CHAPTER VI A CIRCULATING LIBRARY

owhehadbegun. "Mygracious!twelveyearsoldandnotknowyourQuackenbos!"laughedBab,muchamused,butrathergladtofindthatshecouldteachthe"whirligigboy"something,forsheconsideredhimaremarkablecreature. "Idon'tcareabitforyourquackin'boss,whoeverheis.TellaboutthisfinefellerwiththeshipsIlikehim,"persistedBen. SoBab,withfrequentinterruptionsandhintsfromBetty,toldthewonderfultaleinasimpleway,whichmadeiteasytounderstandforshelikedhistory,andhadalivelytongueofherown. "I'dliketoreadsomemore.Wouldmytencentsbuyabook?"askedBen,anxioustolearnalittlesinceBablaughedathim. "No,indeed!I'lllendyouminewhenI'mnotusingit,andtellyouallaboutit,"promisedBabforgettingthatshedidnotknow"allaboutit"herselfyet. "Idon'thaveanytimeonlyevenings,andthenmaybeyou'llwantit,"begunBen,inwhomtheinkypagehadrousedastrongcuriosity. "Idogetmyhistoryintheevening,butyoucouldhaveitmorningsbeforeschool." "Ishallhavetogooffearly,sotherewon'tbeanychance.Yes,therewill,—I'LLtellyouhowtodoit.LetmereadwhileIdriveupthecows.Squirelikes'emtoeatslowalongtheroad,so'stokeepthegrassshortandsavemowin'.Patsaidso,andIcoulddohistoryinsteadofloafin'round!"criedBenfullofthisbrightidea. "HowwillIgetmybookbackintimetorecite?"askedBab,prudently. "Oh,I'llleaveitonthewindow-sill,orputitinsidethedoorasIgoback.I'llberealcareful,andjustassoonasIearnenough,I'llbuyyouanewoneandtaketheoldone.Willyou?" "YesbutI'lltellyouanicerwaytodo.Don'tputthebookonthewindow,'causeteacherwillseeyouorinsidethedoor,'causesomeonemaystealit.Youputitinmycubby-house,rightatthecornerofthewallnearestthebigmaple.You'llfindacunningplacebetweentherootsthatstickupundertheflatstone.That'smycloset,andIkeepthingsthere.It'sthebestcubbyofall,andwetaketurnstohaveit." "I'llfindit,andthat'llbeafirst-rateplace,"saidBen,muchgratified. "Icouldputmyreading-bookinsometimes,ifyou'dlikeit.There'slotsofprettystoriesinitandpictures,"p