I was afraid you 'd have worn out your welcome here and gone off again , for you are as fond of travelling as your father . '' `` I wanted to sometimes , but the folks here were so dreadful good to me I could n't , '' confessed Ben , secretly surprised to find that the prospect of going off with Daddy even cost him a pang of regret , for the boy had taken root in the friendly soil , and was no longer a wandering thistle-down , tossed about by every wind that blew . `` I know what I owe 'em , and you and I will work out that debt before we die , or our name is n't B.B. , '' said Mr. Brown , with an emphatic slap on his knee , which Ben imitated half unconsciously as he exclaimed heartily , -- `` That 's so ! '' adding , more quietly , `` What are you going to do now ? Go back to Smithers and the old business ? '' `` Not likely , after the way he treated you , Sonny . I 've had it out with him , and he wo n't want to see me again in a hurry , '' answered Mr. Brown , with a sudden kindling of the eye that reminded Bab of Ben 's face when he shook her after losing Sancho . `` There 's more circuses than his in the world ; but I 'll have to limber out ever so much before I 'm good for much in that line , '' said the boy , stretching his stout arms and legs with a curious mixture of satisfaction and regret . `` You 've been living in clover and got fat , you rascal , '' and his father gave him a poke here and there , as Mr. Squeers did the plump Wackford , when displaying him as a specimen of the fine diet at Do-the-boys Hall . `` Do n't believe I could put you up now if I tried , for I have n't got my strength back yet , and we are both out of practice . It 's just as well , for I 've about made up my mind to quit the business and settle down somewhere for a spell , if I can get any thing to do , '' continued the rider , folding his arms and gazing thoughtfully into the fire . `` I should n't wonder a mite if you could right here , for Mr. Towne has a great boarding-stable over yonder , and he 's always wanting men . '' Said Mrs. Moss , eagerly , for she dreaded to have Ben go , and no one could forbid it if his father chose to take him away . `` That sounds likely . Thanky , ma'am . I 'll look up the concern and try my chance . Would you call it too great a come-down to have father an ` ostler after being first rider in the ` Great Golden Menagerie , Circus , and Colossem , ' hey , Ben ? '' asked Mr. Brown , quoting the well-remembered show-bill with a laugh . `` No , I should n't ; it 's real jolly up there when the big barn is full and eighty horses have to be taken care of . I love to go and see 'em .
Mr. XXXXX asked me to come and be stable-boy when I rode the kicking gray the rest were afraid of .
B.B. Brown Colossem Smithers Sonny Squeers Towne come-down first pang