grandpa's had 'nother stroke. Told +'em to send over soon 's ever it come," said the +farmer, calmly. + +"Shouldn't wonder ef suthing was afire some'r's," +conjectured the hired man, surveying the horizon for +a cloud of smoke. + +Instead of advancing to meet the messenger, both +stood like statues in blue overalls and red flannel shirts, +till the boy arrived and told his tale. + +"Sho, that's bad," said the farmer, anxiously. + +"That brook always was the darndest place," added +Bijah; then both men bestirred themselves helpfully, +the former hurrying to Miss Cella while the latter +brought up the cart and made a bed of hay to lay +her on. + +"Now then, boy, you go for the doctor. Myw omen +folks will see to the lady, and she'd better keep quiet +up yender till we see what the matter is," said the +farmer, when the pale girl was lifted in as carefully as +four strong arms could do it. "Hold on," he added, +as Ben made one leap to Lita's back. You'll have +to go to Berryville. Dr. Mills is a master hand for +broken bones and old Dr. Babcock ain't. 'Tisn't but +about three miles from here to his house, and you'll +fetch him 'fore there's any harm done waitin'." + +"Don't kill Lita," called Miss Celia from the cart, as +it began to move. + +But Ben did not hear her, for he was off across the +fields, riding as if life and death depended upon his +speed. + +"That boy will break his neck," said Mr. Paine, +standing still to watch horse and rider go over the +wall as if bent on instant destruction. + +"No fear for Ben, he can ride any thing, and Lita +was trained to leap," answered Miss Celia, falling back +on the hay with a groan, for she had involuntarily +raised her head to see her little squire dash away in +gallant style. + +"I should hope so; regular jockey, that boy. +Never see any thing like it out of a race-ground," +and Farmer Paine strode on, still following with his +eye the figures that went thundering over the bridge, +up the hill, out of sight, leaving a cloud of cloud +of dust behind. + +Now that his mistress was safe, Ben enjoyed that +wild ride mightily, and so did the bay mare; for Lita +had good blood in her, and proved it that day by +doing her three miles in a wonderfully short time. +People jogging along in wagons and country carry-alls +stared amazed as the reckless pair went by. Women, +placidly doing their afternoon sewing at the front windows, +dropped their needles to run out with exclamations +of alarm, sure some one was being run away with; +children playing by the roadside scattered like +chickens before a hawk, as Ben passed with a warning +whoop, and baby-carriages were scrambled into +door-yards with perilous rapidity at his approach. + +But when he clattered into town, intense interest +was felt in this barefooted boy on the foaming steed, +and a dozen voices asked, "Who's killed?" as he +pulled up at the doctor's gate. + +"Jest drove off that way; Mrs. Flynn's baby's in a +fit," cried a stout lady from the piazza, never ceasing +to rock, though several passers-by paused to hear the +news, for she was a doctor's wife, and used to the +anival of excited messengers from all quarters at all +hours of the day and night. + +Deigning no reply to any one, Ben rode away, wishing +he could leap a yawning gulf, scale a precipice, or +ford a raging torrent, to prove his devotion to Miss +Celia, and his skill in horsemanship. But no dangers +beset his path, and he found the doctor pausing to +water his tired horse at the very trough where Bab +and Sancho had been discovered on that ever-memorable +day. The story was quickly told, and, promising +to be there as soon as possible, Dr. Mills drove on to +relieve baby Flynn's inner man, a little disturbed by a +bit of soap and several buttons, upon which he had +privately lunched while his mamma was busy at the +wash-tub. + +Ben thanked his stars, as he had already done more +than once, that he knew how to take care of a horse; +for he delayed by the watering-place long enough to +wash out Lita's mouth with a handful of wet grass, +to let her have one swallow to clear her dusty throat, +and then went slowly back over the breezy hills, patting +and praising the good creature for her intelligence +and speed. She knew well enough that she had been +a clever little mare, and tossed her head, arched her +glossy neck, and ambled daintily along, as conscious +and coquettish as a pretty woman, looking round at +her admiring rider to return his compliments by glance +of affection, and caressing sniffs of a velvet nose at his +bare feet. + +Miss Celia had been laid comfortably in bed by the +farmer's wife and daughter; and, when the doctor +arrived, bore the setting of her arm bravely. No +other serious damage appeared, and bruises soon +heal, so Ben was sent home to comfort Thorny with +a good report, and ask the Squire to drive up in his +big carry-all for her the next day, if she was able to +be moved. + +Mrs. Moss had been wise enough to say nothing, +but quietly made what preparations she could, and +waited for tidings. Bab and Betty were away berrying, +so no one had alarmed Thorny, and he had his +afternoon nap in peace, -- an unusually long one, +owing to the stillness which prevailed in the absence +of the children; and when he awoke he lay reading +for a while before he began to wonder where every +one was. Lounging out to see, he found Ben and +Lita reposing side by side on the fresh straw in the +loose box, which had been made for her in the coach- +house. By the pails, sponges and curry-combs lying +about, it was evident that she had been refreshed by +a careful washing and rubbing down, and my lady +was now luxuriously resting after her labors, with +her devoted groom half asleep close by. + +"Well, of all queer boys you are the queerest, to +spend this hot afternoon fussing over Lita, just for +the fun of it!" cried Thorny, looking in at them with +much amusement. + +"If you knew what we'd been doing, you'd think I +ought to fuss over her, and both of us had a right to +rest! " answered Ben, rousing up as bright as a button; +for he longed to tell his thrilling tale, and had +with difficulty been restrained from bursting in on +Thorny as soon as he arrived. + +He made short work of the story, but was quite +satisfied with the sensation it produced; for his +listener was startled, relieved, excited and charmed, +in such rapid succession, that he was obliged to sit +upon the meal-chest and get his breath before he +Could exclaim, with an emphatic demonstration of +his heels against the bin,-- + +"Ben Brown, I'll never forget what you've done +for Celia this day, or say 'bow-legs' again as long as +I live + +"George! I felt as if I had six legs when we +were going the pace. We were all one piece, and +had a jolly spin, didn't we, my beauty?" and Ben +chuckled as he took Lita's head in his lap, while +she answered with a gusty sigh that nearly blew him +away. + +Like the fellow that brought the good news from +Ghent to Aix," said Thorny, surveying the recumbent +pair with great admiration. + +"What follow?" asked Ben, wondering if he didn't +mean Sheridan, of whose ride he had heard. + +"Don't you know that piece? I spoke it at school. +Give it to you now; see if it isn't a rouser." + +And, glad to find a vent from his excitement, Thorny +mounted the meal-chest, to thunder out that stirring +ballad with such spirit that Lita pricked up her ears +and Ben gave a shrill "Hooray!" as the last verse +ended. + +"And all I remember is friends flocking round, +As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, +And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, +As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, +Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) +Was no more than his due who brought good news from +Ghent." + +CHAPTER XVI: DETECTIVE THORNTON + +A few days later, Miss Celia was able to go +about with her arm in a sling, pale still, and +rather stiff, but so much better than any one +expected, that all agreed Mr. Paine was right in +pronouncing Dr. Mills "a master hand with broken +bones." Two devoted little maids waited on her, +two eager pages stood ready to run her errands, and +friendly neighbors sent in delicacies enough to keep +these four young persons busily employed in disposing +of them. + +Every afternoon the great bamboo lounging chair +was brought out and the interesting invalid conducted +to it by stout Randa, who was head nurse, and +followed by a train of shawl, cushion, foot-stool and +book bearers, who buzzed about like swarming bees +round a new queen. When all were settled, the little +maids sewed and the pages read aloud, with much +conversation by the way; for one of the rules was, +that all should listen attentively, and if any one did +not understand what was read, he or she should ask +to have it explained on the spot. Whoever could +answer was invited to do so, and at the end of the +reading Miss Celia could ask any she liked, or add +any explanations which seemed necessary. In this +way much pleasure and profit was extracted from the +tales Ben and Thorny read, and much unexpected +knowledge as well as ignorance displayed, not to +mention piles of neatly hemmed towels for which Bab +and Betty were paid like regular sewing-women. + +So vacation was not all play, and the girls found +their picnics, berry parties, and "goin' a visitin'," all +the more agreeable for the quiet hour spent with Miss +Celia. Thorny had improved wonderfully, and was +getting to be quite energetic, especially since his +sister's accident; for while she was laid up he was +the head of the house, and much enjoyed his promotion. +But Ben did not seem to flourish as he had +done at first. The loss of Sancho preyed upon him +sadly, and the longing to go and find his dog grew +into such a strong temptation that he could hardly +resist it. He said little about it; but now, and then a +word escaped him which might have enlightened any +one who chanced to be watching him. No one was, +just then, so he brooded over this fancy, day by day, +in silence and solitude, for there was no riding and +driving now. Thorny was busy with his sister trying +to show her that he remembered how good she had +been to him when he was ill, and the little girls had +their own affairs. + +Miss Celia was the first to observe the change, +having nothing to do but lie on the sofa and amuse +herself by seeing others work or play. Ben was +bright enough at the readings, because theyn he forgot +his troubles; but when they were over and his various +duties done, he went to his own room or sought +consolation with Lita, being sober and quiet, and +quite unlike the merr monkey all knew and liked so +well. + +"Thorny, what is the matter with Ben?" asked Miss +Celia, one day, when she and her brother were alone +in the "green parlor," as they called the lilac-tree +walk. + +"Fretting about Sanch, I suppose. I declare I +wish that dog had never been born! Losing him has +just spoilt Ben. Not a bit of fun left in him, and he +won't have any thing I offer to cheer him up." + +Thorny spoke impatiently, and knit his brows over +the pressed flowers he was neatly gumming into his +herbal. + +"I wonder if he has any thing on his mind? He +acts as if he was hiding a trouble he didn't dare +to tell. Have you talked with him about it?" asked +Miss Celia, looking as if she was hiding a trouble she +did not like to tell. + +"Oh, yes, I poke him up now and then, but he gets +peppery, so I let him alone. May be he is longing +for his old circus again. Shouldn't blame him much +if he was; it isn't very lively here, and he's used to +excitement, you know." + +"I hope it isn't that. Do you think he would slip +away without telling us, and go back to the old life +again? +"Don't believe he would. Ben isn't a bit of a +sneak; that's why I like him." + +"Have you ever found him sly or untrue in any +way?" asked Miss Celia, lowering her voice. + +"No; he's as fair and square a fellow as I ever saw. +Little bit low, now and then, but he doesn't mean it, +and wants to be a gentleman, only he never lived +with one before, and it's all new to him. I'll get +him polished up after a while." + +"Oh, Thorny, there are three peacocks on the place, +and you are the finest! " laughed Miss Celia, as her +brother spoke in his most condescending way with +a lift of the eyebrows very droll to see. + +"And two donkeys, and Ben's the biggest, not to +know when he is well off and happy!" retorted the +"gentleman," slapping a dried specimen on the page +as if he were pounding discontented Ben. + +"Come here and let me tell you something which +worries me. I would not breathe it to another soul, +but I feel rather helpless, and I dare say you can +manage the matter better than I." + +Looking much mystified, Thorny went and sat on +the stool at his sister's feet, while she whispered +confidentially in his ear: " I've lost some money out +of my drawer, and I'm so afraid Ben took it." + +"But it's always locked up and you keep the keys +of the drawer and the little room?" + +"It is gone, nevertheless, and I've had my keys +safe all the time." + +"But why think it is he any more than Randa, or +Katy, or me?" + +"Because I trust you three as I do myself. I've +known the girls for years, and you have no object in +taking it since all I have is yours, dear." + +"And all mine is yours, of course. But, Celia, how +could he do it? He can't pick locks, I know, for we +fussed over my desk together, and had to break it +after all." + +"I never really thought it possible till to-day when +you were playing ball and it went in at the upper +window, and Ben climbed up the porch after it; +you remember you said, 'If it had gone in at the +garret gable you couldn't have done that so well; ' +and he answered, 'Yes, I could, there isn't a spout +I can't shin up, or a bit of this roof I haven't been +over.'" + +"So he did ; but there is no spout near the little +room window." + +"There is a tree, and such an agile boy as Ben +could swing in and out easily. Now, Thorny, I hate +to think this of him, but it has happened twice, and +for his own sake I must stop it. If he is planning to +run away, money is a good thing to have. And he +may feel that it is his own; for you know he asked +me to put his wages in the bank, and I did. He may +not like to come to me for that, because he can give +no good reason for wanting it. I'm so troubled I +really don't know what to do." + +She looked troubled, and Thorny put his arms +about her as if to keep all worries but his own away +from her. + +"Don't you fret, Cely, dear; you leave it to me. +I'll fix him - ungrateful little scamp!" + +"That is not the way to begin. I am afraid you +will make him angry and hurt his feelings, and then +we can do nothing." + +"Bother his feelings! I shall just say, calmly and +coolly: 'Now, look here, Ben, hand over the money +you took out of my sister's drawer, and we'll let you +off easy,' or something like that." + +"It wouldn't do, Thorny; his temper would be up +in a minute, and away he would go before we could +find out whether he was guilty or not. I wish I knew +how to manage." + +Let me think," and Thorny leaned his chin on the +arm of the chair, staring hard at the knocker as +if he expected the lion's mouth to open with words +of counsel then and there. + +"By Jove, I do believe Ben took it!" he broke +out suddenly; "for when I went to his room this +morning to see why he didn't come and do my +boots, he shut the drawer in his bureau as quick as +a flash, and looked red and queer, for I didn't knock, +and sort of startled him." + +"He wouldn't be likely to put stolen money there. +Ben is too wise for that." + +"He wouldn't keep it there, but he might be +looking at it and pitch it in when I called. He's +hardly spoken to me since, and when I asked him +what his flag was at half-mast for, he wouldn't answer. +Besides, you know in the reading this afternoon he +didn't listen, and when you asked what he +was thinking about, he colored up and muttered +something about Sanch. I tell you, Celia, it looks +bad -- very bad," and Thorny shook his head with a +wise air. + +"It does, and yet we may be all wrong. Let us +wait a little and give the poor boy a chance to clear +himself before we speak. I'd rather lose my money +than suspect him falsely." + +"How much was it?" + +"Eleven dollars; a one went first, and I supposed +I'd miscalculated somewhere when I took some out; +but when I missed a ten, I felt that I ought not to let +it pass." + +"Look here, sister, you just put the case into +my hands and let me work it up. I won't say any +thing to Ben till you give the word; but I'll watch +him, and now that my eyes are open, it won't be easy +to deceive me." + +Thorny was evidently pleased with the new play +of detective, and intended to distinguish himself in +that line; but when Miss Celia asked how he meant +to begin, he could only respond with a blank +expression: "Don't know! You give me the keys and +leave a bill or two in the drawer, and may be I can +find him out somehow." + +So the keys were given, and the little dressing- +room where the old secretary stood was closely +watched for a day or two. Ben cheered up a trifle +which looked as if he knew an eye was upon him, +but otherwise he went on as usual, and Miss Celia +feeling a little guilty at even harboring a suspicion +of him, was kind and patient with his moods. +Thorny was very funny in the unnecessary mystery +and fuss he made; his affectation of careless indifference +to Ben's movements and his clumsy attempts to +watch every one of them; his dodgings up and down +stairs, ostentatious clanking of keys, and the elaborate +traps he set to catch his thief, such as throwing his +ball in at the dressing-room window and sending Ben +up the tree to get it, which he did, thereby proving +beyond a doubt that he alone could have taken +the money, Thorny thought. Another deep discovery +was, that the old drawer was so shrunken that the +lock could be pressed down by slipping a knife-blade +between the hasp and socket. + +"Now it is as clear as day, and you'd better let +me speak," he said, full of pride as well as regret at +this triumphant success of his first attempt as a +detective. + +"Not yet, and you need do nothing more. I'm +afraid it was a mistake of mine to let you do this; +and if it has spoiled your friendship with Ben, I shall +be very sorry; for I do not think he is guilty," +answered Miss Celia. + +"Why not?" and Thorny looked annoyed. + +"I've watched also, and he doesn't act like a +deceitful boy. To-day I asked him if he wanted any +money, or should I put what I owe him with the rest, +and he looked me straight in the face with such +honest, grateful eyes, I could not doubt him when he +said 'Keep it, please, I don't need any thing here, +you are all so good to me.'" + +"Now, Celia, don't you be soft-hearted. He's a +sly little dog, and knows my eye is on him. When +I asked him what he saw in the dressing-room, after +he brought out the ball, and looked sharply at him, +he laughed, and said 'Only a mouse,' as saucy as +you please." + +"Do set the trap there, I heard the mouse nibbling +last night, and it kept me awake. We must have a +cat or we shall be overrun." + +"Well, shall I give Ben a good blowing up, or will +you?" asked Thorny, scorning such poor prey as +mice, and bound to prove that he was in the right. + +"I'll let you know what I have decided in the +morning. Be kind to Ben, meantime, or I shall feel +as if I had done you harm by letting you watch him." + +So it was left for that day, and by the next, Miss +Celia had made up her mind to speak to Ben. She +was just going down to breakfast when the sound of +loud voices made her pause and listen. It came from +Ben's room, where the two boys seemed to be disputing +about something. + +"I hope Thorny has kept his promise," she +thought, and hurried through the back entry, fearing +a general explosion. + +Ben's chamber was at the end, and she could see +and hear what was going on before she was near +enough to interfere. Ben stood against his closet +door looking as fierce and red as a turkey-cock; +Thorny sternly confronted him, saying in an excited +tone, and with a threatening gesture: "You are +hiding something in there, and you can't deny it." + +"I don't." + +"Better not; I insist on seeing it." + +"Well, you won't." + +"What have you been stealing now?" + +"Didn't steal it, -- used to be mine, -- I only took +it when I wanted it." + +"I know what that means. You'd better give it +back or I'll make you." + +"Stop! " cried a third voice, as Thorny put out +his arm to clutch Ben, who looked ready to defend +himself to the last gasp, "Boys, I will settle this +affair. Is there anything hidden in the closet, Ben? +and Miss Celia came between the belligerent parties +with her one hand up to part them. + +Thorny fell back at once, looking half ashamed of +his heat, and Ben briefly answered, with a gulp as if +shame or anger made it hard to speak steadily: + +"Yes 'm, there is." + +"Does it belong to you?" + +"Yes 'm, it does." + +"Where did you get it?" + +"Up to Squire's." + +"That's a lie!" muttered Thorny to himself. + +Ben's eye flashed, and his fist doubled up in spite +of him, but he restrained himself out of respect for +Miss Celia, who looked puzzled, as she asked another +question, not quite wure how to proceed with the +investigation: "Is it money, Ben?" + +"No 'm, it isn't." + +"Then what can it be?" + +"Meow!" answered a fourth voice from the closet; +and as Ben flung open the door a gray kitten walked +out, purring with satisfaction at her release. + +Miss Celia fell into a chair and laughed till her eyes +were full; Thorny looked foolish, and Ben folded his +arms, curled up his nose, and regarded his accuser +with calm defiance, while pussy sat down to wash her +face as if her morning toilette had been interrupted +by her sudden abduction. + +"That's all very well, but it doesn't mend matters +much, so you needn't laugh, Celia," began Thorny, +recovering hiniself, and stubbornly bent on sifting the +case to the bottom, now he had begun. + +"Well, it would, if you'd let a feller alone. She said +she wanted a cat, so I went and got the one they gave +me when I was at the Squire's. I went early and took +her without asking, and I had a right to," explained +Ben, much aggrieved by having his surprise spoiled. + +"It was very kind of you, and I'm glad to have +this nice kitty. We will shut her up in my room to +catch the mice that plague me," said Miss Celia, +picking up the little cat, and woindering how she would +get her two angry boys safely down stairs. + +"The dressing-room, she means; you know the +way, and you don't need keys to get in," added +Thorny, with such sarcastic emphasis that Ben felt +some insult was intended, and promptly resented it. + +" You won't get me to climb any more trees after +your balls, and my cat won't catch any of your mice, +so you needn't ask me." + +"Cats don't catch thieves, and they are what I'm +after!" + +"What do you mean by that?" fiercely demanded +Ben. + +"Celia has lost some money out of her drawer, and +you won't let me see what's in yours; So I thought, +perhaps, you'd got it!" blurted out Thorny, finding +it hard to say the words, angry as he was, for the +face opposite did not look like a guilty one. + +For a minute, Ben did not seem to understand him, +plainly as he spoke; then he turned an angry scarlet, +and, with a reproachful glance at his mistress, opened +the little drawer so that both could see all that it +contained. + +"They ain't any thing; but I'm fond of 'em +they are all I've got -- I was afraid he'd laugh at me +that time, so I wouldn't let him look -- it was father's +birthday, and I felt bad about him and Sanch -- " +Ben's indignant voice got more and more indistinct +as he stumbled on, and broke down over the last +words. He did not cry, however. but threw back his +little treasures as if half their sacredness was gone; +and, making a strong effort at self-control, faced +around, asking of Miss Celia, with a grieved look, + +"Did you think I'd steal anything of yours?" + +"I tried not to, Ben, but what could I do? It was +gone, and you the only stranger about the place." + +"Wasn't there any one to think bad of but me? +he said, so sorrowfully that Miss Celia made up her +mind on the spot that he was as innocent of the theft +as the kitten now biting her buttons, no other refreshment +being offered. + +"Nobody, for I know my girls well. Yet, eleven +dollars are gone, and I cannot imagine where or how +for both drawer and door are always locked, because +my papers and valuables are in that room." + +"What a lot! But how could I get it if it was +locked up?" and Ben looked as if that question was +unanswerable. + +"Folks that can climb in at windows for a ball, can +go the same way for money, and get it easy enough +when they've only to pry open an old lock!" + +Thorny's look and tone seemed to make plain to +Ben all that they had been suspecting, and, being +innocent, he was too perplexed and unhappy to +defend himself. His eye went from one to the other, +and, seeing doubt in both faces, his boyish heart sunk +within him; for he could prove nothing, and his first +impulse was to go away at once. + +"I can't say any thing, only that I didn't take the +money. You won't believe it, so I'd better go back +where I come from. They weren't so kind, but they +trusted me, and knew I wouldn't steal a cent. You +may keep my money, and the kitty, too; I don't +want 'em," and, snatching up his hat, Ben would +gone straight away, if Thorny had not barred his +passage. + +"Come, now, don't be mad. Let's talk it over, +and if I 'm wrong I'll take it all back and ask your +pardon," he said, in a friendly tone, rather scared at +the consequences of his first attempt, though as sure +as ever that he was right. + +"It would break my heart to have you go in that +way, Ben. Stay at least till your innocence is proved, +then no one can doubt what you say now." + +"Don't see how it can be proved," answered Ben, +appeased by her evident desire to trust him. + +"We'll try as well as we know how, and the first +thing we will do is to give that old secretary a good +rummage from top to bottom. I've done it once, +but it is just possible that the bills may have slipped +out of sight. Come, now, I can't rest till I've done +all I can to comfort you and convince Thorny." +Miss Celia rose as she spoke, and led the way to the +dressing-room, which had no outlet except through +her chamber. Still holding his hat, Ben followed with +a troubled face, and Thorny brought up the rear, doggedly +determined to keep his eye on "the little +scamp" till the matter was satisfactorily cleared up. +Miss Celia had made her proposal more to soothe the +feelings of one boy and to employ the superfluous +energies of the other, than in the expectation of +throwing any light upon the mystery; for she was +sadly puzzled by Ben's manner, and much regretted +that she had let her brother meddle in the matter. + +"There," she said, unlocking the door with the key +Thorny reluctantly gave up to her, "this is the room +and that is the drawer on the right. The lower ones +have seldom been opened since we came, and hold +only some of papa's old books. Those upper ones +you may turn out and investigate as much as you-- +Bless me! here 's something in your trap, Thorny +and Miss Celia gave a little skip as she nearly trod +on a long, gray tall, which hung out of the bole now +filled by a plump mouse. + +But her brother was intent on more serious things, +and merely pushed the trap aside as he pulled out the +drawer with an excited gesture, which sent it and all +its contents clattering to the floor. + +"Confound the old thing! It always stuck so I +had to give a jerk. Now, there it is, topsy-turvy," +and Thorny looked Much disgusted at his own +awkwardness. + +"No harm done; I left nothing of value in it. +Look back there, Ben, and see if there is room for a +paper to get worked over the top of the drawer. I +felt quite a crack, but I don't believe it is possible f6r +things to slip out; the place was never full enough to +overflow in any way." + +Miss Celia spoke to Ben, who was kneeling down +to pick up the scattered papers, among which were +two marked dollar bills, -- Thorny's bait for the thief. +Ben looked into the dusty recess, and then put in his +hand, saying carelessly, - + +"There's nothing but a bit of red stuff." + +"My old pen-wiper -- Why, what's the matter?" +asked Miss Celia, as Ben dropped the handful Of what +looked like rubbish. + +Something warm and wiggly inside of it," answered Ben, +stooping to examine the contents of +the little scarlet bundle. "Baby mice ! Ain't they +funny? Look just like mites of young pigs. We'll +have to kill 'em if you've caught their mamma," he +said, forgetting his own trials in boyish curiosity about +his "find," + +Miss Celia stooped also, and gently poked the red +cradle with her finger; for the tiny mice were +nestling deeper into the fluff with small squeals of alarm. +Suddenly she cried out: "Boys, boys, I've found the +thief! Look here; pull out these bits and see if +they won't make up my lost bills." + +Down went the motherless babies as four ruthless +hands pulled apart their cosey nest, and there, +among the nibbled fragments, appeared enough +finely printed, greenish paper, to piece out parts of +two bank bills. A large cypher and part of a figure +one were visible, and that accounted for the ten; but +though there were other bits, no figures could be +found, and they were willing to take the other bill +on trust. + +"Now, then, am I a thief and a liar? " demanded +Ben, pointing proudly to the tell-tale letters spread +forth on the table, over which all three had been +eagerly bending. + +"No; I beg your pardon, and I'm very sorry that +we didn't look more caiefully before we spoke, then +we all should have been spared this pain." + +"All right, old fellow, forgive and forget. I'll never +think hard of you again, -- on my honor I won't." + +As they spoke, Miss Celia and her brother held out +their hands frankly and heartily. Ben shook both, +but with a difference; for he pressed the soft one +gratefully, remembering that its owner had always +been good to him; but the brown paw he gripped +with a vengeful squeeze that made Thorny pull it +away in a hurry, exclaiming, good-naturedly, in spite +of both physical and mental discomfort, -- + +"Come, Ben, don't you bear malice; for you've +got the laugh on your side, and we feel pretty small. +I do, any way; for, after my fidgets, all I've caught +is a mouse!" + +"And her family. I'm so relieved I'm almost +sorry the poor little mother is dead -- she and her +babies were so happy in the old pen-wiper," said Miss +Celia, hastening to speak merrily, for Ben still looked +indignant, and she was much grieved at what had +happened. + +"A pretty expensive house," began Thorny, looking +about for the interesting orphans, who had been +left on the floor while their paper-hangings were +examined. + +No further anxiety need be felt for them, however; +Kitty had come upon the scene, and as judge, jury, +and prisoner, turned to find the little witnesses, they +beheld the last pink mite going down Pussy's throat +in one mouthful. + +"I call that summary justice, -- the whole family +executed on the spot! Give Kit the mouse also, and +let us go to breakfast. I feel as if I had found my +appetite, now this worry is off my mind," said Miss +Celia, laughing so infectiously that Ben had to join +in spite of himself, as she took his arm and led him +away with a look which mutely asked his pardon over again. + +"Rather lively for a funeral procession," said +Thorny, following with the trap in his hand and Puss +at his heels, adding, to comfort his pride as a detective: + +"Well, I said I'd catch the thief, and I have, +though it is rather a small one!" + +CHAPTER XVII: BETTY'S BRAVERY + +Celia, I've a notion that we ought to give +Ben something. A sort of peace-offering, +you know; for he feels dreadfully hurt about +our suspecting him," said Thorny, at dinner that day. + +"I see he does, though he tries to seem as bright +and pleasant as ever. I do not wonder, and I've been +thinking what I could do to soothe his feelings. Can +you suggest any thing? " + +"Cuff-buttons. I saw some jolly ones over at Berryville, +oxidized silver, with dogs' heads on them, +yellow eyes, and all as natural as could be. Those, +now, would just suit him for his go-to-meeting white +shirts, -- neat, appropriate, and in memoriam." + +Miss Celia could not help laughing, it was such a +boyish suggestion; but she agreed to it, thinking +Thorny knew best, and hoping the yellow-eyed dogs +would be as balm to Ben's wounds. + +"Well, dear, you may give those, and Lita shall +give the little whip with a horse's foot for a handle, if +it is not gone. I saw it at the harness shop in town; +and Ben admired it so much that I planned to give it +to him on his birthday." + +"That will tickle him immensely; and if you'd +just let him put brown tops to my old boots, and stick +a cockade in his hat when he sits up behind the phae- +ton, he'd be a happy fellow," laughed Thorny, who +had discovered that one of Ben's ambitions was to be +a tip-top groom." + +"No, thank you; those things are out of place in +America, and would be absurd in a small country +place like this. His blue suit and straw hat please +me better for a boy; though a nicer little groom, in +livery or out, no one could desire, and you may tell +him I said so." + +"I will, and he'll look as proud as punch; for he +thinks every word you say worth a dozen from any one +else. But won't you give him something? Just some +little trifle, to show that we are both eating humble +pie, feeling sorry about the mouse money." + +"I shall give him a set of school-books, and try to +get him ready to begin when vacation is over. An +education is the best present we can make him; and +I want you to help me fit him to enter as well is he +can. Bab and Betty began, little dears, -- lent him +their books and taught all they knew; so Ben got a +taste, and, with the right encouragement, would like +to go on, I am sure." + +"That's so like you Celia! Always thinking of +the best thing and doing it handsomely. I'll help +like a house a-fire, if he will let me; but, all day, he's +been as stiff as a poker, so I don't believe he forgives +me a bit." + +"He will in time, and if you are kind and patient, +he will be glad to have you help him. I shall make +it a sort of favor to me on his part, to let you see to +his lessons, now and then. It will be quite true, for +I don't want you to touch your Latin or algebra till +cool weather; teaching him will be play to you." + +Miss Celia's last words made her brother unbend +his brows, for he longed to get at his books again, +and the idea of being tutor to his "man-servant" did +not altogether suit him. + +"I'll tool him along at a great pace, if he will only +go. Geography and arithmetic shall be my share, +and you may have the writing and spelling; it gives +me the fidgets to set copies', and hear children make +a mess of words. Shall I get the books when I buy +the other things? Can I go this afternoon?" + +"Yes, here is the list; Bab gave it to me. You can +go if you will come home early and have your tooth +filled." + +Gloom fell at once upon Thorny's beaming face, and +he gave such a shrill whistle that his sister jumped in +her chair, as she added, persuasively, -- + +"It won't hurt a bit, now, and the longer you +leave it the worse it will be. Dr. Mann is ready at +any time; and, once over, you will be at peace for +months. Come, my hero, give your orders, and take +one of the girls to support you in the trying hour. +Have Bab; she will enjoy it, and amuse you with +her chatter." + +"As if I needed girls round for such a trifle as +that!" returned Thorny with a shrug, though he +groaned inwardly at the prospect before him, as most +of us do on such occasions. "I wouldn't take Bab +at any price; she'd only get into some scrape, and +upset the whole plan. Betty is the chicken for me, -- +a real little lady, and as nice and purry as a kitten." + +"Very well; ask her mother, and take good care +of her. Let her tuck her dolly in, and she will be +contented anywhere. There's a fine air, and the +awning is on the phaeton, so you won't feel the sun. +Start about three, and drive carefully." + +Betty was charmed to go, for Thorny was a sort of +prince in her eyes; and to be invited to such a grand +expedition was an overwhelming honor. Bab was not +surprised, for, since Sancho's loss, she had felt herself +in disgrace, and been unusually meek; Ben let her +"severely alone," which much afflicted her, for he was +her great admiration, and had been pleased to express +his approbation of her agility and courage so often, +that she was ready to attempt any fool-hardy feat to +recover his regard. But vainly did she risk her neck +jumping off the highest beams in the barn, trying to +keep her balance standing on the donkey's back, and +leaping the lodge gate at a bound; Ben vouchsafed +no reward by a look, a smile, a word of commendation; +and Bab felt that nothing but Sancho's return +would ever restore the broken friendship. + +Into faithful Betty's bosom did she pour forth her +remorseful lamentations, often bursting out with the +passionate exclamation, "If I could only find Sanch, +and give him back to Ben, I wouldn't care if I +tumbled down and broke all my legs right away!" +Such abandonment of woe made a deep impression +on Betty; and she fell into the way of consoling her +sister by cheerful prophecies, and a firm belief that +the organ-man would yet appear with the lost darling. + +"I've got five cents of my berry money, and I'll +buy you an orange if I see any," promised Betty +stepping to kiss Bab, as the phaeton came to the +door, and Thorny handed in a young lady whose +white frock was so stiff with starch that it crackled +like paper. + +"Lemons will do if oranges are gone. I like 'em +to suck with lots of sugar," answered Bab, feeling +that the sour sadly predominated in her cup just +now. + +"Don't she look sweet, the dear!" murmured Mrs. +Moss, proudly surveying her youngest. + +She certainly did, sitting under the fringed canopy +with "Belinda," all in her best, upon her lap, as she +turned to smile and nod, with a face so bright and +winsome under the little blue hat, that it was no wonder +mother and sister thought there never was such a +perfect child as "our Betty." + +Dr. Mann was busy when they arrived, but would +be ready in an hour; so they did their shopping at +once, having made sure of the whip as they came +along. Thorny added some candy to Bab's lemon, +and Belinda had a cake, which her mamma obligingly +ate for her. Betty thought that Aladdin's palace +could not have been more splendid than the jeweller's +shop where the canine cuff-buttons were bought; +but when they came to the book-store, she forgot +gold, silver, and precious stones, to revel in picture- +books, while Thorny selected Ben's modest school +outfit. Seeing her delight, and feeling particularly +lavish with plenty of money in his pocket, the young +gentleman completed the child's bliss by telling her +to choose whichever one she liked best out of the +pile of Walter Crane's toy-books lying in bewildering +colors before her. + +"This one; Bab always wanted to see the dreadful +cupboard, and there's a picture of it here," answered +Betty, clasping a gorgeous copy of "Bluebeard" to +the little bosom, which still heaved with the rapture +of looking at that delicious mixture of lovely Fatimas +in pale azure gowns, pink Sister Annes on the turret +top, crimson tyrants, and yellow brothers with forests +of plumage blowing wildly from their mushroom-shaped caps. + +Very good; there you are, then. Now, come +on, for the fun is over and the grind begins," said +Thorny, marching away to his doom, with his tongue +in his tooth, and trepidation in his manly breast. + +"Shall I shut my eyes and hold your head?" +quavered devoted Betty, as they went up the stairs +so many reluctant feet had mounted before them. + +"Nonsense, child, never mind me! You look out +of window and amuse yourself; we shall not be long, +I guess;" and in went Thorn silently hoping that +the dentist had been suddenly called away, or some +person with an excruciating toothache would be waiting +to take ether, and so give our young man an +excuse for postponing his job. + +But no; Dr. Mann was quite at leisure, and, full of +smiling interest, awaited his victim, laying forth his +unpleasant little tools with the exasperating alacrity +of his kind. Glad to be released from any share in +the operation, Betty retired to the back window to +be as far away as possible, and for half in hour was +so absorbed in her book that poor Thorny might +have groaned dismally without disturbing her. + +"Done now, directly, only a trifle of polishing off +and a look round," said Dr. Mann, at lat; and +Thorny, with a yawn that nearly rent him asunder, +called out, -- + +"Thank goodness! Pack up, Bettykin." + +"I'm all ready!" and, shutting her book with a +start, she slipped down from the easy chair in a great +hurry. + +But "looking round" took time; and, before the +circuit of Thorny's mouth was satisfactorily made, +Betty had become absorbed by a more interesting +tale than even the immortal "Bluebeard." A noise +of children's voices in the narrow alley-way behind +the house attracted her attention; the long window +opened directly on the yard, and the gate swung in +the wind. Curious as Fatima, Betty went to look; +but all she saw was a group of excited boys peeping +between the bars of another gate further down. + +"What's the matter?" she asked of two small +girls, who stood close by her, longing but not daring +to approach the scene of action. + +"Boys chasing a great black cat, I believe," +answered one child. + +"Want to come and see?" added the other, +politely extending the invitation to the stranger. + +The thought of a cat in trouble would have nerved +Betty to face a dozen boys; so she followed at once, +meeting several lads hurrying away on some important +errand, to judge from their anxious countenances. + +"Hold tight, Jimmy, and let 'em peek, if they want +to. He can't hurt anybody now," said one of the +dusty huntsmen, who sat on the wide coping of the +wall, while two others held the gate, as if a cat could +only escape that way. + +"You peek first, Susy, and see if it looks nice," +said one little girl, boosting her friend so that she +could look through the bars in the upper part of the +gate. + +"No; it 's only an ugly old dog!" responded +Susy, losing all interest at once, and descending with +a bounce. + +"He's mad! and Jud's gone to get his gun, so we +can shoot him!" called out one mischievous boy, +resenting the contempt expressed for their capture. + +"Ain't, neither!" howled another lad from his +perch. "Mad dogs won't drink; and this one is +lapping out of a tub of water." + +"Well, he may be, and we don't know him, and he +hasn't got any muzzle on, and the police will kill him if +Jud don't," answered the sanguinary youth who had +first started the chase after the poor animal, which +had come limping into town, so evidently a lost +dog that no one felt any hesitation in stoning him. + +"We must go right home; my mother is dreadful +'fraid of mad dogs, and so is yours," said Susy; +and, having satisfted their curiosity, the young ladies +prudently retired. + +But Betty had not had her "peep," and could not +resist one look; for she had heard of these unhappy +animals, and thought Bab would like to know how +they looked. So she stood on tip-toe and got a good +view of a dusty, brownish dog, lying on the grass +close by, with his tongue hanging out while he +panted, as if exhausted by fatigue and fear, for he +still cast apprehensive glances at the wall which +divided him from his tormentors. + +His eyes are just like Sanch's," said Betty to +herself, unconscious that she spoke aloud, till she saw +the creature prick up his cars and half rise, as if he +had been called. + +"He looks as if he knew me, but it isn't our +Sancho; he was a lovely dog." Betty said that to +the little boy peeping in beside her; but before he +could make any reply, the brown beast stood straight +up with an inquiring bark, while his eyes shone like +topaz, and the short tail wagged excitedly. + +"Why, that's just the way Sanch used to do!" +cried Betty, bewildered by the familiar ways of this +unfamiliar-looking dog. + +As if the repetition of his name settled his own +doubts, he leaped toward the gate and thrust a pink +nose between the bars, with a howl of recognition as +Betty's face was more clearly seen. The boys tumbled +precipitately from their perches, and the little +girl fell back alarmed, yet could not bear to run +away and leave those imploring eyes pleading to her +through the bars so eloquently. + +"He acts just like our dog, but I don't see how it +can be him. Sancho, Sancho, is it really you?" called +Betty, at her wits' end what to do. + +"Bow, wow, wow!" answered the well-known bark, +and the little tail did all it could to emphasize the +sound, while the eyes were so full of dumb love and +joy, the child could not refuse to believe that this ugly +stray was their own Sancho strangely transformed. + +All of a sudden, the thought rushed into her mind, +how glad Ben would be! -- and Bab would feel all +happy again. I must carry him home." + +Never stopping to think of danger, and forgetting +all her doubts, Betty caught the gate handle out of +Jimmy's grasp, exclaiming eagerly: "He is our dog! +Let me go in; I ain't afraid." +"Not till Jud comes back; he told us we mustn't," +answered the astonished Jimmy, thinking the little +girl as mad as the dog. + +With a confused idea that the unknown Jud had +gone for a gun to shoot Sanch, Betty gave a desperate +pull at the latch and ran into the yard, bent on saving +her friend. That it was a friend there could he +no further question; for, though the cleature rushed +at her as if about to devour her at a mouthful, it was +only to roll ecstatically at her feet, lick her hands, and +gaze into her face, trying to pant out the welcome +which he could not utter. An older and more prudent +person would have waited to make sure before +venturing in; but confiding Betty knew little of the +danger which she might have run; her heart spoke +more quickly than her head, and, not stopping to have +the truth proved, she took the brown dog on trust, +and found it was indeed dear Sanch. + +Sitting on the grass, she hugged him close, careless +of tumbled hat, dusty paws on her clean frock, or a +row of strange boys staring from the wall. + +"Darling doggy, where have you been so long? +she cried, the great thing sprawling across her lap, as +if he could not get near enough to his brave little +protector. "Did they make you black and beat you, +dear? Oh, Sanch, where is your tail -- your pretty +tail?" + +A plaintive growl and a