When Ben awoke next morning, he looked about him for amoment half bewildered, because there was neither acanvas tent, a barn roof, nor the blue sky above him,but a neat white ceiling, where several flies buzzedsociably together, while from without came, not the tramping ofhorses, the twitter of swallows, or the chirp1 of earlybirds, but the comfortable cackle of hens and thesound of two little voices chanting the multiplicationtable.
Sancho sat at the open window, watching the oldcat wash her face, and trying to imitate her with hisgreat ruffled2 paw, so awkwardly that Ben laughed;and Sanch, to hide his confusion at being caught,made one bound from chair to bed, and licked hismaster's face so energetically that the boy dived underthe bedclothes to escape from the rough tongue.
A rap on the floor from below made both jump up,and in ten minutes a shiny-faced lad and a lively dogwent racing3 downstairs, -- one to say, "Good-mornin',ma'am," the other to wag his tail faster than evertail wagged before, for ham frizzled on the stove, andSancho was fond of it.
"Guess I did! Never saw such a bed. I'm usedto hay and a horse-blanket, and lately nothin' but skyfor a cover and grass for my feather-bed," laughedBen, grateful for present comforts and making light ofpast hardships.
"Clean, sweet corn-husks ain't bad for young bones,even if they haven't got more flesh on them thanyours have," answered Mrs. Moss, giving the smoothhead a motherly stroke as she went by.
"Fat ain't allowed in our profession, ma'am. Thethinner the better for tight-ropes and tumblin';likewise bareback ridin' and spry jugglin'. Muscle's thething, and there you are."Ben stretched out a wiry little arm with a clenchedfist at the end of it, as if he were a young Hercules,ready to play ball with the stove if she gave him leave.
Glad to see him in such good spirits, she pointed5 tothe well outside, saying pleasantly, --"Well, then, just try your muscle by bringing insome fresh water."Ben caught up a pail and ran off, ready to be useful;but, while he waited for the bucket to fill downamong the mossy stones, he looked about him, wellpleased with all he saw, -- the small brown house witha pretty curl of smoke rising from its chimney, thelittle sisters sitting in the sunshine, green hills andnewly-planted fields far and near, a brook6 dancingthrough the orchard7, birds singing in the elm avenue,and all the world as fresh and lovely as early summercould make it.
"Don't you think it's pretty nice here?" asked Bab,as his eye came back to them after a long look, whichseemed to take in every thing, brightening as it roved.
"Just the nicest place that ever was. Only needsa horse round somewhere to be complete," answeredBen, as the long well-sweep came up with a drippingbucket at one end, an old grindstone at the other.
"The judge has three, but he's so fussy8 about themhe won't even let us pull a few hairs out of old Major'stail to make rings of," said Betty, shutting her arithmetic,with an injured expression.
"Mike lets me ride the white one to water whenthe judge isn't round. It's such fun to go jouncingdown the lane and back. I do love horses!" criedBab, bobbing up and down on the blue bench toimitate the motion of white Jenny.
"I guess you are a plucky9 sort of a girl," and Bengave her an approving look as he went by, takingcare to slop a little water on Mrs. Puss, who stoodcurling her whiskers and humping up her back atSancho.
"Come to breakfast!" called Mrs. Moss; and forabout twenty minutes little was said, as mush andmilk vanished in a way that would have astonishedeven Jack10 the Giant-killer with his leather bag.
"Now, girls, fly round and get your chores done up;Ben, you go chop me some kindlings; and I'll makethings tidy. Then we can all start off at once," saidMrs. Moss, as the last mouthful vanished, and Sancholicked his lips over the savory11 scraps12 that fell to hisshare.
Ben fell to chopping so vigorously that chips flewwildly all about the shed; Bab rattled13 the cups intoher dish-pan with dangerous haste, and Betty raiseda cloud of dust "sweeping-up;" while mother seemedto be everywhere at once. Even Sanch, feeling thathis fate was at stake, endeavored to help in his ownsomewhat erratic14 way, -- now frisking about Ben atthe risk of getting his tail chopped off, then trottingaway to poke15 his inquisitive16 nose into every closetand room whither he followed Mrs. Moss in her "flyinground" evolutions; next dragging off the matso Betty could brush the door-steps, or inspectingBab's dish-washing by standing17 on his hind-legs tosurvey the table with a critical air. When they drovehim out he was not the least offended, but gaylybarked Puss up a tree, chased all the hens over thefence, and carefully interred18 an old shoe in the garden,where the remains19 of the mutton-bone were already buried.
