CHAPTER XX BEN'S BIRTHDAY

AsuperbdisplayofflagsflappedgaylyinthebreezeontheSeptembermorningwhenBenproudlyenteredhisteens.Anirruptionofbuntingseemedtohavebrokenoutallovertheoldhouse,forbannersofeveryshapeandsize,coloranddesign,flewfromchimney-toptogable,porchandgate-way,makingthequietplacelookaslivelyasacircustent,whichwasjustwhatBenmostdesiredanddelightedin. Theboyshadbeenupveryearlytopreparetheshow,andwhenitwasreadyenjoyedithugely,forthefreshwindmadethepennonscutstrangecapers.ThewingedlionofVenicelookedasiftryingtoflyawayhometheChinesedragonappearedtobrandishhisforkedtailasheclawedattheBurmesepeacockthedouble-headedeagleofRussiapeckedattheTurkishcrescentwithonebeak,whiletheotherseemedtobescreamingtotheEnglishroyalbeast,"Comeonandlendapaw."InthehurryofhoistingtheSiameseelephantgotturnedupsidedown,andnowdancedgaylyonhishead,withthestarsandstripeswavingproudlyoverhim.Agreenflagwithayellowharpandsprigofshamrockhunginsightofthekitchenwindow,andKaty,thecook,gotbreakfasttothetuneof"St.Patrick'sdayinthemorning."Sancho'skennelwashalfhiddenunderarustlingpaperimitationofthegorgeousSpanishbanner,andthescarletsun-and-moonflagofArabiasnappedandflauntedfromthepoleoverthecoach-house,asadelicatecomplimenttoLita,Arabianhorsesbeingconsideredthefinestintheworld. Thelittlegirlscameouttosee,anddeclareditwastheloveliestsighttheyeverbeheld,whileThornyplayed"HailColumbia"onhisfife,andBen,mountingthegate-post,crowedlongandloudlikeahappycockerelwhohadjustreachedhismajority.HehadbeensurprisedanddelightedwiththegiftshefoundinhisroomonawakingandguessedwhyMissCeliaandThornygavehimsuchprettythings,foramongthemwasamatch-boxmadelikeamouse-trap.Thedoggybuttonsandthehorseywhipweretreasures,indeed,forMissCeliahadnotgiventhemwhentheyfirstplannedtodoso,becauseSancho'sreturnseemedtobejoyandrewardenoughforthatoccasion.ButhedidnotforgettothankMrs.Mossforthecakeshesenthim,northegirlsfortheredmittenswhichtheyhadsecretlyandpainfullyknit.Bab'swaslongandthin,withaverypointedthumb,Betty'sshortandwide,withastubbythumb,andalltheirmother'spullingandpressingcouldnotmakethemlookalike,tothegreatafflictionofthelittleknitters.Ben,however,assuredthemthatheratherpreferredoddones,asthenhecouldalwaystellwhichwasrightandwhichleft.Heputthemonimmediatelyandwentaboutcrackingthenewwhipwithanexpressionofcontentwhichwasdrolltosee,whilethechildrenfollowedafter,fullofadmirationfortheherooftheday. Theywereverybusyallthemorningpreparingforthefestivitiestocome,andassoonasdinnerwasovereveryonescrambledintohisorherbestclothesasfastaspossible,because,althoughinvitedtocomeattwo,impatientboysandgirlswereseenhoveringabouttheavenueasearlyasone. Thefirsttoarrive,however,wasanuninvitedguest,forjustasBabandBettysatdownontheporchsteps,intheirstiffpinkcalicofrocksandwhiteruffledaprons,toreposeamomentbeforethepartycamein,arustlingwasheardamongthelilacs,andoutsteppedAlfredTennysonBarlow,lookinglikeasmallRobinHood,inagreenblousewithasilverbu