pathetic wag was all the +answer he could make to these tender inquiries; for +never would the story of his wrongs be known, and +never could the glory of his do-gsh beauty be restored. +Betty was trying to comfort him with pats +and praises, when a new face appeaerd; at the gate, +and Thorny's authoritative voice called out, -- + +"Betty Moss, what on earth are you doing in there +with that dirty beast?" + +"It's Sanch, it's Sanch! Oh, come and see! +shrieked Betty, flying up to lead forth her prize. +But the gate was held fast, for some one said the +words, "Mad dog," and Thorny was very naturally +alarmed, because he had already seen one. "Don't +stay there another minute. Get up on that bench +and I'll pull you over," directed Thorny, mounting +the wall to rescue his charge in hot haste; for the +dog did certainly behave queerly, limping hurriedly +to and fro, as if anxious to escape. No wonder, +when Sancho heard a voice he knew, and recognized +another face, yet did not meet as kind a welcome as +before. + +"No, I'm not coming out till he does. It is Sanch, +and I'm going to take him home to Ben," answered +Betty, decidedly, as she wet her handkerchief in the +rain water to bind up the swollen paw that had +travelled many miles to rest in her little hand again. + +"You're crazy, child. That is no more Ben's dog +than I am." + +"See if it isn't!" cried Betty, perfectly unshaken +in her faith; and, recalling the words of command as +well as she could, she tried to put Sancho through his +little performance, as the surest proof that she was +right. The poor fellow did his best, weary and foot-sore +though he was; but when it came to taking his +tail in his mouth to waltz, he gave it up, and, dropping +down, hid his face in his paws, as he always did when +any of his tricks failed. The act was almost pathetic +now, for one of the paws was bandaged, and his +whole attitude expressed the humiliation of a broken +spirit. + +That touched Thorny, and, quite convinced both +of the dog's sanity and identity, he sprung down +from the wall with Ben's own whistle, which gladdened +Sancho's longing ear as much as the boy's rough +caresses comforted his homesick heart. + +"Now, let's carry him right home, and surprise +Ben. Won't he be pleased?" said Betty, so in +earnest that she tried to lift the big brute in +spite of his protesting yelps. + +"You are a little trump to find him out in spite of +all the horrid things that have been done to him. We +must have a rope to lead him, for he's got no collar +and no muzzle. He has got friends though, and I'd +like to see any one touch him now. Out of the way, +there, boy!" Looking as commanding as a drum-major, +Thorny cleared a passage, and with one arm +about his neck, Betty proudly led her treasure +magnanimously ignoring his late foes, and keeping +his eye fixed on the faithful friend whose tender little +heart had known him in spite of all disguises. + +"I found him, sir," and the lad who had been most +eager for the shooting, stepped fowward to claim any +reward that might be offered for the now valuable +victim. + +"I kept him safe till she came," added the jailer +Jimmy, speaking for himself. + +"I said he wasn't mad", cried a third, feeling that +his discrimination deserved approval. + +"Jud ain't my brother," said the fourth, eager to +clear his skirts from all ofi-ence. + +"But all of you chased and stoned him, I suppose? +You'd better look out or you'll get reported to the +Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." + +With this awful and mysterious threat, Thorny +slammed the doctor's gate in the faces of the mercenary +youths, nipping their hopes in the bud, and teaching +them a good lesson. + +After one astonished stare, Lita accepted Sancho +without demur, and they greeted one another cordially, +nose to nose, instead of shaking hands. Then +the dog nestled into his old place under the linen +duster with a grunt of intense content, and soon fell +fast asleep, quite worn out with fatigue. +No Roman conqueror bearing untold treasures +with him, ever approached the Eternal City feeling +richer or prouder than did Miss Betty as she rolled +rapidly toward the little brown house with the captive +won by her own arms. Poor Belinda was forgotten in a +corner, "Bluebeard" was thrust under the +cushion, and the lovely lemon was squeezed before +its time by being sat upon; for all the child could +think of was Ben's delight, Bab's remorseful burden +lifted off, "Ma's" surprise, and Miss Celia's pleasure. +She could hardly realize the happy fact, and kept +peeping under the cover to be sure that the dear +dingy bunch at her feet was truly there. + +"I'll tell you how we'll do it," said Thorny, breaking +a long silence as Betty composed herself with an +irrepressible wriggle of delight after one of these +refreshing peeps. "We'll keep Sanch hidden, and +smuggle him into Ben's old room at your house. +Then I'll drive on to the barn, and not say a word, +but send Ben to get something out of that room. +You just let him in, to see what he'll do. I'll bet +you a dollar he won't know his own dog." + +"I don't believe I can keep from screaming right +out when I see him, but I'll try. Oh, won't it be +fun!" -- and Betty clapped her hands in joyful +anticipation of that exciting moment. + +A nice little plan, but Master Thorny forgot the +keen senses of the amiable animal snoring peacefully +among his boots; and, when they stopped at the +Lodge, he had barely time to say in a whisper, + +"Ben's coming; cover Sanch and let me get him in +quick!" before the dog was out of the phaeton like +a bombshell, and the approaching boy went down as +if shot, for Sancho gave one leap, and the two rolled +over and over, with a shout and a bark of rapturous +recognition. + +"Who is hurt?" asked Mrs. Moss, running out +with floury hands uplifted in alarm. + +"Is it a bear?" cried Bab, rushing after her, +beater in hand, for a dancing bear was the delight of +her heart. + +"Sancho's found! Sancho's found!" shouted +Thorny, throwing up his hat like a lunatic. + +"Found, found, found!" echoed Betty, dancing +wildly about as if she too had lost her little wits. + +"Where? how? when? who did it?" asked Mrs. +Moss, clapping her dusty hands delightedly. + +"It isn't; it's an old dirty brown thing," stammered +Bab, as the dog came uppermost for a minute, and +then rooted into Ben's jacket as if he +smelt a woodchuck, and was bound to have him out +directly. + +Then Thorny, with many interruptions from Betty, +poured forth the wondrous tale, to which Bab and his +mother listened breathlessly, while the muffins burned +as black as a coal, and nobody cared a bit. + +"My precious lamb, how did you dare to do such +a thing?" exclaimed Mrs. Moss, hugging the small +heroine with mingled admiration and alarm. + +"I'd have dared, and slapped those horrid boys, +too. I wish I'd gone!" and Bab felt that she had +for ever lost the chance of distinguishing herself. + +"Who cut his tail off?" demanded Ben, in a menacing +tone, as he came uppermost in his turn, dusty, +red and breathless, but radiant. + +"The wretch who stole him, I suppose; and he de- +serves to be hung," answered Thorny, hotly. + +"If ever I catch him, I'll -- I'll cut his nose off," +roared Ben, with such a vengeful glare that Sanch +barked fiercely; and it was well that the unknown +"wretch" was not there, for it would have gone +hardly with him, since even gentle Betty frowned, +while Bab brandished the egg-beater menacingly, +and their mother indignantly declared that "it was +too bad!" + +Relieved by this general outburst, they composed +their outraged feelings; and while the returned +wanderer went from one to another to receive a tender +welcome from each, the story of his recovery was +more calmly told. Ben listened with his eye devouring +the injured dog; and when Thorny paused, he +turned to the little heroine, saying solemnly, as +he laid her hand with his own on Sancho's head, + +"Betty Moss, I'll never forget what you did; from +this minute half of Sanch is your truly own, and if I +die you shall have the whole of him," and Ben sealed +the precious gift with a sounding kiss on either chubby +check. + +Betty was so deeply touched by this noble bequest, +that the blue eyes filled and vwuld have overflowed +if Sanch had not politely offered his tongue like a +red pocket-handkerchlef, and so made her laugh the +drops away, while Bab set the rest off by saying +gloomily, -- + +"I mean to play with all the mad dogs I can find; +then folks will think I'm smart and give me nice +things." + +"Poor old Bab, I'll foigive you now, and lend you +my half whenever you want it," said Ben, feeling at +peace now with all mankind, including, giris who tagged. + +"Come and show him to Celia," begged Thorny, +eager to fight his battles over again. + +"Better wash him up first; he's a sight to see, +poor thing," suggested Mrs. Moss, as she ran in, +suddenly remembering her muffins. + +"It will take a lot of washings to get that brown +stuff off. See, his pretty, pink skin is all stained with +it. We'll bleach him out, and his curls will grow, and +he'll be as good as ever -- all but -- " + +Ben could not finish, and a general wail went up for +the departed tassel that would never wave proudly in +the breeze again. + +"I'll buy him a new one. Now form the proccession +and let us go in style," said Thorny, cheerily, as +he swung Betty to his shoulder and marched away +whistling "Hail! the conquering hero comes," while +Ben and his Bow-wow followed arm-in-arm, and Bab +brought up the rear, banging on a milk-pan with the +egg-beater. + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BOWS AND ARROWS + +If Sancho's abduction made a stir, one may easily +imagine with what warmth and interest he was +welcomed back when his wrongs and wanderings +were known. For several days he held regular levees, +that curious boys and sympathizing girls might see +and pity the changed and curtailed dog. Sancho behaved +with dignified affability, and sat upon his mat +in the coach-house pensively eying his guests, and +patiently submitting to their caresses; while Ben and +Thorny took turns to tell the few tragical facts which +were not shrouded in the deepest mystery. If the +interesting sufferer could only have spoken, what +thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes he might +have related. But, alas! he was dumb; and the secrets +of that memorable month never were revealed. + +The lame paw soon healed, the dingy color slowly +yielded to many washings, the woolly coat began to +knot up into little curls, a new collar, handsomely +marked, made him a respectable dog, and Sancho +was himself again. But it was evident that his sufferings +were not forgotten; his once sweet temper was a +trifle soured; and, with a few exceptions, he had lost +his faith in mankind. Before, he had been the most +benevolent and hospitable of dogs; now, he eyed all +strangers suspiciously, and the sight of a shabby man +made him growl and bristle up, as if the mernory of +his wrongs still burned hotly within him. + +Fortunately, his gratitude was stronger than his +resentment, and he never seemed to forget that he +owed his life to Betty, -- running to meet her whenever +she appeared, instantly obeying her commands, +and suffering no one to molest her when he walked +watchfully beside her, with her hand upon his neck, +as they had walked out of the almost fatal backyard +together, faithful friends for ever. + +Miss Celia called them little Una and her lion, and +read the pretty story to the childien when they +wondered what she meant. Ben, with great pains, +taught the dog to spell "Betty," and surprised her +with a display of this new accomplishment, which +gratified her so much that she was never tired of +seeing Sanch paw the five red letters into place, then +come and lay his nose in her hand, as if he added, +"That's the name of my dear mistress." + +Of course Bab was glad to have eveiything pleasant +and friendly again; but in a little dark corner of her +heart there was a drop of envy, and a despeiate desire +to do something which would make every one in +her small world like and piaise her as they did Betty. +Trying to be as good and gentle did not satisfy her; +she must do something brave or surprising, and no +chance for distinguishing herself in that way seemed +likely to appear. Betty was as fond as ever, and +the boys were very kind to her; but she felt that +they both liked "little Beteinda," as they called her, +best, because she found Sanch, and never seemed to know +that she had done any thing brave in defending +him against all odds. Bab did not tell any one how +she felt, but endeavored to be amiable, while waiting +for her chance to come; and, when it did arrive, +made the most of it, though there was nothing heroic +to add a charm. + +Miss Celia's arm had been doing very well, but +would, of course, be useless for some time longer. +Finding that the afternoon readings amused herself +as much as they did the children, she kept them +up, and brought out all her old favorites enjoying a +double pleasure in seeing that her young audience +relished them as much as she did when a child for +to all but Thorny they were brand new. Out of one +of these stories came much amusement for all, and +satisfaction for one of the party. + +"Celia, did you bring our old bows?" asked her +brother, eagerly, as she put down the book from +which she had been reading Miss Edgeworth's capital +story of "Waste not Want not; or, Two Strings +to your Bow." + +"Yes, I brought all the playthings we left stored +away in uncle's garret when we went abroad. The +bows are in the long box where you found the mallets, +fishing-rods, and bats. The old quivers and a +few arrows are there also, I believe. What is the +idea now? asked Miss Celia in her turn, as Thorny +bounced up in a great hurry. + +"I'm going to teach Ben to shoot. Grand fun +this hot weather; and by-and-by we'll have an +archery meeting, and you can give us a prize. Come +on, Ben. I've got plenty of whip-cord to rig up the +bows, and then we'll show the ladies some first-class +shooting." + +"I can't; never had a decent bow in my life. The +little gilt one I used to wave round when I was a +Coopid wasn't worth a cent to go," answered Ben, +feeling as if that painted "prodigy" must have been +a very distant connection of the respectable young +person now walking off arm in arm with the lord of +the manor. + +"Practice is all you want. I used to be a capital +shot, but I don't believe I could hit any thing but a +barn-door now," answered Thorny, encouragingly. + +As the boys vanished, with much tramping of boots +and banging of doors, Bab observed, in the young- +ladyish tone she was apt to use when she composed +her active little mind and body to the feminine task +of needlework, -- + +"We used to make bows of whalebone when we +were little girls, but we are too old to play so now." + +"I'd like to, but Bab won't, 'cause she 's most +'leven years old," said honest Betty, placidly rubbing +her needle in the "ruster," as she called the family +emery-bag. + +"Grown people enjoy archery, as bow and arrow +shooting is called, especially in England. I was +reading about it the other day, and saw a picture of +Queen Victoria with her bow; so you needn't be +ashamed of it, Bab," said Miss Celia, rummaging +among the books and papers in her sofa corner to +find the magazine she wanted, thinking a new play +would be as good for the girls as for the big boys. + +"A queen, just think!" and Betty looked much impressed +by the fact, as well as uplifted by the knowledge +that her friend did not agree in thinking her +silly because she preferred playing with a halmless +home-made toy to firing stones or snapping a pop-gun. + +"In old times, bows and arrows were used to fight +great battles with; and we read how the English archers +shot so well that the air was dark with arrows, and +many men were killed." + +"So did the Indians have 'em; and I've got some +stone arrow-heads, -- found 'em by the river, in the +dirt!" cried Bab, waking up, for battles interested her +more than queens. + +"While you finish your stints I'll tell you a little +story about the Indians," said Miss Celia, lying +back on her cushions, while the needles began to +go again, for the piospect of a story could not be +resisted. + +"A century or more ago, in a small settlement on +the banks of the Connecticut, -- which means the Long +River of Pines, -- there lived a little girl called Matty +Kilburn. On a hill stood the fort where the people ran +for protection in any danger, for the country was new +and wild, and more than once the Indians had come +down the river in their canoes and burned the houses, +killed men, and carried away women and children. +Matty lived alone with her father, but felt quite safe +in the log house, for he was never far away. One +afternoon, as the farmers were all busy in their fields, +the bell rang suddenly, -- a sign that there was danger +near, -- and, dropping their rakes or axes, the men +hurried to their houses to save wives and babies, and +such few treasures as they could. Mr. Kilburn caught +up his gun with one hand and his little girl with the +other, and ran as fast as he could toward the fort. But +before he could reach it he heard a yell, and saw the +red men coming up from the river. Then he knew it +would be in vain to try to get in, so he looked about for +a safe place to hide Matty till he could come for her. +He was a brave man, and could fight, so he had no +thought of hiding while his neighbors needed help; +but the dear little daughter must he cared for first. + +"In the corner of the lonely pasture which they +dared not cross, stood a big hollow elm, and there the +farmer hastily hid Matty, dropping her down into the +dim nook, round the mouth of which youg shoots had +grown, so that no one would have suspected any hole +was there. + +"Lie still, child, till I come; say your prayers and +wait for father,' said the man, as he parted the leaves +for a last glance at the small, frightened face looking up +at him. + +"' Come soon,' whispered Matty, and tried to smile +bravely, as a stout settler's girl should. + +"Mr. Kilburn went away, and was taken prisoner +in the fight, carried off, and for years no one knew +whether he was alive or dead. People missed Matty, +but supposed she was with her father, and never +expected to see her again. A great while afterward the +poor man came back, having escaped and made his way +through the wilderness to his old home. His first question +was for Matty, but no one had seen her; and when +he told them where he had left her, they shook their +heads as if they thought he was crazy. But they +went to look, that he might be satisfied; and he was; +for they they found some little bones, some faded +bits of cloth, and two rusty silver buckles marked with +Matty's name in what had once been her shoes. An +Indian arrow lay there, too, showing why she had +never cried for help, but waited patiently so long for +father to come and find her." + +If Miss Celia expected to see the last bit of hem done +when her story ended, she was disappointed; for not a +dozen stitches had been taken. Betty was using her +crash towel for a handkerchief, and Bab's lay on the +ground as she listened with snapping eyes to the little +tragedy. + +"Is it true?" asked Betty, hoping to find relief in +being told that it was not. + +"Yes; I have seen the tree, and the mound where +the fort was, and the rusty buckles in an old farmhouse +where other Kilburns live, near the spot where it +all happened," answered Miss Celia, looking out the +picture of Victoria to console her auditors. + +"We'll play that in the old apple-tree. Betty can +scrooch down, and I'll be the father, and put leaves on +her, and then I'll be a great Injun and fire at her. I +can make arrows, and it will be fun, won't it?" cried +Bab, charmed with the new drama in which she could +act the leading parts. + +"No, it won't!" I don't like to go in a cobwebby +hole, and have you play kill me, I'll make a nice fort +of hay, and be all safe, and you can put Dinah down +there for Matty. I don't love her any more, now her +last eye has tumbled out, and you may shoot her just +as much as yon like." + +Before Bab could agree to this satisfactory arrangement, +Thorny appeared, singing, as he aimed at a fat +robin, whose red waistcoat looked rather warm and +winterish that August day, -- + +"So he took up his bow, +And he feathered his arrow, +And said, 'I will shoot +This little cock-sparrow.'" + +But he didn't," chirped the robin, flying away, +with a contemptuous flirt of his rusty-black tail. + +"That is exactly what you must promise not to do, +boys. Fire away at your targets as much as you like, +but do not harm any living creature," said Miss Celia, +as Ben followed armed and equipped with her own long- +unused accoutrements. + +"Of course we won't if you say so; but, with a little +practice, I could bring down a bird as well as that +fellow you read to me about with his woodpeckers and +larks and herons," answered Thorny, who had much +enjoyed the article, while his sister lamented over the +destruction of the innocent birds. + +"You'd do well to borrow the Squire's old stuffed +owl for a target; there would be some chance of your +hitting him, he is so big," said his sister, who always +made fun of the boy when he began to brag. + +Thorny's only reply was to send his arrow straight +up so far out of sight that it was a long while coming +down again to stick quivering in the ground near by, +whence Sancho brought it in his mouth, evidently +highly approving of a game in which he could join. + +"Not bad for a beginning. Now, Ben, fire away." + +But Ben's experience with bows was small, and, in +spite of his praiseworthy efforts to imitate his great +exemplar, the arrow only turned a feeble sort of somersault +and descended perilously near Bab's uplifted nose. + +"If you endanger other people's life and liberty in +your pursuit of happiness, I shall have to confiscate +your arms, boys. Take the orchard for your archery +ground; that is safe, and we can see you as we sit +here. I wish I had two hands, so that I could paint +you a fine, gay target;" and Miss Celia looked +regretfully at the injured arm, which as yet was of +little use. + +"I wish you could shoot, too; you used to beat all +the girls, and I was proud of you," answered Thorny, +with the air of a fond elder brother; though, at the +time he alluded to, he was about twelve, and hardly up +to his sister's shoulder. + +"Thank you. I shall be happy to give my place to +Bab and Betty if you will make them some bows and +arrows; they could not use those long ones." + +The young gentlemen did not take the hint as +quickly as Miss Celia hoped they would; in fact, both +looked rather blank at the suggestion, as boys generally +do when it is proposed that girls -- especially +small ones -- shall join in any game they are playing. + +"P'r'aps it would be too much trouble," began +Betty, in her winning little voice. + +"I can make my own," declared Bab, with an +independent toss of the head. + +"Not a bit; I'll make you the jolliest small bow +that ever was, Belinda," Thorny hastened to say, +softened by the appealing glance of the little maid. + +"You can use mine, Bab ; you've got such a strong +fist, I guess you could pull it," added Ben, remembering +that it would not be amiss to have a comrade who +shot worse than he did, for he felt very inferior to +Thorny in many