CHAPTER XII GOOD TIMES

hother'sgifts,butbyinterchangingthem,givingandtakingfreely,kindly,andbeinggladtolovewhatwasadmirablewherevertheyfoundit.ThornyadmiredBen'sstrength,activity,andindependenceBenenviedThorny'slearning,goodmanners,andcomfortablesurroundingsand,whenawisewordhadsetthematterrightlybeforethem,bothenjoyedthefeelingthattherewasacertainequalitybetweenthem,sincemoneycouldnotbuyhealth,andpracticalknowledgewasasusefulasanythatcanbefoundinbooks.Sotheyinterchangedtheirsmallexperiences,accomplishments,andpleasures,andbothwerethebetter,aswellasthehappier,foritbecauseinthiswayonlycanwetrulyloveourneighborasourself,andgettherealsweetnessoutoflife. TherewasnoendtothenewandpleasantthingsBenhadtodo,fromkeepingpathsandflower-bedsneat,feedingthepets,andrunningerrands,towaitingonThornyandbeingright-handmantoMissCelia.Hehadalittleroomintheoldhouse,newlypaperedwithhuntingscenes,whichhewasnevertiredofadmiring.Intheclosethungseveralout-grownsuitsofThorny's,madeoverforhisvaletand,whatBenvaluedinfinitelymore,apairofboots,wellblackedandreadyforgrandoccasions,whenherodeabroad,withoneoldspur,foundintheattic,brightenedupandmerelywornforshow,sincenothingwouldhaveinducedhimtoprickbelovedLitawithit. Manypictures,cutfromillustratedpapers,ofraces,animals,andbirds,werestuckroundtheroom,givingitrathertheairofacircusandmenagerie.This,however,madeitonlythemorehome-liketoitspresentowner,whofeltexceedinglyrichandrespectableashesurveyedhispremisesalmostlikearetiredshowmanwhostillfondlyrememberspastsuccesses,thoughnowhappyinthemoreprivatewalksoflife. Inonedrawerofthequaintlittlebureauwhichheused,werekepttherelicsofhisfatherveryfewandpoor,andofnointeresttoanyonebuthimself,—onlythelettertellingofhisdeath,aworn-outwatch-chain,andaphotographofSenorJoseMontebello,withhisyouthfulsonstandingonhishead,bothairilyattired,andbothsmilingwiththecalmlysuperiorexpressionwhichgentlemenoftheirprofessionusuallywearinpublic.Ben'sothertreasureshadbeenstolenwithhisbundlebutthesehecherishedandoftenlookedatwhenhewenttobed,wonderingwhatheavenwaslike,sinceitwaslovelierthanCalifornia,andusuallyfellasleepwithadreamyimpressionthatitmustbesomethinglikeAmericawhenColumbusfoundit,—"apleasantland,whereweregayflowersandtalltrees,withleavesandfruitsuchastheyhadneverseenbefore."Andthroughthishappyhunting-ground"father"wasforeverridingonabeautifulwhitehorsewithwings,liketheoneofwhichMissCeliahadapicture. NicetimesBenhadinhislittleroomporingoverhisbooks,forhesoonhadseveralofhisownbuthisfavoriteswereHamerton's"Animals"and"OurDumbFriends,"bothfullofinterestingpicturesandanecdotessuchasboyslove.Stillnicertimesworkingaboutthehouse,helpinggetthingsinorderandbestofallwerethedailydriveswithMissCeliaandThorny,whenweatherpermitted,orsolitaryridestotownthroughtheheaviestrain,forcertainlettersmustgoandcome,nomatterhowtheelementsraged.Theneighborssoongotusedtothe"anticsofthatboy,"butBenknewthathewasanobjectofinterestashecareereddownthemainstreetinawaythatmadeoldladiescryoutandbroughtpeopleflyingtothewindow,surethatsomeonewasbeingrunawaywith.Litaenjoyedthefunasmuchashe,andapparentlydidherbesttosendhimheelsoverhead,havingrapidlyearnedtounderstandthesignshegaveherbythetouchofhandandfoot,orthetonesofhisvoice. TheseperformancescausedtheboystoregardBenBrownwithintenseadmiration,thegirlswithtimidawe,allbutBab,whoburnedtoimitatehim,andtriedherbestwhenevershegotachance,muchtotheanguishanddismayofpoorJack,forthatlong-sufferinganimalwastheonlysteedshewasallowedtoride.Fortunately,neithershenorBettyhadmuchtimeforplayjustnow,asschoolwasabouttocloseforthelongvacation,andallthelittlepeoplewerebusyfinishingup,thattheymightgotoplaywithfreeminds.Sothe"lilac-parties,"astheycalledthem,weredeferredtilllater,andtheladsamusedthemselvesintheirownway,withMissCeliatosug