By the time the others were ready, he had workedoff his superfluous20 spirits, and trotted21 behind the partylike a well-behaved dog accustomed to go out walking withladies. At the cross-roads they separated,the little girls running on to school, while Mrs. Mossand Ben went up to the Squire22's big house on thehill.
"Don't you be scared, child. I'LL make it all rightabout your running away; and if the Squire givesyou a job, just thank him for it, and do your best tobe steady and industrious23; then you'll get on, Ihaven't a doubt," she whispered, ringing the Ben ata side-door, on which the word "Morris" shone inbright letters.
"Come in!" called a gruff voice; and, feeling verymuch as if he were going to have a tooth out, Benmeekly followed the good woman, who put on herpleasantest smile, anxious to make the best possibleimpression.
A white-headed old gentleman sat reading a paper,and peered over his glasses at the new-comers with apair of sharp eyes, saying in a testy25 tone, which wouldhave rather daunted26 any one who did not know what akind heart he had under his capacious waistcoat, --"Good-morning, ma'am. What's the matter now?
Young tramp been stealing your chickens?""Oh, dear no, sir! " exclaimed Mrs. Moss, as ifshocked at the idea. Then, in a few words, she toldBen's story, unconsciously making his wrongs anddestitution so pathetic by her looks and tones, thatthe Squire could not help being interested, and evenBen pitied himself as if he were somebody else.
"Now, then, boy, what can you do?" asked theold gentleman, with an approving nod to Mrs. Mossas she finished, and such a keen glance from underhis bushy brows that Ben felt as if be was perfectlytransparent.
"'Most any thing, sir, to get my livin'.""Can you weed ? ""Never did, but I can learn, sir.""Pull up all the beets27 and leave the pigweed, hey?
Can you pick strawberries?""Never tried any thing but eatin' 'em, sir,""Not likely to forget that part of the job. Canyou ride a horse to plow28?""Guess I could, sir!" -- and Ben's eyes began tosparkle, for he dearly loved the noble animals whohad been his dearest friends lately.
"No antics allowed. My horse is a fine fellow,and I'm very particular about him."The Squire spoke29 soberly, but there was a twinklein his eye, and Mrs. Moss tried not to smile; for theSquire's horse was a joke all over the town, beingabout twenty years old, and having a peculiar30 gait ofhis own, lifting his fore-feet very high, with a greatshow of speed, though never going out of a jog-trot.
The boys used to say he galloped31 before and walkedbehind, and made all sorts of fun of the big, Roman-nosed beast, who allowed no liberties to be takenwith him.
"I'm too fond of horses to hurt 'em, Sir. As forridin', I ain't afraid of any thing on four legs. TheKing of Morocco used to kick and bite like fun, butI could manage him first-rate.""Then you'd be able to drive cows to pasture,perhaps?""I've drove elephants and camels, ostriches32 andgrizzly bears, and mules33, and six yellow ponies34 all tooncet. May be I could manage cows if I tried hard,"answered Ben, endeavoring to be meek24 and respectfulwhen scorn filled his soul at the idea of not beingable to drive a cow.
The Squire liked him all the better for the drollmixture of indignation and amusement betrayed bythe fire in his eyes and the sly smile round his lips; and beingrather tickled35 by Ben's list of animals, he answered gravely, --"Don't raise elephants and camels much roundhere. Bears used to be plenty, but folks got tired ofthem. Mules are numerous, but we have the two-legged kind;and as a general thing prefer Shanghae fowls36 to ostriches."He got no farther, for Ben laughed out so infectiously that boththe others joined him; and somehow that jolly laugh seemed tosettle matters than words. As they stopped, the Squire tapped onthe window behind him, saying, with an attempt atthe former gruffness, --"We'll try you on cows awhile. My man willshow you where to drive them, and give you someodd jobs through the day. I'll see what you aregood for, and send you word to-night, Mrs. Moss.