ways, and, being used to praise, had +missed it very much since he retired to private life. + +"I will be umpire, and brighten up the silver arrow +I sometimes pin my hair with, for a prize, unless we +can find something better," proposed Miss Celia, glad +to see that question settled, and every prospect of the +new play being a pleasant amusement for the hot +weather. + +It was astonishing how soon archery became the +fashion in that town, for the boys discussed it +enthusiastically all that evening, formed the +"William Tell Club" next day, with Bab and Betty as +honorary members, and, before the week was out, nearly every +lad was seen, like young Norval, " With bended bow +and quiver full of arrows," shooting away, with a +charming disregard of the safety of their fellow +citizens. Banished by the authorities to secluded +spots, the members of the club set up their targets +and practised indefatigably, especially Ben, who soon +discovered that his early gymnastics had given hin a +sinewy arm and a true eye; and, taking Sanch into +partnership as picker-up, he got more shots out of an +hour than those who had to run to and fro. + +Thorny easily recovered much of his former skill, +but his strength had not fully returned, and he soon +grew tired. Bab, on the contrary, threw herself into +the contest heart and soul, and tugged alvay at the +new bow Miss Celia gave her, for Ben's was too heavy. +No other girls were admitted, so the outsiders got up +a club of their own, and called it "The Victoria," the +name being suggested by the magazine article, which +went the rounds as a general guide and reference +book. Bab and Betty belonged to this club and +duly reported the doings of the boys, with whom they +had a right to shoot if they chose, but soon waived +the right, plainly seeing that their absence would be +regarded in the light of a favor. + +The archery fever raged as fiercely as the base-ball +epidemic had done before it, and not only did the +magazine circulate freely, but Miss Edgeworth's story, +which was eagerly read, and so much admired that +the girls at once mounted green ribbons, and the +boys kept yards of whip-cord in their pockets like the +provident Benjamin of the tale. + +Every one enjoyed the new play very much, and +something grew out of it which was a lasting pleasure +to many, long after the bows and arrows were forgotten. +Seeing how glad the children were to get a new +story, Miss Celia was moved to send a box of books +-- old and new -- to the town library, which was +but scantily supplied, as country libraries are apt to +be. This donation produced a good effect; for other +people hunted up all the volumes they could spare +for the same purpose, and the dusty shelves in the +little room behind the post-office filled up amazingly. +Coming in vacation time they were hailed with delight, +and ancient books of travel, as well as modern tales, +were feasted upon by happy young folks, with plenty +of time to enjoy them in peace. + +The success of her first attempt at being a public +benefactor pleased Miss Celia veru much, and suggested +other ways in which she might serve the quiet +town, where she seemed to feel that work was waiting +for her to do. She said little to any one but the +friend over the sea, yet various plans were made then +that blossomed beautifully by-and-by. + +CHAPTER XIX: SPEAKING PIECES + +The first of September came all too soon, and +school began. Among the boys and girls +who went trooping up to the "East Corner +knowledge-box," as they called it, was our friend Ben, +with a pile of neat books under his arm. He felt +very strange, and decidedly shy; but put on a bold +face, and let nobody guess that, though nearly thirteen, +he had never been to school before. Miss Celia +had told his story to Teacher, and she, being a kind +little woman, with young brothers of her own, made +things as easy for him as she could. In reading and +writing he did very well, and proudly took his place +among lads of his own age; but when it came to +arithmetic and geography, he had to go down a long +way, and begin almost at the beginning, in spite of +Thorny's efforts to "tool him along fast." It mortified +him sadly, but there was no help for it; and in +some of the classes he had dear little Betty to console +with him when he failed, and smile contentedly +when he got above her, as he soon began to do, -- +for she was not a quick child, and plodded through +First Parts long after sister Bab was flourishing away +among girls much older than herself. + +Fortunately, Ben was a short boy and a clever one, +so he did not look out of place among the ten and +eleven year olders, and fell upon his lessons with the +same resolution with which he used to take a new +leap, or practise patiently till he could touch his heels +with his head. That sort of exercise had given him +a strong, elastic little body; this kind was to train +his mind, and make its faculties as useful, quick and +sure, as the obedient muscles, nerves and eye, which +kept him safe where others would have broken their +necks. He knew this, and found much consolation +in the fact that, though mental arithmetic was a +hopeless task, he could turn a dozen somersaults, and +come up as steady as a judge. When the boys +laughed at him for saying that China was in Africa, +he routed them entirely by his superior knowledge +of the animals belonging to that wild country; and +when "First class in reading" was called, he marched +up with the proud consciousness that the shortest +boy in it did better than tall Moses Towne or fat Sam +Kitteridge. + +Teacher praised him all she honestly could, and +corrected his many blunders so quietly that he soon +ceased to be a deep, distressful red during recitation, +and tugged away so manfully that no one could +help respecting him for his efforts, and trying to +make light of his failures. So the fiist hard week +went by, and though the boy's heart had sunk many +a time at the prospect of a protracted wrestle with +his own ignorance, he made up his mind to win, and +went at it again on the Monday with fresh zeal, all +the better and braver for a good, cheery talk with +Miss Celia in the Sunday evening twilight. + +He did not tell her one of his greatest trials, +however, because he thought she could not help him +there. Some of the children rather looked down +upon him, called him "tramp" and "beggar," twitted +him with having been a circus boy, and lived in a +tent like a gypsy. They did not mean to be cruel, +but did it for the sake of teasing, never stopping to +think how much such sport can make a fellow-creature +suffer. Being a plucky fellow, Ben pretended not +to mind; but he did feel it keenly, because he wanted +to start afresh, and be like other boys. He was not +ashamed of the old life; but, finding those around +him disapproved of it, he was glad to let it be forgotten, +even by himself; for his latest recollections were +not happy ones, and present comforts made past +hardships seem harder than before. + +He said nothing of this to Miss Celia; but she +found it out, and liked him all the better for keeping +some of his small worries to hiniself. Bab and Betty +came over Monday afternoon full of indignation +at some boyish insult Sam had put upon Ben; and, +finding them too full of it to enjoy the reading, Miss +Celia asked what the matter was. Then both little +girls burst out in a rapid succession of broken +exclamations, which did not give a very clear idea of +the difficulty, -- + +"Sam didn't like it because Ben jumped farther +than he did -- " + +"And he said Ben ought to be in the poor-house." + +"And Ben said he ought to be in it pigpen." + +"So he had! -- such a greedy thing, bringing lovely +big apples, and not giving any one a single bite!" + +"Then he was mad, and we all laughed; and he +said, 'Want to fight?' + +"And Ben said, 'No, thanky, not much fun in +pounding a feather-bed.'" + +"Oh, he was awfully mad then, and chased Ben up +the big maple." + +"He's there now, for Sam won't let him come +down till he takes it all back." + +"Ben won't; and I do believe he'll have to stay +up all night," said Betty, distressfully. + +"He won't care, and we'll have fun firing up his +supper. Nut cakes and cheese will go splendidly; +and may be baked pears wouldn't get smashed, he's +such a good catch," added Bab, decidedly relishing +the prospect. + +"If he does not come by tea-time, we will go and +look after him. It seems to me I have heard surne- +thing about Sam's troubling him before, haven't I?" +asked Miss Celia, ready to defend her protege against +all unfair persecution. + +"Yes,'m, Sam and Mose are always plaguing Ben. +They are big boys, and we can't make them stop. I +won't let the girls do it, and the little boys don't dare +to, since Teacher spoke to them." answered Bab. + +"Why does not Teacher speak to the big ones? + +"Ben won't tell of them, or let us. He says he'll +fight his own battles, and hates tell-tales. I guess +he won't like to have us tell you, but I don't care, for +it is too bad!" and Betty looked ready to cry over +her friend's tribulations. + +"I'm glad you did, for I will attend to it, and stop +this sort of thing," said Miss Celia, after the children +had told some of the tormenting speeches which had +tried poor Ben. + +Just then Thorny appeared, looking much amused. +and the little girls both called out in a breath, "Did +you see Ben and get him down?" + +"He got himself down in the neatest way you can +imagine;" and Thorny laughed at the recollection. + +"Where is Sam? " asked Bab. + +"Staring up at the sky to see where Ben has flown +to." + +"Oh, tell about it!" begged Betty. + +"Well, I came along and found Ben treed, and Sam +stoning him. I stopped that at once, and told the +'fat boy' to be off. He said he wouldn't till Ben +begged his pardon; and Ben said he wouldn't do it, +if he stayed up for a week. I was just preparing +to give that rascal a scientific thrashing, when a load +of hay came along, and Ben dropped on to it so quietly +that Sam, who was trying to bully me, never saw him +go. It tickled me so, I told Sam I guessed I'd let +him off that time, and walked away, leaving him to +hunt for Ben, and wonder where the dickens he +had vanished to." + +The idea of Sam's bewilderment amused the others +as much as Thorny, and they all had a good laugh +over it before Miss Celia asked, -- + +"Where has Ben gone now?" + +" Oh, he'll take a little ride, and then slip down +and race home full of the fun of it. But I've got +to settle Sam. I won't have our Ben hectored by any +one -- " + +"But yourself," put in his sister, with a sly smile, +for Thorny was rather domineering at times. + +"He doesn't mind my poking him up now and +then, it's good for him; and I always take his part +against other people. Sam is a bully, and so is +Mose; and I'll thrash them both if they don't +stop." + +Anxious to curb her brother's pugnacious propensities, +Miss Celia proposed milder measures, promising +to speak to the boys herself if there was any more +trouble. + +"I have been thinking that we should have some +sort of merry-making for Ben on his birthday. My +plan was a very simple one; but I will enlarge it, and +have all the young folks come, and Ben shall be king +of the fun. he needs encouragement in well-doing, +for he does try; and now the first hard part is nearly +over, I am sure he will get on bravely. If we treat +him with respect, and show our regard for him, others +will follow our example; and that will be better than +fighting about it." + +"So it will! What shall we do to make our party +tip-top?" asked Thorny, falling into the trap at once; +for he dearly loved to get up theatricals, and had not +had any for a long time. + +"We will plan something splendid, a 'grand combination,' +as you used to call your droll mixtures +of tragedy, comedy, melodrama and farce," answered +his sister, with her head already full of lively plots. + +"We'll startle the natives. I don't believe they +ever saw a play in all their lives, hey, Bab?" + +"I've seen a circus." + +"We dress up and do ' Babes in the Wood,"' added +Betty, with dignity. + +"Pho! that's nothing. I'll show you acting that +will make your hair stand on end, and you shall +act too. Bab will be capital for the naughty girls," +began Thorny, excited by the prospect of producing +a sensation on the boards, and always ready to +tease the girls. + +Before Betty could protest that she did not want +her hair to stand up, or Bab could indignantly decline +the rele offered her, a shrill whistle was heard, and +Miss Celia whispered, with a warning look, -- + +"Hush! Ben is coming, and he must not know any +thing about this yet." + +The next day was Wednesday, and in the afternoon +Miss Celia went to hear the children "speak pieces," +though it was very seldom that any of the busy +matrons and elder sisters found time or inclination for +these displays of youthful oratory. Miss Celia and +Mrs. Moss were all the audience on this occasion, but +Teacher was both pleased and proud to see them, +and a general rustle went through the school as they +came in, all the girls turning from the visitors to nod +at Bab and Betty, who smiled all over their round +faces to see "Ma" sitting up "'side of Teacher," +and the boys grinned at Ben, whose heart began +to beat fast at the thought of his dear mistress coming +so far to hear him say his piece. + +Thorny had recommended Marco Bozzaris, but +Ben preferred John Gilpin, and ran the famous race +with much spirit, making excellent time in some parts +and having to be spurred a little in others, but came out +all right, though quite breathless at the end, sitting +down amid great applause, some of which, curiously +enough, seemed to come from outside; which in fact +it did, for Thorny was bound to hear but would not +come in, lest his presence should abash one orator at +least. + +Other pieces followed, all more or less patriotic and +warlike, among the boys; sentimental among the +girls. Sam broke down in his attempt to give one +of Webster's great speeches, Little Cy Fay boldly +attacked + +"Again to the battle, Achaians!" + +and shrieked his way through it in a shrill, small +voice, bound to do honor to the older brother who +had trained him even if he broke a vessel in the +attempt. Billy chose a well-worn piece, but gave it a +new interest by his style of delivery; for his gestures +were so spasmodic he looked as if going into a fit, +and he did such astonishing things with his voice that +one never knew whether a howl or a growl would +come next. When + +"The woods against a stormy sky +Their giant branches tossed; " + +Billy's arms went round like the sails of a windmill; +the "hymns of lofty cheer" not only "shook the +depths of the desert gloom," but the small children +on their little benches, and the school-house literally +rang "to the anthems of the free!" When "the +ocean eagle soared," Billy appeared to be going +bodily up, and the "pines of the forest roared" as if +they had taken lessons of Van Amburgh's biggest +lion. "Woman's fearless eye" was expressed by a +wild glare; manhood's brow, severely high," by a +sudden clutch at the reddish locks falling over the +orator's hot forehead, and a sounding thump on his +blue checked bosom told where "the fiery heart of +youth" was located. "What sought they thus far?" +he asked, in such a natural and inquiring tone, with his +eye fixed on Mamie Peters, that the startled innocent +replied, "Dunno," which caused the speaker to close +in haste, devoutly pointing a stubby finger upward at +the last line. + +This was considered the gem of the collection, and +Billy took his seat proudly conscious that his native +town boasted an orator who, in time, would utterly +eclipse Edward Everett and Wendell Phillips. + +Sally Folsom led off with "The Coral Grove," +chosen for the express purpose of making her friend +Almira Mullet start and blush, when she recited the +second line of that pleasing poem, + +"Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove." + +One of the older girls gave Wordsworth's "Lost +Love" in a pensive tone, clasping her hands and +bringing out the "O" as if a sudden twinge of +toothache seized her when she ended. + +"But she is in her grave, and O, +'he difference to me! + +Bab always chose a funny piece, and on this afternoon +set them all laughing by the spirit with which +she spoke the droll poem, "Pussy's Class," which some +of my young readers may have read. The "meou" +and the "sptzz" were capital, and when the "fond +mamma rubbed her nose," the children shouted, for +Miss Bab made a paw of her hand and ended with an +impromptu purr, which was considered the best imitation +ever presented to an appreciative public. Betty +bashfully murmurred "Little White Lily," swaying to +and fro as regularly as if in no other way could the +rhymes be ground out of her memory. + +"That is all, I believe. If either of the ladies would +like to say a few words to the children, I should +be pleased to have them," said Teacher, politely, +pausing before she dismissed school with a song. + +"Please, 'm. I'd like to speak my piece," answered +Miss Celia, obeying a sudden impulse; and, stepping +forward with her hat in her hand, she made a pretty +courtesy before she recited Mary Howitt's sweet little +ballad, "Mabel on Midsummer Day." + +She looked so young and merry, and used such +simple but expressive gestures, and spoke in such a +clear, soft voice that the children sat as if spell-bound, +learning several lessons from this new teacher, whose +performance charmed them from beiginning to end, and +left a moral which all could understand and carry +away in that last verse, -- + +"'Tis good to make all duty sweet, +To be alert and kind; +'Tis good, like Littie Mabel, +To have a willing mind." + +Of course there was an enthusiastic clapping when +Miss Celia sat down, but even while hands applauded, +consciences pricked, and undone tasks, complaining +words and sour faces seemed to rise up reproachfully +before many of the children, as well as their own +faults of elocution. + +"Now we will sing," said Teacher, and a great +clearing of throats ensued, but before a note could be +uttered, the half-open door swung wide, and Sancho, +with Ben's hat on, walked in upon his hind-legs, and +stood with his paws meekly folded, while a voice from +the entry sang rapidly, -- + +"Benny had a little dog, +His fleece was white as snow, +And everywhere that Benny went, +The dog was sure to go. + +He went into the School one day, +which was against the rule; +It made the children laugh and play +To see a dog --" + +Mischievous Thorny got no further, for a general +explosion of laughter drowned the last words, and +Ben's command "Out, you rascal!" sent Sanch to the +right-about in double-quick time. + +Miss Celia tried to apologize for her bad brother, +and Teacher tried to assure her that it didn't matter +in the least, as this was always a merry time, and +Mrs. Moss vainly shook her finger at her naughty +daughters; they as well as the others would have +their laugh out,a nd only partially sobered down when +the Bell rang for "Attention." They thought they +were to be dismissed, and repressed their giggles as +well as they could in order to get a good start for a +vociferous roar when they got out. But, to their great +surprise, the pretty lady stood up again and said, in +her friendly way, -- + +"I just want to thank you for this pleasant little +exhibition, and ask leave to come again. I also wish to +invite you all to my boy's birthday party on Saturday +week. The archery meeting is to be in the afternoon, +and both clubs will be there, I believe. In the evening +we are going to have some fun, when we can laugh +as much as we please without breaking any of the +rules. In Ben's name I invite you, and hope you will +all come, for we mean to make this the happiest +birthday he ever had." + +There were twenty pupils in the room, but the +eighty hands and feet made such a racket at this +announcement that an outsider would have thought a +hundred children, at least, must have been at it. Miss +Celia was a general favorite because she nodded to all +the girls, called the boys by their last names, even +addressing some of the largest as "Mr." which won +their hearts at once, so that if she had invited them +all to come and be whipped they would have gone +sure that it was some delightful joke. With what +eagerness they accepted the present invitation one +can easily imagine, though they never guessed why +she gave it in that way, and Ben's face was a sight to +see, he was so pleased and proud at the honor done +him that he did not know where to look, and was glad +to rush out with the other boys and vent his emotions +in whoops of delight. He knew that some little plot +was being concocted for his birthday, but never +dreamed of any thing so grand as asking the whole +school, Teacher and all. The effect of the invitation +was seen with comical rapidity, for the boys became +overpowering in their friendly attentions to Ben. +Even Sam, fearing he might be left out, promptly +offered the peaceful olive-branch in the shape of a +big apple, warm from his pocket, and Mose proposed +a trade of jack-knives which would be greatly to +Ben's advantage. But Thorny made the noblest +sacrifice of all, for he said to his sister, as they walked +home together, -- + +"I'm not going to try for the prize at all. I shoot +so much better than the rest, having had more practice, +you know, that it is hardly fair. Ben and Billy +are next best, and about even, for Ben's strong wrist +makes up for Billy's true eye, and both want to win. +If I am out of the way Ben stands a good chance, for +the other fellows don't amount to much." + +"Bab does; she shoots nearly as well as Ben, and +wants to win even more than he or Billy. She must +have her chance at any rate." + +"So she may, but she won't do any thing; girls +can't, though it 's good exercise and pleases them to +try. " + +"If I had full use of both my arms I'd show you +that girls can do a great deal when they like. Don't +be too lofty, young man, for you may have to come +down," laughed Miss Celia, amused by his airs. + +"No fear," and Thorny calmly departed to set his +targets for Ben's practice. + +"We shall see," and from that moment Miss Celia +made Bab her especial pupil, feeling that a little lesson +would be good for Mr. Thorny, who rather lorded it +over the other young people. There was a spice of +mischief in it, for Miss Celia was very young at heart, +in spite of her twenty-four years, and she was bound +to see that her side had a fair chance, believing that +girls can do whatever they are willing to strive patiently +and wisely for. + +So she kept Bab at work early and late, giving her +all the hints and help she could with only one efficient +hand, and Bab was delighted to think she did well +enough to shoot with the club. Her arms ached and +her fingers grew hard with twanging the bow, but she +was indefatigable, and being a strong, tall child of her +age, with a great love of all athletic sports, she got on +fast and well, soon learning to send arrow after arrow +with ever increasing accuracy nearer and nearer to +the bull's-eye. + +The boys took very little notice of her, being much +absorbed in their own affairs, but Betty did for Bab +what Sancho did for Ben, and trotted after arrows till +her short legs were sadly tired, though her patience +never gave out. She was so sure Bab would win that +she cared nothing about her own