CHAPTER XII GOOD TIMES

gestandadvise. IttookThornyalongtimetoarrangehispossessions,forhecouldonlydirectwhileBenunpacked,wonderingandadmiringasheworked,becausehehadneverseensomanyboyishtreasuresbefore.Thelittleprinting-presswashisespecialdelight,andleavingeverythingelseinconfusion,Thornytaughthimitsandplannedanewspaperonthespot,withBenforprinter,himselfforeditor,and"Sister"forchiefcontributor,whileBabshouldbecarrierandBettyoffice-boy.Nextcameapostage-stampbook,andarainydaywashappilyspentinpastinganewcollectionwhereeachparticularonebelonged,withcopiousexplanationsfromThornyastheywentalong.Bendidnotfeelanygreatinterestinthisamusementafteronetrialofit,butwhenabookcontainingpatternsoftheflagsofallnationsturnedup,hewasseizedwithadesiretocopythemall,sothatthehousecouldbefitlydecoratedongalaoccasions.Findingthatitamusedherbrother,MissCeliagenerouslyopenedherpiece-drawerandrag-bag,andasthemaniagrewtillherresourceswereexhausted,sheboughtbitsofgaycambricandmany-coloredpapers,andstartledthestore-keeperbypurchasingseveralbottlesofmucilageatonce.BabandBettywereinvitedtosewthebrightstripsofstars,andprickedtheirlittlefingersassiduously,findingthissortofneedle-workmuchmoreattractivethanpiecingbed-quilts. Suchasnippingandpasting,planningandstitchingaswentoninthebigbackroom,whichwasgivenuptothem,andsuchanoblearrayofbannersandpetitionsassoondecorateditswalls,wouldhavecausedthedullesteyetobrightenwithamusement,ifnotwithadmiration.Ofcourse,theStarsandStripeshunghighest,withtheEnglishlionrampingontheroyalstandardclosebythenfollowedaregularpicture-gallery,fortherewasthewhiteelephantofSiam,thesplendidpeacockofBurmah,thedouble-headedRussianeagle,andblackdragonofChina,thewingedlionofVenice,andtheprancingpaironthered,white,andblueflagofHolland.ThekeysandmitreofthePapalStateswereahardjob,butuptheywentatlast,withtheyellowcrescentofTurkeyononesideandtheredfullmoonofJapanontheothertheprettyblueandwhiteflagofGreecehungbelowandthecrossoffreeSwitzerlandabove.Ifmaterialshadheldout,theflagsofalltheUnitedStateswouldhavefollowedbutpasteandpatiencewereexhausted,sothebusyworkersrestedawhilebeforethey"flungtheirbannertothebreeze,"asthenewspapershaveit. Aspellofship-buildingandriggingfollowedtheflagfitforThorny,feelingtoooldnowforsuchtoys,madeoverhiswholefleetto"thechildren,"condescending,however,tosuperintendathoroughrepairingofthesamebeforehedisposedofallbutthebigman-of-war,whichcontinuedtoornamenthisownroom,withallsailsetandalittleredofficerperpetuallywavinghisswordonthequarter-deck. Thesegiftsledtoout-of-doorwater-works,forthebrookhadtobedammedup,thatashallowoceanmightbemade,whereBen'spiratical"RedRover,"withtheblackflag,mightchaseandcaptureBab'ssmartfrigate,"Queen,"whilethe"BoundingBetsey,"ladenwithlumber,safelysailedfromKennebunkporttoMassachusettsBay.Thorny,fromhischair,waschief-engineer,anddirectedhisgangofonehowtodigthebasin,throwuptheembankment,andfinallyletinthewatertillthemimicoceanwasfullthenregulatethelittlewater-gate,lestitshouldoverflowandwrecktheprettysquadronorships,boats,canoes,andrafts,whichsoonrodeatanchorthere. Diggingandpaddlinginmudandwaterprovedsuchadelightfulpastimethattheboyskeptitup,tillaseriesofwater-wheels,littlemillsandcataractsmadetheoncequietbrooklookasifamanufacturingtownwasabouttospringupwherehithertominnowshadplayedinpeaceandtheretiringfroghadchantedhisserenadeunmolested. MissCelialikedallthis,foranythingwhichwouldkeepThornyhappyout-of-doorsinthesweetJuneweatherfoundfavorinhereyes,andwhenthenoveltyhadwornofffromhomeaffairs,sheplannedaseriesofexploringexpeditionswhichfilledtheirboyishsoulswithdelight.Asnoneofthemknewmuchabouttheplace,itreallywasquiteexcitingtostartoffonabrightmorningwitharollofwrapsandcushions,lunch,books,anddrawingmaterialspackedintothephaeton,anddriveatra