The boy can sleep at your house, can't he?""Yes, indeed, sir. He can go on doing it, andcome up to his work just as well as not. I can seeto him then, and he won't be a care to any one," saidMrs. Moss, heartily37.
"I'll make inquiries38 concerning your father, boy;meantime mind what you are about, and have a goodreport to give when he comes for you," returned theSquire, with a warning wag of a stern fore-finger.
"Thanky', sir. I will, sir. Father'll come just assoon as he can, if he isn't sick or lost," murmuredBen, inwardly thanking his stars that he had not doneany thing to make him quake before that awful finger,and resolved that he never would.
Here a red-headed Irishman came to the door, andstood eying the boy with small favor while the Squiregave his orders.
"Pat, this lad wants work. He's to take the cowsand go for them. Give him any light jobs you have,and let me know if he's good for any thing.""Yis, your honor. Come out o' this, b'y, till Ishow ye the bastes," responded Pat; and, with ahasty good-by to Mrs. Moss, Ben followed his newleader, sorely tempted39 to play some naughty trickupon him in return for his ungracious reception.
But in a moment he forgot that Pat existed, forin the yard stood the Duke of Wellington, so namedin honor of his Roman nose. If Ben had known anything about Shakespeare, he would have cried, "Ahorse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" for thefeeling was in his heart, and he ran up to the statelyanimal without a fear. Duke put back his ears andswished his tail as if displeased40 for a moment; butBen looked straight in his eyes, gave a scientificstroke to the iron-gray nose, and uttered a chirrupwhich made the ears prick41 up as if recognizing afamiliar sound.
"He'll nip ye, if ye go botherin' that way. Leavehim alone, and attend to the cattle as his honor toldye," commanded Pat, who made a great show ofrespect toward Duke in public, and kicked himbrutally in private.
"I ain't afraid! You won't hurt me, will you, oldfeller? See there now! -- he knows I 'm a friend, andtakes to me right off," said Ben, with an arm aroundDuke's neck, and his own cheek confidingly42 laidagainst the animal's; for the intelligent eyes spoke tohim as plainly as the little whinny which he understoodand accepted as a welcome.
The Squire saw it all from the open window, andsuspecting from Pat's face that trouble was brewing,called out, --"Let the lad harness Duke, if he can. I'm goingout directly, and he may as well try that as anything."Ben was delighted, and proved himself so brisk andhandy that the roomy chaise stood at the door in asurprisingly short time, with a smiling little ostler atDuke's head when the Squire came out.
His affection for the horse pleased the old gentleman,and his neat way of harnessing suited as well;but Ben got no praise, except a nod and a brief "Allright, boy," as the equipage went creaking and jogging away.
Four sleek43 cows filed out of the barnyard when Patopened the gate, and Ben drove them down the roadto a distant pasture where the early grass awaitedtheir eager cropping. By the school they went, andthe boy looked pityingly at the black, brown, andyellow heads bobbing past the windows as a classwent up to recite; for it seemed a hard thing to theliberty-loving lad to be shut up there so many hourson a morning like that.
But a little breeze that was playing truant44 roundthe steps did Ben a service without knowing it, for asudden puff45 blew a torn leaf to his feet, and seeing apicture he took it up. It evidently had fallen fromsome ill-used history, for the picture showed somequeer ships at anchor, some oddly dressed men justlanding, and a crowd of Indians dancing about onthe shore. Ben spelt out all be could about theseinteresting personages, but could not discover what itmeant, because ink evidently had deluged46 the page,to the new reader's great disappointment.
"I'll ask the girls; may be they will know," saidBen to himself as, after looking vainly for more strayleaves, he trudged47 on, enjoying the bobolink's song,the warm sunshine, and a comfortable sense of friendlinessand safety, which soon set him to whistling asgayly as any blackbird in the meadow.
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1
chirp
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| v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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testy
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| adj.易怒的；暴躁的 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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beets
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| 甜菜( beet的名词复数 )； 甜菜根； （因愤怒、难堪或觉得热而）脸红 | |
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plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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ostriches
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| n.鸵鸟( ostrich的名词复数 )；逃避现实的人，不愿正视现实者 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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39
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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40
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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41
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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42
confidingly
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| adv.信任地 | |
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43
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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44
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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45
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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46
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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