success, practising +little and seldom hitting any thing when she tried. + + +CHAPTER XX: BEN'S BIRTHDAY + +A superb display of flags flapped gayly in +the breeze on the September morning when +Ben proudly entered his teens. An irruption +of bunting seemied to have broken out all over the +old house, for banners of every shape and size, color +and design, flew from chimney-top to gable, porch +and gate-way, making the quiet place look as lively +as a circus tent, which was just what Ben most desired +and delighted in. + +The boys had been up very early to prepare the +show, and when it was ready enjoyed it hugely, for +the fresh wind made the pennons cut strange capers. +The winged lion of Venice looked as if trying to fly +away home; the Chinese dragon appeared to brandish +his forked tail as he clawed at the Burmese peacock; +the double-headed eagle of Russia pecked at the +Turkish crescent with one beak, while the other +seemed to be screaming to the English royal beast, +"Come on and lend a paw." In the hurry of hoisting +the Siamese elephant got turned upside down, +and now danced gayly on his head, with the stars and +stripes waving proudly over him. A green flag with +a yellow harp and sprig of shamrock hung in sight of +the kitchen window, and Katy, the cook, got breakfast +to the tune of "St. Patrick's day in the morning." +Sancho's kennel was half hidden under a rustling +paper imitation of the gorgeous Spanish banner, and +the scarlet sun-and-moon flag of Arabia snapped and +flaunted from the pole over the coach-house, as a +delicate compliment to Lita, Arabian horses being +considered the finest in the world. + +The little girls came out to see, and declared it was +the loveliest sight they ever beheld, while Thorny +played "Hail Columbia" on his fife, and Ben, mounting +the gate-post, crowed long and loud like a happy +cockerel who had just reached his majority. He had +been surprised and delighted with the gifts he found +in his room on awaking and guessed why Miss Celia +and Thorny gave him such pretty things, for among +them was a match-box made like a mouse-trap. The +doggy buttons and the horsey whip were treasures, +indeed, for Miss Celia had not given them when they +first planned to do so, because Sancho's return seemed +to be joy and reward enough for that occasion. But +he did not forget to thank Mrs. Moss for the cake she +sent him, nor the girls for the red mittens which they +had secretly and painfully knit. Bab's was long and +thin, with a very pointed thumb, Betty's short and +wide, with a stubby thumb, and all their mother's +pulling and pressing could not make them look alike, +to the great affliction of the little knitters. Ben, +however, assured them that he rather preferred odd ones, +as then he could always tell which was right and +which left. He put them on immediately and went +about cracking the new whip with an expression of +content which was droll to see, while the children +followed after, full of admiration for the hero of the +day. + +They were very busy all the morning preparing for +the festivities to come, and as soon as dinner was over +every one scrambled into his or her best clothes as +fast as possible, because, although invited to come at +two, impatient boys and girls were seen hovering +about the avenue as early as one. + +The first to arrive, however, was an uninvited +guest, for just as Bab and Betty sat down on the +porch steps, in their stiff pink calico frocks and white +ruffled aprons, to repose a moment before the party +came in, a rustling was heard among the lilacs, and +out stepped Alfred Tennyson Barlow, looking like a +small Robin Hood, in a green blouse with a silver +buckle on his broad belt, a feather in his little cap +and a bow in his hand. + +"I have come to shoot. I heard about it. My +papa told me what arching meant. Will there be +any little cakes? I like them." + +With these opening remarks the poet took a seat +and calmly awaited a response. The young ladies, +I regret to say, giggled, then remembering theii +manners, hastened to inform him that there would be +heaps of cakes, also that Miss Celia would not mind +his coming without an invitation, they were quite sure. + +"She asked me to come that day. I have been +very busy. I had measles. Do you have them +here?" asked the guest, as if anxious to compare +notes on the sad subject. + +"We had ours ever so long ago. What have you +been doing besides having measles?" said Betty, +showing a polite interest. + +"I had a fight with a bumble-bee." + +"Who beat?" demanded Bab. + +"I did. I ran away and he couldn't catch me." + +"Can you shoot nicely? + +"I hit a cow. She did not mind at all. I guess +she thought it was a fly." + +"Did your mother know you were coming?" asked +Bab, feeling an interest in runaways. + +"No; she is gone to drive, so I could not ask +her." + +"It is very wrong to disobey. My Sunday-school +book says that children who are naughty that way +never go to heaven," observed virtuous Betty, in a +warning tone. + +"I do not wish to go," was the startling reply. + +"Why not?" asked Betty, severely. + +"They don't have any dirt there. My mamma +says so. I am fond of dirt. I shall stay here where +there is plenty of it," and the candid youth began to +grub in the mould with the satisfaction of a genuine +boy. + +"I am afraid you're a very bad child." + +"Oh yes, I am. My papa often says so and he knows +all about it," replied Alfred with an involuntary +wriggle suggestive of painful memories. Then, +as if anxious to change the conversation from its +somewhat personal channel, he asked, pointing to a +row of grinning heads above the wall, "Do you shoot +at those?" + +Bab and Betty looked up quickly and recognized +the familiar faces of their friends peering down at +them, like a choice collection of trophies or targets. + +"I should think you'd be ashamed to peek before +the party was ready!" cried Bab, frowning darkly +upon the merry young ladies. + +"Miss Celia told us to come before two, and be +ready to receive folks, if she wasn't down," added +Betty, importantly. + +"It is striking two now. Come along, girls;" and +over scrambled Sally Folsom, fo11owed by three or +four kindred spirits, just as their hostess appeared. + +"You look like Amazons storming a fort," she +said, as the girls cattle up, each carrying her bow and +arrows, while green ribbons flew in every direction. + +"How do you do, sir? I have been hoping you +would call again," added Miss Celia, shaking hands +with the pretty boy, who regarded with benign +interest the giver of little cakes. + +Here a rush of boys took place, and further remarks +were cut short, for every one was in a hurry to +begin. So the procession was formed at once, Miss +Celia taking the lead, escorted by Ben in the post of +honor, while the boys and girls paired off behind, +arm in arm, bow on Shoulder, in martial array. +Thorny and Billy were the band, and marched before, +fifing and drumming "Yankee Doodle" with a +vigor which kept feet moving briskly, made eyes +sparkle, and young hearts dance under the gay +gowns and summer jackets. The interesting stranger +was elected to bear the prize, laid out on a red pin- +cushion; and did so with great dignity, as he went +beside the standard bearer, Cy Fay, who bore Ben's +choicest flag, snow-white, with a green wreath +surrounding a painted bow and arrow, and with the +letters W. T. C. done in red below. + +Such a merry march all about the place, out at the +Lodge gate, up and down the avenue, along the winding +paths, till they halted in the orchard, where the +target stood, and seats were placed for the archers +while they waited for their turns. Various rules and +regulations were discussed, and then the fun began. +Miss Celia had insisted that the girls should be +invited to shoot with the boys; and the lads consented +without much concern, whispering to one another with +condescending shrugs, "Let 'em try, if th@y like; they +can't do any thing." + +There were various trials of skill before the great +match came off, and in these trials the young gentlemen +discovered that two at least of the girls could do +something; for Bab and Sally shot better than many +of the boys, and were well rewarded for their exertions +by, the change which took place in the faces and +conversation of their mates. + +"Why, Bab, you do as well as if I'd taught you +myself," said Thorny, much surprised and not +altogether pleased at the little girl's skill. + +"A lady taught me; and I mean to beat every one +of you," answered Bab, saucily, while her sparkling +eyes turned to Miss Celia with a mischievous +twinkle in them. + +"Not a bit of it," declared Thorny, stoutly; but he +went to Ben and whispered, "Do your best, old +fellow, for sister has taught Bab all the scientific +points, and the little rascal is ahead of Billy." + +"She won't get ahead of me," said Ben, picking +out his best arrow, and trying the string of his bow +with a confident air which re-assured Thorny, who +found it impossible to believe that a girl ever could, +would, or should excel a boy in any thing he cared +to try. + +It really did look as if Bab would beat when the +match for the prize came off; and the children got +more and more excited as the six who were to try +for it took turns at the bull's-eye. Thorny was +umpire, and kept account of each shot, for the arrow +which went nearest the middle would win. Each +had three shots; and very soon the lookers-on saw +that Ben and Bab were the best marksmen, and one +of them would surely get the silver arrow. + +Sam, who was too lazy to practise, soon gave up +the contest, saying, as Thorny did, "It wouldn't be +fair for such a big fellow to try with the little chaps," +which made a laugh, as his want of skill was painfully +evident. But Mose went at it gallantly; and, if his +eye had been as true as his arms were strong, the +"little chaps" would have trembled. But his shots +were none of them as near as Billy's; and he retired +after the third failure, declaring that it was impossible +to shoot against the wind, though scarcely a breath +was stirring. + +Sally Folsom was bound to beat Bab, and twanged +away in great style; all in vain, however, as with tall +Maria Newcomb, the third girl who attempted the trial. +Being a little near-sighted, she had borrowed her +sister's eye-glasses, and thereby lessened her chance +of success; for the pinch on her nose distracted her +attention, and not one of her arrows went beyond +the second ring to her great disappointment. Billy +did very well, but got nervous when his last shot +came, and just missed the bull's-eye by being in a +hurry. + +Bab and Ben each had one turn more; and, as +they were about even, that last arrow would decidr +the victory. Both had sent a shot into the bull's-eye, +but neither was exactly in the middle; so there was +room to do better, even, and the children crowded +round, crying eagerly, "Now, Ben!" "Now, Bab!" +"Hit her up, Ben!" "Beat him, Bab!" while +Thorny looked as anxious as if the fate of the country +depended on the success of his man. Bab's turn +came first; and, as Miss Celia examined her bow to +see that all was right, the little girl said, With her +eyes on her rival's excited face, -- + +"I want to beat, but Ben will feel so bad, I 'most +hope I sha'n't." + +"Losing a prize sometimes makes one happier than +gaining it. You have proved that you could do better +than most of them; so, if you do not beat, you may +still feet proud," answered Miss Celia, giving back the +bow with a smile that said more than her words. + +It seemed to give Bab a new idea, for in a minute +all sorts of recollections, wishes, and plans rushed +through her lively little mind, and she followed a +sudden generous impulse as blindly as she often +did a wilful one. + +"I guess he'll beat," she said, softly, with a quick +sparkle of the eyes, as she stepped to her place and +fired without taking her usual careful aim. + +Her shot struck almost as near the centre on the +right as her last one had hit on the left; and there +was a shout of delight from the girls as Thorny +announced it before he hurried back to Ben, whispering +anxiously, -- + +"Steady, old Man, steady; you must beat that, or +we shall never hear the last of it." + +Ben did not say, "She won't get ahead of me," as +he had said at the first; he set his teeth, threw off +his hat, and, knitting his brows with a resolute +expression, prepared to take steady aim, though his +heart beat fast and his thumb trembled as he pressed +it on the bowstring. + +"I hope you'll beat, I truly do," said Bab, at his +elbow; and, as if the breath that framed the generous +wish helped it on its way, the arrow flew straight +to the bull's-eye, hitting, apparently, the very spot +where Bab's best shot had left a hole. + +"A tie! a tie!" cried the girls, as a general rush +took place toward the target. + +"No, Ben's is nearest. Ben's beat! Hooray +shouted the boys, throwing up their hats. +There was only a hair's-breadth difference, and +Bab could honestly have disputed the decision; but +she did not, though for an instant she could not +help wishing that the cry had been "Bab's beat! +Hurrah! " it sounded so pleasant. Then she saw +Ben's beaming face, Thorny's intense relief, and +caught the look Miss Celia sent her over the heads +of the boys, and decided, with a sudden warm glow +all over her little face, that losing a prize did +sometimes make one happier than winning it. Up went +her best hat, and she burst out in a shrill, "Rah, +rah, rah!" that sounded very funny coming all alone +after the general clamor had subsided. + +"Good for you, Bab! you are an honor to the +club. and I'm proud of you", said Prince Thorny, +with a hearty handshake; for, as his man had won, +he could afford to praise the rival who had put him +on his mettle, though she was a girl. + +Bab was much uplifted by the royal commendation, +but a few minutes later felt pleased as well as proud +when Ben, having received the prize, came to her, as +she stood behind a tree sucking her blistered thumb, +while Betty braided up her dishevelled locks. + +"I think it would be fairer to call it a tie, Bab, for +it really was, and I want you to wear this. I wanted +the fun of beating, but I don't care a bit for this girl's +thing and I'd rather see it on you." + +As he spoke, Ben offered the rosette of green +ribbon which held the silver arrow, and Bab's eyes +brightened as they fell upon the pretty ornament, +for to her "the girl's thing" was almost as good as +the victory. + +"Oh no; you must wear it to show who won. +Miss Celia wouldn't like it. I don't mind not getting +it; I did better than all the rest, and I guess I +shouldn't like to beat you," answered Bab, unconsciously +putting into childish words the sweet generosity which +makes so many sisters glad to see their +brothers carry off the prizes of life, while they are +content to know that they have earned them and can +do without the praise. + +But if Bab was generous, Ben was just; and +though he could not explain the feeling, would not +consent to take all the glory without giving his little +friend a share. + +"You must wear it; I shall feel real mean if you +don't. You worked harder than I did, and it was +only luck my getting this. Do, Bab, to please me," +he persisted, awkwardly trying to fasten the ornament +in the middle of Bab's' white apron. + +"Then I will. Now do you forgive me for losing +Sancho?" asked Bab, with a wistful look which +made Ben say, heartily, -- + +"I did that when he came home." + +"And you don't think I'm horrid?" + +"Not a bit of it; you are first-rate, and I'll stand +by you like a man, for you are 'most as good as a +boy!" cried Ben, anxious to deal handsomely with his +feminine rival, whose skill had raised her immensely +in his opinion. + +Feeling that he could not improve that last compliment, +Bab was fully satisfied, and let him leave the +prize upon her breast, conscious that she had some +claim to it. + +"That is where it should be, and Ben is a true +knight, winning the prize that he may give it to his +lady, while he is content with the victory," said Miss +Celia, laughingly, to Teacher, as the children ran off +to join in the riotous games which soon made the +orchard ring. + +"He learned that at the circus 'tunnyments,' as +he calls them. He is a nice boy, and I am much +interested in him; for he has the two things that do +most toward making a man, patience and courage," +answered Teacher, also as she watched the +young knight play and the honored lady +tearing about in a game of tag. + +"Bab is a nice child, too," said Miss Celia; "she +is as quick as a flash to catch an idea and carry it +out, though very often the ideas are wild ones. She +could have won just now, I fancy, if she had tried, +but took the notion into her head that it was nobler +to let Ben win, and so atone for the trouble she gave +him in losing the dog. I saw a very sweet look on +her face just now, and am sure that Ben will never +know why he beat." + +"She does such things at school sometimes, and I +can't bear to spoil her little atonements, though they +are not always needed or very wise," answered +Teacher. "Not long ago I found that she had been +giving her lunch day after day to a poor child who +seldom had any, and when I asked her why, she said, +with tears, 'I used to laugh at Abby, because she had +only crusty, dry bread, and so she wouldn't bring +any. I ought to give her mine and be hungry, it was +so mean to make fun of her poorness." + +"Did you stop the sacrifice?" + +"No; I let Bab 'go halves,' and added an extra +bit to my own lunch, so I could make my contribution +likewise." + +"Come and tell me about Abby. I want to make +friends with our poor people, for soon I shall have a +right to help them;" and, putting her arm in Teacher's, +Miss Celia led her away for a quiet chat in the porch, +making her guest's visit a happy holiday by confiding +several plans and asking advice in the friendliest way. + +CHAPTER XXI: CUPID'S LAST APPEARANCE + +A picnic supper on the grass followed the games, +and then, as twilight began to fall, the young +people were marshalled to the coach-house, +now transformed into a rustic theatre. One big door +was open, and seats, arranged lengthwise, faced the +red table-cloths which formed the curtain. A row of +lamps made very good foot-lights, and an invisible +band performed a Wagner-like overture on combs, +tin trumpets, drums, and pipes, with an accompaniment +of suppressed laughter. + +Many of the children had never seen any thing like +it, and sat staring about them in mute admiration and +expectancy; but the older ones criticised freely, and +indulged in wild speculations as to the meaning of +various convulsions of nature going on behind the +curtain. + +While Teacher was dressing the actresses for the +tragedy, Miss Celia and Thorny, who were old hands +at this sort of amusement, gave a "Potato" pantomime +as a side show. + +Across an empty stall a green cloth was fastened, +so high that the heads of the operators were not seen. +A little curtain flew up, disclosing the front of a +Chinese pagoda painted on pasteboard, with a door +and window which opened quite naturally. This stood +on one side, several green trees with paper lanterns +hanging from the boughs were on the other side, and +the words "Tea Garden," printed over the top, showed +the nature of this charming spot. + +Few of the children had ever seen the immortal +Punch and Judy, so this was a most agreeable novelty, +and before they could make out what it meant, a +voice began to sing, so distinctly that every word was +heard, -- + +"In China there lived a little man, +His name was Chingery Wangery Chan." + +Here the hero "took the stage" with great dignity, +clad in a loose yellow jacket over a blue skirt, which +concealed the hand that made his body. A pointed +hat adorned his head, and on removing this to bow +he disclosed a bald pate with a black queue in the +middle, and a Chinese face nicely painted on the +potato, the lower part of which was hollowed out to +fit Thorny's first finger, while his thumb and second +finger were in the sleeves of the yellow jacket, making +a lively pair of arms. While he saluted, the song +went n, -- + +"His legs were short, his feet were small, +And this little man could not walk at all." + +Which assertion was proved to be false by the agility +with which the "little man " danced a jig in time +to the rollicking chorus, -- + +"Chingery changery ri co day, +Ekel tekel happy man; +Uron odesko canty oh, oh, +Gallopy wallopy China go." + +At the close of the dance and chorus, Chan retired +into the tea garden, and drank so many cups of the +national beverage, with such comic gestures, that the +spectators were almost sorry when the opening of +the opposite window drew all eyes in that direction. +At the lattice appeared a lovely being; for this potato +had been pared, and on the white surface were painted +pretty pink checks, red lips, black eyes, and oblique +brows; through the tuft of dark silk on the head +were stuck several glittering pins, and a pink jacket +shrouded the plump figure of this capital little Chinese +lady. After peeping coyly out, so that all could +see and admire, she fell to counting the money from +a purse, so large her small hands could hardly hold it +on the window seat. While she did this, the song +went on to explain, -- + +"Miss Ki Hi was short and squat, +She had money and he had not +So off to her he resolved to go, +And play her a tune on his little banjo." + +During the chorus to this verse Chan was seen tuning +his instrument in the garden, and at the end +sallied gallantly forth to sing the following tender +strain, -- + +"Whang fun li, +Tang hua ki, +Hong Kong do ra me! +Ah sin lo, +Pan to fo, +Tsing up chin leute!" + +Carried away by his passion, Chan dropped his +banjo, fell upon his knees, and, clasping his hands, +bowed his forehead in the dust before his idol. But, +alas! -- + +"Miss Ki Hi heard his notes of love, +And held her wash-bowl up above +It fell upon the little man, +And this was the end of Chingery Chan," + +Indeed it was; for, as the doll's basin of real water +was cast forth by the cruel charmer, poor Chan expired +in such strong convulsions that his head rolled +down among the audience. Miss Ki Hi peeped to +see what had become of her victim, and the shutter +decapitated her likewise, to the great delight of the +children, who passed around the heads, pronouncing +a "Potato" pantomime "first-rate fun." + +Then they settled themselves for the show, having +been assured by Manager Thorny that they were about +to behold the most elegant and varied combination +ever produced on any stage. And when one reads +the following very inadequate description of the +somewhat mixed entertainment, it is impossible to deny +that the promise made was nobly kept. + +After some delay and several crashes behind the +curtain, which mightily amused the audience, the +performance began with the well-known tragedy of +"Bluebeard;" for Bab had set her heart upon it, +and the young folks had acted it so often in their +plays that it was very easy to get up, with a few +extra touches to scenery and costumes. Thorny was +superb as the tyrant with a beard of bright blue worsted, +a slouched hat and long feather, fur cloak, red +hose, rubber boots, and a real sword which clanked +tragically as he walked. He spoke in such a deep +voice, knit his corked eye-brows, and glared so +frightfully, that it was no wonder poor Fatima quaked +before him as