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 rememberonly 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 daresay 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 shoestring, and I wish you’d come and do my necktie.”
“Lazy boy, come down here, and bring one of your black ties with you. Shoestrings 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. Youmustn’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 pussycat.
“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 hatband.
“Well, I like that—” began Thorny, in a tone that contradicted his words.
A look from his sister reminded him of what she had toldhim 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
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 rememberonly 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 daresay 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 shoestring, and I wish you’d come and do my necktie.”
“Lazy boy, come down here, and bring one of your black ties with you. Shoestrings 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. Youmustn’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 pussycat.
“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 hatband.
“Well, I like that—” began Thorny, in a tone that contradicted his words.
A look from his sister reminded him of what she had toldhim 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
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