CHAPTER IV HIS STORY

ied.IlivedwithhertillIwasseventhenfathertookme,andIwastrainedforrider.YoujestoughterhaveseenmewhenIwasalittlefellerallinwhitetights,andagoldbelt,andpinkriggin',standing'onfather'sshoulder,orhangin'ontooldGeneral'stail,andhimgallopin'fullpeltorfatherridin'threehorseswithmeonhisheadwavin'flags,andeveryoneclappinglikefun." "Oh,weren'tyouscaredtopieces?"askedBetty,quakingatthemerethought. "Notabit.Ilikedit." "SoshouldI!"criedBabenthusiastically. "ThenIdrovethefourponiesinthelittlechariot,whenweparaded,"continuedBen,"andIsatonthegreatballuptopofthegrandcardrawedbyHannibalandNero.ButIdidn'tlikethat,'causeitwasawfulhighandshaky,andthesunwashot,andthetreesslappedmyface,andmylegsachedholdin'on." "What'shannybellsandneroes?"demandedBetty. "Bigelephants.Fatherneverlet'emputmeupthere,andtheydidn'tdarsttillhewasgonethenIhadto,elsethey'd'a'thrashedme." "Didn'tanyonetakeyourpart?"askedMrs.Moss. "Yes,'m,'mostalltheladiesdidtheywereverygoodtome,'specially'Melia.Shevowedshewouldn'tgoonintheTunnymuntactiftheydidn'tstopknockin'meroundwhenIwouldn'thelpoldBuckwiththebears.Sotheyhadtostopit,'causesheledfirstrate,andnoneoftheotherladiesrodehalfaswellas'Melia." "Bears!oh,dotellaboutthem!"exclaimedBab,ingreatexcitement,forattheonlycircusshehadseentheanimalswereherdelight. "Buckhadfiveof'em,crossoldfellers,andheshowed'emoff.Iplayedwith'emonce,jestforfun,andhethoughtitwouldmakeahittohavemeshowoffinsteadofhim.Buttheyhadawayofclawin'andhuggin'thatwasn'tnice,andyoucouldn'tnevertellwhethertheyweregood-naturedorreadytobiteyourheadoff.Buckwasalloverscarswherethey'dscratchedandbithim,andIwasn'tgoingtodoitandIdidn'thaveto,owin'toMissSt.John'sstandin'bymelikeagoodone." "