he gave into her keeping an immense +bunch of keys with one particularly big, bright one, +among them. + +Bab was fine to see, with Miss Celia's blue dress +sweeping behind her, a white plume in her flowing +hair, and a real necklace with a pearl locket about her +neck. She did her part capitally, especially the shriek +she gave when she looked into the fatal closet, the +energy with which she scrubbed the tell-tale key, +and her distracted tone when she callcd out: "Sister +Anne, O, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?" +while her enraged husband was roaring: "Will you +come down, madam, or shall I come and fetch +you?" + +Betty made a captivating Anne, -- all in white muslin, +and a hat full of such lovely pink roses that she +could not help putting up one hand to feel them as +she stood on the steps looking out at the little window +for the approaching brothers who made such a din +that it sounded like a dozen horsemen instead if two. + +Ben and Billy were got up regardless of expense in +the way of arms; for their belts were perfect arsenals, +and their wooden swoids were big enough to strike +terror into any soul, though they struck no sparks out +of Bluebeard's blade in the awful combat which preceded +the villain's downfall and death. + +The boys enjoyed this part intensely, and cries of +"Go it, Ben!" " Hit him again, Billy!" "Two against +one isn't fair!" "Thorny's a match for 'em." " Now +he's down, hurray!" cheered on the combatants, till, +after a terrific struggle, the tyrant fell, and with +convulsive twitchings of the scarlet legs, slowly expired +while the ladies sociably fainted in each other's arms, +and the brothers waved their swords and shook hands +over the corpse of their enemy. + +This piece was rapturously applauded, and all the +performers had to appear and bow their thanks, led +by the defunct Bluebeard, who mildly warned the +excited audience that if they "didn't look out the seats +would break down, and then there'd be a nice mess." + +Calmed by this fear they composed themselves, and +waited with ardor for the next play, which promised to +be a lively one, judging from the shrieks of laughter +which came from behind the cuitain. + +"Sanch 's going to be in it, I know; for I heard +Ben say, 'Hold him still; he won't bite,'" whispered +Sam, longing to "jounce up and down, so great was +his satisfaction at the prospect, for the dog was +considered the star of the company. + +"I hope Bab will do something else, she is so funny. +Wasn't her dress elegant?" said Sally Folsum, burning +to wear a long wilk gown and a feathei in her hair. + +"I like Betty best, she's so cunning, and she peeked +out of the window just as if she really saw somebody +coming," answered Liddy Peckham, privately resolving +to tease mother for some pink roses before another +Sunday came. + +Up went the curtain at last, and a voice announced +"A Tragedy in Three Tableaux." "There's Betty!" +was the general exclamation, as the audience recognized +a familiar face under the little red hood worn by +the child who stood receiving a basket from Teacher, +who made a nice mother with her finger up, as if +telling the small messenger not to loiter by the way. + +"I know what that is!" cried Sally; "it's 'Mabel +on Midsummer Day.' The piece Miss Celia spoke; +don't you know?" + +"There isn't any sick baby, and Mabel had a 'kerchief +pinned about her head.' I say it's Red Riding +Hood," answered Liddy, who had begun to learn +Mary Howitt's pretty poem for her next piece, and +knew all about it. + +The question was settled by the appearance of the +wolf in the second scene, and such a wolf! On few +amateur stages do we find so natural an actor for that +part, or so good a costume, for Sanch was irresistibly +droll in the gray wolf-skin which usually lay beside +Miss Celia's bed, now fitted over his back and fastened +neatly down underneath, with his own face +peeping out at one end, and the handsome tail bobing +gayly at the other. What a comfort that tail was +to Sancho, none but a bereaved bow-wow could ever +tell. It reconciled him to his distasteful part at once, +it made rehearsals a joy, and even before the public +he could not resist turning to catch a glimpse of the +noble appendage, while his own brief member wagged +with the proud consciousness that though the tail did +not match the head, it was long enough to be seen of +all men and dogs. + +That was a pretty picture, for the little maid came +walking in with the basket on her arm, and such an +innocent face inside the bright hood that it was quite +natural the gray wolf should trot up to her with +deceitful friendliness, that she should pat and talk +to him confidingly about the butter for grandma, and +then that they should walk away together, he politely +carrying her basket, she with her hand on his head, +little dreaming what evil plans were taking shape +inside. + +The children encored that, but there was no time +to repeat it, so they listened to more stifled merriment +behind the red table-cloths, and wondered +whether the next scene would be the wolf popping his +head out ofthe window as Red Riding Hood knocks, +or the tragic end of that sweet child. + +It was neither, for a nice bed had been made, and +in it reposed the false grandmother, with a ruffled +nightcap on, a white gown, and spectacles. Betty +lay beside the wolf, staring at him as if just about to +say, "Why, grandma, what great teeth you've got!" +for Sancho's mouth was half open and a red tongue +hung out, as he panted with the exertion of keeping +still. This tableau was so very good, and yet so +funny, that the children clapped and shouted frantically; +this excited the dog, who gave a bounce and +would have leaped off the bed to bark at the rioters, +if Betty had not caught him by the legs, and Thorny +dropped the curtain just at the moment when the +wicked wolf was apparently in the act of devouring +the poor little girl, with most effuctive growls. + +They had to come out then, and did so, both much +dishevelled by the late tussle, for Sancho's cap was all +over one eye, and Betty's hood was anywhere but on +her head. She made her courtesy prettily, however; +her fellow-actor bowed with as much dignity as a short +night-gown permitted, and they retired to their well- +earned repose. + +Then Thorny, looking much excited, appeared to +make the following request: "As one of the actors in +the next piece is new to the business, the company +must all keep as still as mice, and not stir till I give +the word. It's perfectly splendid! so don't you spoil +it by making a row." + +"What do you suppose it is?" asked every one, and +listened with all their might to get a hint, if possible. +But what they heard only whetted their curiosity and +mystified them more and more. Bab's voice cried in +a loud whisper, "Isn't Ben beautiful?" Then there +was a thumping noise, and Miss Celia said, in an +anxious tone, "Oh, do be careful," while Ben laughed +out as if he was too happy to care who heard him, +and Thorny bawled "Whoa!" in a way which would +have attracted attention if Lita's head had not +popped out of her box, more than once, to survey +the invaders of her abode, with a much astonished +expression. + +"Sounds kind of circusy, don't it?" said Sam to +Billy, who had come out to receive the compliments +of the company and enjoy the tableau at a safe +distance. + +"You just wait till you see what's coming. It beats +any circus I ever saw," answered Billy, rubbing his +hands with the air of a man who had seen many instead +of but one. + +"Ready! Be quick and get out of the way when +she goes off!" whispered Ben, but they heard him and +prepared for pistols, rockets or combustibles of some +sort, as ships were impossible under the circumstances, +and no other "She" occurred to them. + +A unanimous "O-o-o-o !" was heard when the curtain +rose, but a stern "Hush!" from Thorny kept +them mutely staring with all their eyes at the grand +spectacle of the evening. There stood Lita with a +wide flat saddle on her back, a white head-stall and +reins, blue rosettes in her ears, and the look of a +much-bewildered beast in her bright eyes. But who the +gauzy, spangled, winged creature was, with a gilt +crown on its head, a little bow in its hand, and one white +slipper in the air, while the other seemed merely to +touch the saddle, no one could tell for a minute, so +strange and splendid did the apparition appear. No +wonder Ben was not recognized in this brilliant +disguise, which was more natural to him than Billy's blue +flannel or Thorny's respectable garments. He had so +begged to be allowed to show himself "just once," as +he used to be in the days when "father" tossed him +up on the bare-backed old General, for hundreds to +see and admire, that Miss Celia had consented, much +against her will, and hastily arranged some bits of +spangled tarlatan over the white cotton suit which was to +simulate the regulation tights. Her old dancing slippers +fitted, and gold paper did the rest, while Ben, +sure of his power over Lita, promised not to break +his bones, and lived for days on the thought of the +moment when he could show the boys that he had not +boasted vainly of past splendors. + +Before the delighted children could get their breath, +Lita gave signs of her dislike to the foot-lights, and, +gathering up the reins that lay on her neck, Ben gave +the old cry, "Houp-la!" and let her go, as he had +often done before, straight out of the coach-house for +a gallop round the orchard. + +"Just turn about and you can see perfectly well, +but stay where you are till he comes back," commanded +Thorny, as signs of commotion appeared in +the excited audience. + +Round went the twenty children as if turned by +one crank, and sitting there they looked out into the +moonlight where the shining figure flashed to and fro, +now so near they could see the smiling face under +the crown, now so far away that it glittered like a +fire-fly among the dusky green. Lita enjoyed that +race as heartily as she had done several others of late, +and caracoled about as if anxious to make up for her +lack of skill by speed and obedience. How much +Ben liked it there is no need to tell, yet it was a +proof of the good which three months of a quiet, useful +life had done him, that even as he pranced gayly +under the boughs thick with the red and yellow apples +almost ready to be gathered, he found this riding in +the fresh air with only his mates for an audience +pleasanter than the crowded tent, the tired horses, +profane men, and painted women, friendly as some of +them had been to him. + +After the first burst was over, he felt rather glad, on +the whole, that he was going back to plain clothes, +helpful school, and kindly people, who cared more to +have him a good boy than the most famous Cupid that +ever stood on one leg with a fast horse under him. + +"You may make as much noise as you like, now; +Lita's had her run and will be as quiet as a lamb after +it. Pull up, Ben, and come in; sister says you'll get +cold," shouted Thorny, as the rider came cantering +round after a leap over the lodge gate and back +again. + +So Ben pulled up, and the admiring boys and girls +were allowed to gather about him, loud in their +praises as they examined the pretty mare and the +mythological character who lay easily on her back. + +He looked very little like the god of love now; for +he had lost one slipper and splashed his white legs +with dew and dust, the crown had slipped down upon +his neck, and the paper wings hung in an apple-tree +where he had left them as he went by. No trouble +in recognizing Ben, now; but somehow he didn't +want to be seen, and, instead of staying to be praised, +he soon slipped away, making Lita his excuse to +vanish behind the curtain while the rest went into the +house to have a finishing-off game of blindman's-buff +in the big kitchen. + +"Well, Ben, are you satisfied?" asked Miss Celia, +as she stayed a moment to unpin the remains of his +gauzy scarf and tunic. + +"Yes, 'm, thank you, it was tip-top." + +"But you look rather sober. Are you tired, or is +it because vou don't want to take these trappings off +and be plain Ben again?" she said, looking down +into his face as he lifted it for her to free him from +his gilded collar. + +"I want to take 'em off; for somehow I don't feel +respectable," and he kicked away the crown he had +helped to make so carefully, adding with a glance +that said more than his words: "I'd rather be 'plain +Ben' than any one else, for you like to have me." + +"Indeed I do; and I'm so glad to hear you say +that, because I was afraid you'd long to be off to the +old ways, and all I've tred to do would be undone. +Would you like to go back, Ben?" and Miss Celia +held his chin an instant, to watch the brown face that +looked so honestly back at her. + +"No, I wouldn't -- unless -- he was there and +wanted me." + +The chin quivered just a bit, but the black eyes +were as bright as ever, and the boy's voice so earnest, +she knew he spoke the truth, and laid her white hand +softly on his head, as she answered in the tone he +loved so much, because no one else had ever used it +to him, -- + +"Father is not there; but I know he wants you, +dear, and I am sure he would rather see you in a +home like this than in the place you came from. Now +go and dress; but, tell me first, has it been a happy +birthday?" + +"Oh, Miss Celia! I didn't know they could be so +beautiful, and this is the beautifulest part of it; +I don't know how to thank you, but I'm going to try --" and, +finding words wouldn't come fast enough, Ben just +put his two arms round her, quite speechless with +gratitude; then, as if ashamed of his little outburst, +he knelt down in a great hurry to untie his one shoe. + +But Miss Celia liked his answer better than the +finest speech ever made her, and went away through +the moonlight, saying to herself, -- + +"If I can bring one lost lamb into the fold, I shall +be the fitter for a shepherd's wife, by-and-by." + +CHAPTER XXII: A BOY'S BARGAIN + +It was some days before the children were tired +of talking over Ben's birthday party; for it was +a great event in their small world; but, gradually, +newer pleasures came to occupy their minds, +and they began to plan the nutting frolics which +always followed the early frosts. While waiting for +Jack to open the chestnut burrs, they varied the +monotony of school life by a lively scrimmage long +known as "the wood-pile fight." + +The girls liked to play in the half-empty shed, and +the boys, merely for the fun of teasing, declared that +they should not, so blocked up the doorway as fast as +the girls cleared it. Seeing that the squabble was a +merry one,and the exercise better for all than lounging +in the sun or reading in school during recess, Teacher +did not interfere, and the barrier rose and fell almost +as regularly as the tide. + +It would be difficult to say which side worked the +harder; for the boys went before school began to +build up the barricade, and the girls stayed after +lessons were over to pull down the last one made in +afternoon recess. They had their play-time first; +and, while the boys waited inside, they heard the +shouts of the girls, the banging of the wood, and the +final crash, as the well-packed pile went down. Then, +as the lassies came in, rosy, breathless, and triumphant, +the lads rushed out to man the breach, and labor gallantly +till all was as tight as hard blows could make it. + +So the battle raged, and bruised knuckles, splinters +in fingers, torn clothes, and rubbed shoes, were the +only wounds received, while a great deal of fun was +had out of the maltreated logs, and a lasting peace +secured between two of the boys. + +When the party was safely over, Sam began to fall +into his old way of tormenting Ben by calling names, +as it cost no exertion to invent trying speeches, and +slyly utter them when most likely to annoy. Ben +bore it as well as he could; but fortune favored him +at last, as it usually does the patient, and he was ble +to make his own terms with his tormentor. + +When the girls demolished the wood-pile, they performed +a jubilee chorus on combs, and tin kettles, +played like tambourines; the boys celebrated their +victories with shrill whistles, and a drum accompaniment +with fists on the shed walls. Billy brought his +drum, and this was such an addition that Sam hunted +up an old one of his little brother's, in order that he +might join the drum corps. He had no sticks, however, +and, casting about in his mind for a good +substitute for the genuine thing, bethought him of +bulrushes. + +"Those will do first-rate, and there are lots in the +ma'sh, if I can only get 'em," he said to himself, and +turned off from the road on his way home to get a +supply. + +Now, this marsh was a treacherous spot, and the +tragic story was told of a cow who got in there and +sank till nothing was visible but a pair of horns above +the mud, which suffocated the unwary beast. For this +reason it was called "Cowslip Marsh," the wags said, +though it was generally believed to be so named for +the yellow flowers which grew there in great profusion +in the spring. + +Sam had seen Ben hop nimbly from one tuft of +grass to another when he went to gather cowslips for +Betty, and the stout boy thought he could do the +same. Two or three heavy jumps landed him, not +among the bulrushes, as he had hoped, but in a pool +of muddy water, where he sank up to his middle with +alarming rapidity. Much scared, he tried to wade out, +but could only flounder to a tussock of grass, and +cling there, while he endeavored to kick his legs free. +He got them out, but struggled in vain to coil them +up or to hoist his heavy body upon the very small +island in this sea of mud. Down they splashed +again; and Sam gave a dismal groan as he thought +of the leeches and water-snakes which might be lying +in wait below. Visions of the lost cow also flashed +across his agitated mind, and he gave a despairing +shout very like a distracted "Moo!" + +Few people passed along the lane, and the sun was +setting, so the prospect of a night in the marsh nerved +Sam to make a frantic plunge toward the bulrush +island, which was nearer than the mainland, and +looked firmer than any tussock round him. But he +failed to reach this haven of rest, and was forced to stop +at an old stump which stuck up, looking very like the +moss-grown horns of the "dear departed." Roosting +here, Sarn began to shout for aid in every key possible +to the human voice. Such hoots and howls, whistles +and roars, never woke the echoes of the lonely marsh +before, or scared the portly frog who resided there in +calm seclusion. + +He hardly expected any reply but the astonished +Caw!" of the crow, who sat upon a fence watching +him with gloomy interest; and when a cheerful +"Hullo, there!" sounded from the lane, he was so +grateful that tears of joy rolled down his fat cheeks. + +"Come on! I'm in the ma'sh. Lend a hand and +get me out! bawled Sam, anxiously waiting for his +deliverer to appear, for he could only see a hat bobbing +along behind the hazel-bushes that fringed the lane. + +Steps crashed through the bushes, and then over +the wall came an active figure, at the sight of which +Sam was almost ready to dive out of sight, for, of all +possible boys, who should it be but Ben, the last person +in the world whom he would like to have see +him in his present pitiful plight. + +"Is it you, Sam? Well, you are in a nice fix!" +and Ben's eyes began to twinkle with mischievous +merriment, as well they might, for Sam certainly was +a spectacle to convulse the soberest person. Perched +unsteadily on the gnarled stump, with his muddy legs +drawn up, his dismal face splashed with mud, and the +whole lower half of his body as black as if he had +been dipped in an inkstand, he presented such a +comically doleful object that Ben danced about, +laughing like a naughty will-o'-the-wisp who, having +led a traveller astray then fell to jeering at him. + +"Stop that, or I'll knock your head off!" roared +Sam, in a rage. + +"Come on and do it; I give you leave," answered +Ben, sparring away derisively as the other tottered on +his perch, and was forced to hold tight lest he should +tumble off. + +"Don't laugh, there 's a good chap, but fish me out +somehow, or I shall get my death sitting here all wet +and cold," whined Sam, changing his tune, and feeling +bitterly that Ben had the upper hand now. + +Ben felt it also; and, though a very good-natured +boy, could not resist the temptation to enjoy this +advantage for a moment at least. + +"I won't laugh if I can help it; only you do look +so like a fat, speckled frog, I may not be able to hold +in. I'll pull you out pretty soon; but first I'm going +to talk to you, Sam," said Ben, sobering down as he +took a seat on the little point of land nearest the +stranded Samuel. + +"Hurry up, then; I'm as stiff as a board now, and +it's no fun sitting here on this knotty old thing," +growled Sam, with a discontented squirm. + +"Dare say not, but 'it is good for you,' as you say +when you rap me over the head. Look here, I've +got you in a tight place, and I don't mean to help +you a bit till you promise to let me alone. Now +then!" and Ben's face grew stern with his remembered +wrongs as he grimly eyed his discomfited foe. + +"I'll promise fast enough if you won't tell anyone +about this," answered Sam, surveying himself and his +surroundings with great disgust. + +"I shall do as I like about that." + +"Then I won't promise a thing! I'm not going +to have the whole school laughing at me," protested +Sam, who hated to be ridiculed even more than Ben +did. + +"Very well; good-night!" and Ben walked off +with his hands in his pockets as coolly as if the bog +was Sam's favorite retreat. + +"Hold on, don't be in such a hurry!" shouted Sam, +seeing little hope of rescue if he let this chance go. + +"All right! " and back came Ben, ready for further +negotiations. + +"I'll promise not to plague you, if you'll promise +not to tell on me. Is that what you want?" + +"Now I come to think of it, there is one thing +more. I like to make a good bargain when I begin," +said Ben, with a shrewd air. " You must promise to +keep Mose quiet, too. He follows your lead, and if +you tell him to stop it he will. If I was big enough, +I'd make you hold your tongues. I ain't, so we'll +try this way." + +"Yes, Yes, I'll see to Mose. Now, bring on a rail, +there's a good fellow. I've got a horrid cramp in +my legs," began Sam, thinking he had bought help +dearly, yet admiring Ben's cleverness in making the +most of his chance. + +Ben brought the rail, but, just as he was about to +lay it from the main-land to the nearest tussock, he +stopped, saying, with the naughty twinkle in his black +eyes again, "One more little thing must be settled +first, and then I'll get you ashore. promise you +won't plague the girls either, 'specially Bab and +Betty. You pull their hair, and they don't like it." + +"Don't neither! Wouldn't touch that Bab for a +dollar; she scratches and bites like a mad cat," was +Sam's sulky reply. + +"Glad of it; she can take care of herself. Betty +can't; and if you touch one of her pig-tails I'll up +and tell right out how I found you snivelling in the +ma'sh like a great baby. So now!" and Ben emphasized +his threat with a blow of the suspended rail +which splashed the water over poor Sam, quenching +his last spark of resistance. + +"Stop! I will! -- I will!" + +"True as you live and breathe!" demanded Ben, +sternly binding him by the most solemn oath he +knew. + +"True as I live and breathe," echoed Sam, dolefully +relinquishing his favorite pastime of pulling +Betty's braids and asking if she was at home. + +"I'll come over there and crook fingers on the +bargain," said Ben, settling the rail and running over +it to the tuft, then bridging another pool and crossing +again till he came to the stump. + +"I never thought of that way," said Sam, watching +him with much inward chagrin at his own failure. + +"I should think you'd written 'Look before you +leap,' in your copy-book often enough to get the idea +into your stupid head. Come, crook," commanded +Ben, leaning forward with extended little finger. +Sam obediently performed the ceremony, and then +Ben sat astride one of the horns of the stump while +the muddy Crusoe went slowly across the rail from +point to point till he landed safely on the shore, +when he turned about and asked with an ungrateful +jeer, -- + +"Now what's going to become of you, old Look- +before-you-leap ? " + +"Mud turtles can only sit on a stump and bawl till +they are taken off, but frogs have legs worth something, +and are not afraid of a little water," answered +Ben, hopping away in an opposite direction, since +the pools between him and Sam were too wide for +even his lively legs. + +Sam waddled off to the brook in the lane to +rinse the mud from his nether man before facing his +mother, and was just wringing himself out when Ben +came up, breathless but good natured, for he felt that +he had made an excellent bargain for himself and +friends. + +"Better wash your face; it's as speckled as a +tiger-lily. Here's my handkerchief if yours is wet," +he said, pulling out a dingy article which had +evidently already done service as a towel. + +"Don't want it," muttered Sam, gruffly, as he +poured the water out of his muddy shoes. + +"I was taught to say ' Thanky' when folks got me +out of scrapes. But you never had much bringing +up, though you do 'live in a house with a gambrel +roof,'" retorted Ben, sarcastically quoting Sam's +frequent boast; then he walked off, much disgusted +with the ingratitude of man. + +Sam forgot his manners, but he remembered his +promise, and kept it so well that all the school +wondered. No one could guess the secret of Ben's power +over him, though it was evident that he had gained +it in some sudden way, for at the least sign of Sam's +former tricks Ben would crook his little finger and +wag it warningly, or call out "Bulrushes!" and Sam +subsided with reluctant submission, to the great +amazement of his mates. When asked what it meant, +Sa, turned sulky; but Ben had much fun out of it, +assuring the other boys that those were the signs +and password of a secret society to which he and +Sam belonged, and promised to tell them all about it +if Sam would give him leave, which, of course, he +would not. + +This mystery, and the vain endeavors to find it +out caused a lull in the war of the wood-pile, and +before any new game was invented something happened +which gave the children plenty to talk about for a +time. + +A week after the secret alliance was formed, Ben +ran in one evening with a letter for Miss Celia. He +found her enjoying the cheery blaze of the pine-cones +the little girls had picked up for her, and Bab and +Betty sat in the small chairs rocking luxuriously as +they took turns to throw on the pretty fuel. Miss +Celia turned quickly to receive the expected letter, +glanced at the writing, post-mark and stamp, with +an air of delighted surprise, then clasped it close +in both hands, saying, as she hurried out of the +room, -- + +"He has come! he has come! Now you may tell +them, Thorny." + +"Tell its what? asked Bab, pricking up her cars +at once. + +"Oh, it's only that George has come, and I suppose +we shall go and get married right away," answered +Thorny, rubbing his hands as if he enjoyed +the prospect. + +"Are you going to be married? asked Betty, so soberly +that the boys shouted, and Thorny, with difficulty +composed himself sufficiently to explain. + +"No, child, not just yet; but sister is, and I must +go and see that all is done up ship-shape, and bring +you home some wedding-cake. Ben will take care +of you while I'm gone." + +"When shall you go?" asked Bab, beginning to long +for her share of cake. + +"To-morrow, I guess. Celia has been packed and +ready for a week. We agreed to meet George in New +York, and be married as soon as he got his best clothes +unpacked. We are men of our word, and off we go. +Won't it be fun?" + +"But when will you come back again?" questioned +Betty, looking anxious. + +"Don't know. Sister wants to come soon, but I'd +rather have our honeymoon somewhere else, -- Niagara, +Newfoundland, West Point, or the Rocky Mountains," +said Thorny, mentioning a few of the places he +most desired to see. + +"Do you like him?" asked Ben, very naturally wondering +if the new master would approve of the young man-of-all-work. + +"Don't I? George is regularly jolly; though now +he's a minister, perhaps he'll stiffen up and turn sober. +Won't it be a shame if he does?" and Thorny looked +alarmed at the thought of losing his congenial friend. + +"Tell about him; Miss Celia said you might", put +in Bab, whuse experience of "jolly" ministers had +been small. + +"Oh, there isn't much about it. We met in Switzerland +going up Mount St. Bernard in a storm, and -- " + +"Where the good dogs live?" inquired Betty, hoping +they would come into the story. + +"Yes; we spent the night up there, and George +gave us his room; the house was so full, and he +wouldn't let me go down a steep place where I wanted +to, and Celia thought he'd saved my life, and was very +good to him. Then we kept meeting, and the first thing +I knew she went and was engaged to him. I didn't +care, only she would come home so he might go on +studying hard and get through quick. That was a year +ago, and last winter we were in New York at uncle's; +and then, in the spring, I was sick, and we came here, +and that's all." + +"Shall you live here always when you come back? +asked Bab, as Thorny paused for breath. + +"Celia wants to. I shall go to college, so I don't +mind. George is going to help the old minister here +and see how he likes it. I'm to study with him, and +if he is as pleasant as he used to be we shall have +capital times, -- see if we don't." + +"I wonder if he will want me round," said Ben, +feeling no desire to be a tramp again. + +"I do, so you needn't fret about that, my hearty," +answered Thorny, with a resounding slap on the +shoulder which reassured Ben more than any promises. + +"I'd like to see a live wedding, then we could play +it with our dolls. I've got a nice piece of mosquito +netting for a veil, and Belinda's white dress is clean. +Do you s'pose Miss Celia will ask us to hers?" said +Betty to Bab, as the boys began to discuss St. Bernard +dogs with Spirit. + +"I wish I could, dears," answered a voice behind +them; and there was Miss Celia, looking so happy that +the little girls wondered what the letter could have said +to give her such bright eyes and smiling lips." I shall +not be gone long, or be a bit changed when I come +back, to live among you years I hope, for I am fond +of the old place now, and mean it shall be home," she +added, caressing the yellow heads as if they were dear +to her. + +"Oh, goody!" cried Bab, while Betty whispered +with both arms round Miss Celia, -- + +"I don't think we could bear to have anybody else +come here to live." + +"It is very pleasant to hear you say that, and I mean +to make others feel so, if I can. I have been trying a +little this summer, but when I come back I shall go to +work in earnest to be a good minister's wife, and you +must help me." + +"We will," promised both children, ready for any +thing except preaching in the high pulpit. + +Then Miss Celia turned to Ben, saying, in the +respectful way that always made him feel at least +twenty-five, -- + +"We shall be off to-moriow, and I leave you in +charge. Go on just as if we were here, and be sure +nothing will be changed as far as you are concerned +when we come back." + +Ben's face beamed at that; but the only way he +could express his relief was by making such a blaze +in honor of the occasion that he nearly roasted the +company. + +Next morning, the brother and sister slipped quietly +away, and the children hurried to school, eager to tell +the great news that "Miss Celia and Thorny had gone +to be married, and were coming back to live here for +ever and ever." + + +CHAPTER XXIII: SOMEBODY COMES + +Bab and Betty had been playing in the avenue +all the afternoon several weeks later, but as the +shadows began to lengthen both agreed to sit +upon the gate and rest while waiting for Ben, who had +gone nutting with a party of boys. When they played +house Bab was always the father, and went hunting or +fishing with great energy and success, bringing home +all sorts of game, from elephants and crocodiles to +humming-birds and minnows. Betty was the mother, and +a most notable little housewife, always mixing up +imaginary delicacies with sand and dirt in old pans +and broken china, which she baked in an oven of her +own construction. + +Both had worked hard that day, and were glad to +retire to their favorite lounging-place, where Bab was +happy trying to walk across the wide top bar without +falling off, and Betty enjoyed slow, luxurious swings +while her sister was recovering from her tumbles. On +this occasion, having indulged their respective tastes, +they paused for a brief interval of conversation, sitting +side by side on the gate like a pair of plump gray +chickens gone to roost. + +"Don't you hope Ben will get his bag full? We +shall have such fun eating nuts evenings observed +Bab, wrapping her arms in her apron, for it was October +now, and the air was growing keen. + +"Yes, and Ma says we may boil some in our little +kettles. Ben promised we should have half," answered +Betty, still intent on her cookery. + +"I shall save some of mine for Thorny." + +"I shall keep lots of mine for Miss Celia." + +"Doesn't it seem more than two weeks since she +went away?" + +"I wonder what she'll bring us." + +Before Bab could conjecture, the sound of a step +and a familiar whistle made both look expectantly +toward the turn in the road, all ready to cry out in +one voice, "How many have you got?" Neither +spoke a word, however, for the figure which presently +appeared was not Ben, but a stranger, -- a man +who stopped whistling, and came slowly on dusting +his shoes in the way-side grass, and brushing the +sleeves of his shabby velveteen coat as if anxious to +freshen himself up a bit. + +"It's a tramp, let's run away," whispered Betty, +after a hasty look. + +"I ain't afraid," and Bab was about to assume her +boldest look when a sneeze spoilt it, and made her +clutch the gate to hold on. + +At that unexpected sound the man looked up, +showing a thin, dark face, with a pair of sharp, black +eyes, which surveyed the little girls so steadily that +Betty quaked, and Bab began to wish she had at +least jumped down inside the gate. + +"How are you?" said the man with a goodnatured +nod and smile, as if to re-assure the round-eyed +children staring at him. + +"Pretty well, thank you, sir," responded Bab, +politely nodding back at him. + +"Folks at home? " asked the ,an, looking over +their heads toward the house. + +"Only Ma; all the rest have gone to be married." + +"That sounds lively. At the other place all the +folks had gone to a funeral," and the man laughed as +he glanced at the big house on the hill. + +"Whh, do you know the Squire?" exclaimed Bab, +much surprised and re-assured. + +"Come on purpose to see him. Just strolling +round till he gets back," with an impatient sort of +sigh. + +"Betty thought you was a tramp, but I wasn't +afraid. I like tramps ever since Ben came," +explained Bab, with her usual candor. + +"Who 's Ben!" and the man came nearer so +quickly that Betty nearly fell backward. "Don't +you be scared, Sissy. I like little girls, so you set +easy and tell me about Ben," he added, in a persuasive +tone, as he leaned on the gate so near that both +could see what a friendly face he had in spite of its +eager, anxious look. + +"Ben is Miss Celia's boy. We found him most +starved in the coach-house, and he's been here ever +since," answered Bab, comprehensively. + +"Tell me about it. I like tramps, too," and +the man looked as if he did very much, as Bab told +the little story in a few childish words that were +better than a much more elegant account. + +"You were very good to the little feller," was all +the man said when she ended her somewhat confused +tale, in which she had jumbled the old coach +and Miss Celia, dinner-pails and nutting, Sancho and +circuses. + +"'Course we were! He's a nice boy and we are +fond of him, and he likes us," said Bab, heartily. + +" 'Specially me," put in Betty, quite at ease now, +for the black eyes had softened wonderfully, and the +brown face was smiling all over. + +"Don't wonder a mite. You are the nicest pair +of little girls I've seen this long time," and the man +put a hand on either side of them, as if he wanted to +hug the chubby children. But he didn't do it; he +merely smiled and stood there asking questions till +the two chatterboxes had told him every thing there +was to tell in the most confiding manner, for he very +soon ceased to seem like a stranger, and looked so +familiar that Bab, growing inquisitive in her turn, +suddenly said, -- + +"Haven't you ever been here before? It seems as +if I'd seen you." + +"Never in my life. Guess you've seen somebody +that looks like me," and the black eyes twinkled for +a minute as they looked into the puzzled little faces +before him, then he said, soberly, -- + +"I'm looking round for a likely boy; don't you +think this Ben would suite me? I want just such a +lively sort of chap." + +"Are you a circus man?" asked Bab, quickly. + +"Well, no, not now. I'm in better business." + +"I'm glad of it -- we don't approve of 'em; but I +do think they're splendid!" + +Bab began by gravely quoting Miss Celia, and ended +with an irrepressible burst of admiration which +contrasted drolly with her first remark. + +Betty added, anxiously: "We can't let Ben go any +way. I know he wouldn't want to, and Miss Celia +would feel bad. Please don't ask him." + +"He can do as he likes, I suppose. He hasn't got +any folks of his own, has he?" + +"No, his father died in California, and Ben felt so +bad he cried, and we were real sorry, and gave him a +piece of Ma, 'cause he was so lonesome," answered +Betty, in her tender little voice, with a pleading look +which made the man stroke her smooth check and +say, quite softly, -- + +"Bless your heart for that! I won't take him +away, child, or do a thing to trouble anybody that's +been good to him." + +"He 's coming now. I hear Sanch barking at the +squirrels!" cried Bab, standing up to get a good +look down the road. + +The man turned quickly, and Betty saw that he +breathed fast as he watched the spot where the low +sunshine lay warmly on the red maple at the corner. +Into this glow came unconscious Ben, whistling "Rory +O'Moore," loud and Clear, as he trudged along with a +heavy bag of nuts over his shoulder and the light full +on his contented face. Sancho trotted before and +saw the stranger first, for the sun in Ben's eyes +dazzled him. Since his sad loss Sancho cherished +a strong dislike to tramps, and now he paused to +growl and show his teeth, evidently intending to warn +this one off the premises. + +"He won't hurt you -- " began Bab, encouragingly; +but before she could add a chiding word to +the dog, Sanch gave an excited howl, and flew at the +man's throat as if about to throttle him. + +Betty screamed, and Bab was about to go to the +rescue when both perceived that the dog was licking +the stranger's face in an ecstasy of joy, and heard the +man say as he hugged the curly beast, -- + +"Good old Sanch!" I knew he wouldn't forget +master, and he doesn't" + +"What's the matter?" called Ben, coming up +briskly, with a strong grip of his stout stick. +There was no need of any answer, for, as he came +into the shadow, he saw the man, and stood looking +at him as if he were a ghost. + +"It's father, Benny; don't you know me?" asked the +man, with an odd sort of choke in his voice, as he thrust +the dog away, and held out both hands to the boy. +Down dropped the nuts, and crying, "Oh, Daddy, +Daddy!" Ben cast himself into the arms of the shabby +velveteen coat, while poor Sanch tore round them in +distracted circles, barking wildly, as if that was the +only way in which he could vent his rapture. + +What happened next Bab and Betty never stopped +to see, but, dropping from their roost, they went +flying home like startled Chicken Littles with the +astounding news that "Ben's father has come alive, +and Sancho knew him right away!" + +Mrs. Moss had just got her cleaning done up, and +was resting a minute before setting the table, but she +flew out of her old rocking-chair when the excited +children told the wonderful tale, exclaiming as they +ended, -- + +"Where is he? Go bring him here. I declare it +fairly takes my breath away!" + +Before Bab could obey, or her mother compose +herself, Sancho bounced in and spun round like an +insane top, trying to stand on his head, walk upright, +waltz and bark all at once, for the good old fellow +had so lost his head that he forgot the loss of his tail. + +"They are coming! they are coming! See, Ma, +what a nice man he is," said Bab, hopping about on +one foot as she watched the slowly approaching pair. + +"My patience, don't they look alike! I should +know he was Ben's Pa anywhere!" said Mrs. Moss, +running to the door in a hurry. + +They certainly did resemble one another, and it was +almost comical to see the same curve in the legs, the +same wide-awake style of wearing the hat, the same +sparkle of the eye, good-natured smile and agile +motion of every limb. Old Ben carried the bag in +one hand while young Ben held the other fast, looking +a little shame-faced at his own emotion now, for +there were marks of tears on his cheeks, but too glad +to repress the delight he felt that he had really found +Daddy this side heaven. + +Mrs. Moss unconsciously made a pretty little picture +of herself as she stood at the door with her honest +face shining and both hands ont, saying in a hearty +tone, which was a welcome in itself, + +"I'm real glad to see you safe and well, Mr. +Brown! Come right in and make yourself to home. +I guess there isn't a happier boy living than Ben is +to-night." + +"And I know there isn't a gratefuler man living +than I am for your kindness to my poor forsaken little +feller," answered Mr. Brown, dropping both his burdens +to give the comely woman's hands a hard shake. + +"Now don't say a word about it, but sit down and +rest, and we'll have tea in less'n no time. Ben must +be tired and hungry, though he's so happy I don't +believe he knows it," laughed Mrs. Moss, bustling +away to hide the tears in her eyes, anxious to make +things sociable and easy all round. + +With this end in view she set forth her best china, +and covered the table with food enough for a dozen, +thanking her stars that it was baking day, and +every thing had turned out well. Ben and his father sat +talking by the window till they were bidden to "draw +up and help themselves" with such hospitable warmth +that every thing had an extra relish to the hungry +pair. + +Ben paused occasionally to stroke the rusty coat- +sleeve with bread-and-buttery fingers to convince +himself that "Daddy" had really come, and his father +disposed of various inconvenient emotions by eating as +if food was unknown in California. Mrs. Moss beamed +on every one from behind the big tea-pot like a mild +full moon, while Bab and Betty kept interrupting one +another in their eagerness to tell something new about +Ben and how Sanch lost his tail. + +"Now you let Mr. Brown talk a little; we all want +to hear how he 'came alive,' as you call it," said Mrs. +Moss, as they drew round the fire in the "settin'-room," +leaving the tea-things to take care of themselves. + +It was not a long story, but a very interesting one +to this circle of listeners; all about the wild life on the +plains trading for mustangs, the terrible kick from a +vicious horse that nearly killed Ben, sen., the long +months of unconsciousness in the California hospital, +the slow recovery, the journey back, Mr. Smithers's +tale of the boy's disappearance, and then the anxious +trip to find out from Squire Allen where he now was. + +"I asked the hospital folks to write and tell you as +soon as I knew whether I was on my head or my +heels, and they promised; but they didn't; so I came +off the minute I could, and worked my way back, +expecting to find you at the old place. I was afraid +you'd have worn out your welcome here and gone +off again, for you are as fond of travelling as your +father." + +"I wanted to sometimes, but the folks here were +so dreadful good to me I couldn't," confessed Ben, +secretly surprised to find that the prospect of going off +with Daddy even cost him a pang of regret, for the +boy had taken root in the friendly soil, and was no +longer a wandering thistle-down, tossed about by +every wind that blew. + +"I know what I owe 'em, and you and I will work +out that debt before we die, or our name isn't B.B.," +said Mr. Brown, with an emphatic slap on his knee, +which Ben imitated half unconsciously as he exclaimed +heartily, -- + +"That's so!" adding, more quietly, "What are +you going to do now? Go back to Smithers and the +old business?" + +"Not likely, after the way he treated you, Sonny. +I've had it Out with him, and he won't want to see +me again in a hurry," answered Mr. Brown, with a +sudden kindling of the eye that reminded Bab of Ben's +face when he shook her after losing Sancho. + +"There's more circuses than his in the world; but +I'll have to limber out ever so much before I'm good +for much in that line," said the boy, stretching his +stout arms and legs with a curious mixture of satisfaction +and regret. + +"You've been living in clover and got fat, you +rascal," and his father gave him a poke here and there, +as Mr. Squeers did the plump Wackford, when displaying +him as a specimen of the fine diet at Do-the-boys Hall. +"Don't believe I could put you up now +if I tried, for I haven't got my strength back yet, and +we are both out of practice. It's just as well, for I've +about made up my mind to quit the business and +settle down somewhere for a spell, if I can get any +thing to do," continued the rider, folding his arms and +gazing thoughtfully into the fire. + +"I shouldn't wonder a mite if you could right here, +for Mr. Towne has a great boarding-stable over +yonder, and he's always wanting men." Said Mrs. +Moss, eagerly, for she dreaded to have Ben go, and +no one could forbid it if his father chose to take +him away. + +"That sounds likely. Thanky, ma'am. I'll look +up the concern and try my chance. Would you call +it too great a come-down to have father an 'ostler +after being first rider in the 'Great Golden Menagerie, +Circus, and Colossem,' hey, Ben? " asked Mr. Brown, +quoting the well-remembered show-bill with a laugh. + +"No, I shouldn't; it's real jolly up there when +the big barn is full and eighty horses have to be +taken care of. I love to go and see 'em. Mr. Towne +asked me to come and be stable-boy when I rode the +kicking gray the rest were afraid of. I hankered +to go, but Miss Celia had just got my new books, and +I knew she'd feel bad if I gave up going to school. +Now I'm glad I didn't, for I get on first rate and +like it." + +"You done right, boy, and I'm pleased with you. +Don't you ever be ungrateful to them that befriended +you, if you want to prosper. I'll tackle the stable +business a Monday and see what's to be done. Now +I ought to be walking, but I'll be round in the morning +ma'am, if you can spare Ben for a spell to-morrow. +We'd like to have a good Sunday tramp and talk; +wouldn't we, Sonny?" and Mr. Brown rose to go with +his hand on Ben's shoulder, as if loth to leave him +even for the night. + +Mrs. Moss saw the longing in his face, and forgetting +that he was an utter stranger, spoke right out of +her hospitable heart. + +"It's a long piece to the tavern, and my little back +bedroom is always ready. It won't make a mite of +trouble if you don't mind a plain place, and you are +heartily welcome." + +Mr. Brown looked pleased, but hesitated to accept +any further favor from the good soul who had already +done so much for him and his. Ben gave him no +time to speak, however, for running to a door he +flung it open and beckoned, saying, eagerly, -- + +"Do stay, father; it will be so nice to have you. +This is a tip-top room; I slept here the night I came, +and that bed was just splendid after bare ground for a +fortnight." + +"I'll stop, and as I'm pretty well done up, I guess +we may as well turn in now," answered the new guest; +then, as if the memory of that homeless little lad so +kindly cherished made his heart overflow in spite of +him, Mr. Brown paused at the door to say hastily, +with a hand on Bab and Betty's heads, as if his +promise was a very earnest one, -- + +"I don't forget, ma'am, these children shall never +want a friend while Ben Brown's alive; " then he shut +the door so quickly that the other Ben's prompt +"Hear, hear!" was cut short in the middle. + +"I s'pose he means that we shall have a piece of +Ben's father, because we gave Ben a piece of our +mother," said Betty, softly. + +"Of course he does, and it's all fair," answered +Bab, decidedly. "Isn't he a nice man, Ma? + +"Go to bed, children," was all the answer she got; +but when they were gone, Mrs. Moss, as she washed +up her dishes, more than once glanced at a certain +nail where a man's hat had not hung for five years, +and thought with a sigh what a natural, protecting air +that slouched felt had. + +If one wedding were not quite enough for a child's +story, we might here hint what no one dreamed of +then, that before the year came round again Ben +had found a mother, Bab and Betty a father, and Mr. +Brown's hat was quite at home behind the kitchen +door. But, on the whole, it is best not to say a word +about it. + +CHAPTER XXIV: THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED + +The Browns were up and out so early next +morning that Bab and BeLty were sure they +had run away in the night. But on looking +for them, they were discovered in the coach-house +criticising Lita, both with their hands in their pockets, +both chewing straws, and looking as much alike as a +big elephant and a small one. + +"That's as pretty a little span as I've seen for a +long time," said the elder Ben, as the children came +trotting down the path hand in hand, with the four +blue bows at the ends of their braids bobbing briskly +up and down. + +"The nigh one is my favorite, but the off one is +the best goer, though she's dreadfully hard bitted," +answered Ben the younger, with such a comical assumption +of a jockey's important air that his father +laughed as he said in an undertone, -- + +"Come, boy, we must drop the old slang since +we've given up the old business. These good folks +are making a gentleman of you, and I won't be the +one to spoil their work. Hold on, my dears, and I'll +show you how they say good-moining in California," +he added, beckoning to the litlle girls, who now came +up rosy and smiling. + +"Breakfast is ready, sir," said Betty, looking much +relieved to find them. + +"We thought you'd run away from us," explained +Bab, as both put out their hands to shake those +extended to them. + +"That would be a mean trick. But I'm going to +run away with you," and Mr. Brown whisked a little +girl to either shoulder before they knew what had +happened, while Ben, remembering the day, with +difficulty restrained himself from turning a series +of triumphant somersaults before them all the way +to the door, where Mrs. Moss stood waiting for +them. + +After breakfast Ben disappeared for a short time, +and returned in his Sunday suit, looking so neat and +fresh that his father surveyed him with surprise and +pride as he came in full of boyish satisfaction in his +trim array. + +"Here's a smart young chap! Did you take all +that trouble just to go to walk with old Daddy?" +asked Mr. Brown, stroking the smooth head, for they +were alone just then, Mrs. Moss and the children +being up stairs preparing for church. + +"I thought may be you'd like to go to meeting +first," answered Ben, looking up at him with such a +happy face that it was hard to refuse any thing. +I'm too shabby, Sonny, else I'd go in a minute +to please you." + +"Miss Celia said God didn't mind poor clothes, and +she took me when I looked worse than you do. I +always go in the morning; she likes to have me," said +Ben, turning his hat about as if not quite sure what +he ought to do. + +"Do you want to go?" asked his father in a tone +of surprise. + +"I want to please her, if you don't mind. We +could have our tramp this afternoon." + +"I haven't been to meeting since mother died, and +it don't seem to come easy, though I know I ought +to, seeing I'm alive and here," and Mr. Brown looked +soberly out at the lovely autumn world as if glad to +be in it after his late danger and pain. + +"Miss Celia said church was a good place to take +our troubles, and to be thankful in. I went when I +thought you were dead, and now I'd love to go when +I've got my Daddy safe again," + +No one saw him, so Ben could not resist giving his +father a sudden hug, which was warmly returned as +the man said earnestly, -- + +"I'll go, and thank the Lord hearty for giving me +back my boy better'n I left him!" + +For a minute nothing was heard but the loud tick +of the old clock and a mournful whine front Sancho, +shut up in the shed lest he should go to church without +an invitation. + +Then, as steps were heard on the stairs, Mr. Brown +caught up his hat, saying hastily, -- + +"I ain't fit to go with them, you tell 'm, and I'll +slip into a back seat after folks are in. I know the +way." And, before Ben could reply, he was gone. +Nothing was seen of him along the way, but he saw +the little party, and rejoiced again over his boy, +changed in so many ways for the better; for Ben +was the one thing which had kept his heart soft +through all the trials and temptations of a rough life. + +"I promised Mary I'd do my best for the poor +baby she had to leave, and I tried; but I guess a +better friend than I am has been raised up for him +when he needed her most. It won't hurt me to follow +him in this road," thought Mr. Brown, as he came +out into the highway from his stroll "across-lots," +feeling that it would be good for him to stay in this +quiet place, for his own as well as his son's sake. + +The Bell had done ringing when he reached the +green, but a single boy sat on the steps and rail to +meet him, saying, with a reproachful look, -- + +"I wasn't going to let you be alone, and have folks +think I was ashamed of my father. Come, Daddy, +we'll sit together." + +So Ben led his father straght to the Squire's pew, +and sat beside him with a face so full of innocent pride +and joy, that people would have suspected the truth +if he had not already told many of them. Mr. Brown, +painfully conscious of his shabby coat, was rather +"taken aback," as he expressed it; but the Squire's +shake of the hand, and Mrs. Allen's gracious nod +enabled him to face the eyes of the interested +congregation, the younger portion of which stared steadily +at him all sermon time, in spite of paternal frowns +and maternal tweakings in the rear. + +But the crowning glory of the day came after +church, when the Squire said to Ben, and Sam heard +him, -- + +"I've got a letter for you from Miss Celia. Come +home with me, and bring your father. I want to talk +to him." + +The boy proudly escorted his parent to the old +carry-all, and, tucking hiniself in behind with Mrs. +Allen, had the satisfaction of seeing the slouched felt +hat side by side with the Squire's Sunday beaver in +front, as they drove off at such an unusually smart +pace, it was evident that Duke knew there was a +critical eye upon him. The interest taken in the father +was owing to the son at first; but, by the time the +story was told, old Ben had won friends for himself +not only because of the misfortunes which he had +evidently borne in a manly way, but because of his +delight in the boy's improvement, and the desire he +felt to turn his hand to any honest work, that he might +keep Ben happy and contented in this good home. + +"I'll give you a line to Towne. Smithers spoke +well of you, and your own ability will be the best +recommendation," said the Squire, as he parted from +them at his door, having given Ben the letter. + +Miss Celia had been gone a fortnight, and every +one was longing to have her back. The first week +brought Ben a newspaper, with a crinkly line drawn +round the marriages to attract attention to that spot, +and one was marked by a black frame with a large +hand pointing at it from the margin. Thorny sent +that; but the next week came a parcel for Mrs. Moss, +and in it was discovered a box of wedding cake for +every member of the family, including Sancho, who +ate his at one gulp, and chewed up the lace paper +which covered it. This was the third week; and, as +if there could not be happiness enough crowded into +it for Ben, the letter he read on his way home told +him that his dear mistress was coming back on the +following Saturday. One passage particularly pleased +him, -- + +"I want the great gate opened, so that the new +master may go in that way. Will you see that it is +done, and all made neat afterward? Randa will give +you the key, and you may have out all your flags if +you like, for the old place cannot look too gay for +this home-coming." + +Sunday though it was, Ben could not help waving +the letter over his head as he ran in to tell Mrs. Moss +the glad news, and begin at once to plan the welcome +they would give Miss Celia, for he never called her +any thing else. + +During their afternoon stroll in the mellow sunshine, +Ben continued to talk of her, never tired of +telling about his happy summer under her roof. And +Mr. Brown was never weary of hearing, for every hour +showed him more plainly what a lovely miracle her +gentle words had wrought, and every hour increased +his gratitude, his desire to return the kindness in +some humble way. He had his wish, and did his +part handsomely when he least expected to have a +chance. + +On Monday he saw Mr. Towne, and, thanks to the +Squire's good word, was engaged for a month on +trial, making himself so useful that it was soon evident +he was the right man in the right place. He lived on +the hill, but managed to get down to the little brown +house in the evening for a word with Ben, who just +now was as full of business as if the President and +his Cabinet were coming. + +Every thing was put in apple-pie order in and +about the old house; the great gate, with much creaking +of rusty hinges and some clearing away of rubbish, +was set wide open, and the first creature who entered +it was Sancho, solemnly dragging the dead mullein +which long ago had grown above the keyhole. October +frosts seemed to have spared some of the +brightest leaves for this especial occasion; and on +Saturday the arched gate-way was hung with gay +wreaths, red and yellow sprays strewed the flags, and +the porch was a blaze of color with the red woodbine, +that was in its glory when the honeysuckle was leafless. + +Fortunately it was a half-holiday, so the children +could trim and chatter to their heart's content, and +the little girls ran about sticking funny decorations +where no one would ever think of looking for them. +Ben was absorbed in his flags, which were sprinkled +all down the avenue with a lavish display, suggesting +several Fourth of Julys rolled into one. Mr. Brown +had come to lend a hand, and did so most energetically, +for the break-neck things he did with his son +during the decoration fever would have terrified Mrs. +Moss out of her wits, if she had not been in the house +giving last touches to every room, while Randa and +Katy set forth a sumptuous tea. + +All was going well, and the train would be due in +an hour, when luckless Bab nearly turned the rejoicing +into mourning, the feast into ashes. She heard +her mother say to Randa, "There ought to be a fire +in every room, it looks so cheerful, and the air is +chilly spite of the sunshine;" and, never waiting to +hear the reply that some of the long-unused chimneys +were not safe till cleaned, off went Bab with an apron +full of old shingles, and made a roaring blaze in the +front room fire-place, which was of all others the +one to be let alone, as the flue was out of order. + +Charmed with the brilliant light and the crackle of +the tindery fuel, Miss Bab refilled her apron, and fed +the fire till the chimney began to rumble ominously, +sparks to fly out at the top, and soot and swallows' +nests to come tumbling down upon the hearth. Then, +scared at what she had done, the little mischief-maker +hastily buried her fire, swept up the rubbish, and ran +off, thinking no one would discover her prank if she +never told. + +Everybody was very busy, and the big chimney +blazed and rumbled unnoticed till the cloud of smoke +caught Ben's eye as he festooned his last effort in the +flag line, part of an old sheet with the words "Father +has come!" in red cambric letters half a foot long +sewed upon it. + +"Hullo ! I do believe they've got up a bonfire. +without asking my leave. Miss Celia never would +let us, because the sheds and roofs are so old and +dry; I must see about it. Catch me, Daddy, I'm +coming down! " cried Ben, dropping out of the elm +with no more thought of where he might light than a +squirrel swinging from bough to bough. + +His father caught him, and followed in haste as his +nimble-footed son raced up the avenue, to stop in the +gate-way, frightened at the prospect before him, for +falling sparks had already kindled the roof here and +there, and the chimney smoked and roared like a +small volcano, while Katy's wails and Randa's cries +for water came from within. + +"Up there with wet blankets, while I get out the +hose!" cried Mr. Brown, as he saw at a glance what +the danger was. + +Ben vanished; and, before his father got the garden +hose rigged, he was on the roof with a dripping +blanket over the worst spot. Mrs. Moss had her wits +about her in a minute, and ran to put in the fireboard, +and stop the draught. Then, stationing Randa +to watch that the falling cinders did no harm inside, +she hurried off to help Mr. Brown, who might not know +where things were. But he had roughed it so long, +that he was the man for emergencies, and seemed to +lay his hand on whatever was needed, by a sort of +instinct. Finding that the hose was too short to +reach the upper part of the roof, he was on the roof +in a jiffy with two pails of water, and quenched the +most dangerous spots before much harm was done. + +This he kept up till the chimney burned itself out, +while Ben dodged about among the gables with a +watering pot, lest some stray sparks should be over- +looked, and break out afresh. + +While they worked there, Betty ran to and fro with +a dipper of water, trying to help; and Sancho barked +violently, as if he objected to this sort of illumination. +But where was Bab, who revelled in flurries? No +one missed her till the fire was out, and the tired, +sooty people met to talk over the danger just escaped. + +"Poor Miss Celia wouldn't have had a roof over +her head, if it hadn't been for you, Mr. Brown," said +Mrs. Moss, sinking into a kitchen chair, pale with the +excitement. + +"It would have burnt lively, but I guess it's all +right now. Keep an eye on the roof, Ben, and I'll +step up garret and see if all's safe there. Didn't you +know that chininey was foul, ma'am?" asked the +man, as he wiped the perspiration off his grimy face. + +"Randa said it was, and I 'in surprised she made a +fire there," began Mrs. Moss, looking at the maid, +who just then came in with a pan full of soot. + +"Bless you, ma'am, I never thought of such a +thing, nor Katy neither. That naughty Bab must +have done it, and so don't dar'st to show herself," +answered the irate Randa, whose nice room was in +a mess. + +"Where is the child?" asked her mother; and a +hunt was immediately instituted by Betty and Sancho, +while the elders cleared up. + +Anxious Betty searched high and low, called and +cried, but all in vain; and was about to sit down in +despair, when Sancho made a bolt into his new +kennel and brought out a shoe with a foot in it while +a doleful squeal came from the straw within. + +"Oh, Bab, how could you do it? Ma was frighened +dreadfully," said Betty, gently tugging at the +striped leg, as Sancho poked his head in for another +shoe. + +"Is it all burnt up?" demanded a smothered voice +from the recesses of the kennel. + +"Only pieces of the roof. Ben and his father put +it out, and I helped," answered Betty, cheering up a +little as she recalled her noble exertions. + +"What do they do to folks who set houses afire? +asked the voice again. + +"I don't know; but you needn't be afraid, their +isn't much harm done, I guess, and Miss Celia will +forgive you, she's so good." + +"Thorny won't; he calls me a 'botheration,' and I +guess I am," mourned the unseen culprit, with sincere +contrition. + +"I'll ask him; he is always good to me. They +will be here pretty soon, so you'd better come out +and be made tidy," suggested the comforter. + +"I never can come out, for every one will hate +me," sobbed Bab among the straw, as she pulled in +her foot, as if retiring for ever from an outraged +world. + +"Ma won't, she's too busy cleaning up; so it's a +good time to come. Let's run home, wash our hands, +and be all nice when they see us. I'll love you, no +matter what anybody else does," said Betty, consoling +the poor little sinner, and proposing the sort of +repentance most likely to find favor in the eyes of the +agitated elders. + +"P'raps I'd better go home, for Sanch will want +his bed," and Bab gladly availed herself of that excuse +to back out of her refuge, a very crumpled, dusty +young lady, with a dejected face and much straw +sticking in her hair. + +Betty led her sadly away, for she still protested +that she never should dare to meet the offended +public again; but in fifteen minutes both appeared +in fine order and good spirits, and naughty Bab +escaped a lecture for the time being, as the train +would soon be due. + +At the first sound of the car whistle every one +turned good-natured as if by magic, and flew to the +gate smiling as if all mishaps were forgiven and +forgotten. Mrs. Moss, however, slipped quietly away, +and was the first to greet Mrs. Celia as the carriage +stopped at the entrance of the avenue, so that the +luggage might go in by way of the lodge. + +"We will walk up and you shall tell us the news as +we go, for I see you have some," said the young lady, +in her friendly manner, when Mrs. Moss had given +her welcome and paid her respects to the gentleman +who shook hands in a way that convinced her he was +indeed what Thorny called him, "regularly jolly," +though he was a minister. + +That being exactly what she came for, the good +woman told her tidings as rapidly as possible, and the +new-comers were so glad to hear of Ben's happiness +they made very light of Bab's bonfire, though it had +nearly burnt their house down. + +"We won't say a word about it, for every one must +be happy to-day," said Mr. George, so kindly that +Mrs. Moss felt a load taken off her heart at once. + +"Bab was always teasing me for fireworks, but I +guess she has had enough for the present," laughed +Thorny, who was gallantly escorting Bab's mother up +the avenue. + +"Every one is so kind! Teacher was out with the +children to cheer us as we passed, and here you all +are making things pretty for me," said Mrs. Celia, +smiling with tears in her eyes, as they drew near the +great gate, which certainly did present an animated +if not an imposing appearance. + +Randa and Katy stood on one side, all in their +best, bobbing delighted courtesies; Mr. Brown, half +hidden behind the gate on the other side, was keeping +Sancho erect, so that he might present arms promptly +when the bride appeared. As flowers were scarce, +on either post stood a rosy little girl clapping her +hands, while out from the thicket of red and yellow +boughs, which made a grand bouquet in the lantern +frame, came Ben's head and shoulders, as he waved +his grandest flag with its gold paper "Welcome +Home!" on a blue ground. + +"Isn't it beautiful!" cried Mrs. Celia, throwing +kisses to the children, shaking hands with her maids, +and glancing brightly at the stranger who was keeping +Sanch quiet. + +"Most people adorn their gate-posts with stone +balls, vases, or griffins; your living images are a +great improvement, love, especially the happy boy +in the middle," said Mr. George, eying Ben with +interest, as he nearly tumbled overboard, top-heavy +with his banner. + +"You must finish what I have only begun," answered +Celia, adding gayly as Sancho broke loose and came +to offer both his paw and his congratulations. "Sanch, +introduce your master, that I may thank him for coming +back in time to save my old house." + +"If I'd saved a dozen it wouldn't have half paid +for all you've done for my boy, ma'am," answered +Mr. Brown, bursting out from behind the gate quite +red with gratitude and pleasure. + +"I loved to do it, so please remember that this +is still his home till you make one for him. Thank +God, he is no longer fatherless!" and her sweet face +said even more than her words as the white hand +cordially shook the brown one with a burn across the +back. + +"Come on, sister. I see the tea-table all ready, and +I'm awfully hungry," interrupted Thorny, who had +not a ray of sentiment about him, though very glad +Ben had got his father back again. + +"Come over, by-and-by, little friends, and let me +thank you for your pretty welcome, -- it certainly is +a warm one;" and Mrs. Celia glanced merrily from +the three bright faces above her to the old chimney, +which still smoked sullenly. + +"Oh, don't!" cried Bab, hiding her face. + +"She didn't mean to," added Betty, pleadingly. + +"Three cheers for the bride!" roared Ben, dipping +his flag, as leaning on her husband's arm his dear +mistress passed under the gay arch, along the +leaf-strewn walk, over the threshold of the house which +was to be her happy home for many years. + +The closed gate where the lonely little wanderer +once lay was always to stand open now, and the path +where children played before was free to all comers, +for a hospitable welcome henceforth awaited rich and +poor, young and old, sad and gay, Under the Lilacs. + + + + + +End Project Gutenberg Etext of Under the Lilacs, by Louisa May Alcott + |