Do n't touch it ! Swamp-sumach is horrid stuff , -- Miss Celia said so ; '' and Ben looked anxiously at Bab , who felt her chubby face all over , and examined her dingy hands with a solemn air , asking , eagerly , -- `` Will it break out on me ` fore I get to the circus ? '' `` Not for a day or so , I guess ; but it 's bad when it does come . '' `` I do n't care , if I see the animals first . Come quick , and never mind the old weeds and things , '' said Bab , much relieved ; for present bliss was all she had room for now in her happy little heart . CHAPTER XIV SOMEBODY GETS LOST Putting all care behind them , the young folks ran down the hill , with a very lively dog gambolling beside them , and took a delightfully tantalizing survey of the external charms of the big tent . But people were beginning to go in , and it was impossible to delay when they came round to the entrance . Ben felt that now `` his foot was on his native heath , '' and the superb air of indifference with which he threw down his dollar at the ticket-office , carelessly swept up the change , and strolled into the tent with his hands in his pockets , was so impressive that even big Sam repressed his excitement and meekly followed their leader , as he led them from cage to cage , doing the honors as if he owned the whole concern . Bab held tight to the flap of his jacket , staring about her with round eyes , and listening with little gasps of astonishment or delight to the roaring of lions , the snarling of tigers , the chatter of the monkeys , the groaning of camels , and the music of the very brass band shut up in a red bin . Five elephants were tossing their hay about in the middle of the menagerie , and Billy 's legs shook under him as he looked up at the big beasts whose long noses and small , sagacious eyes filled him with awe . Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys that the others left him before the cage and went on to see the zebra , `` striped just like Ma 's muslin gown , '' Bab declared . But the next minute she forgot all about him in her raptures over the ponies and their tiny colts ; especially one mite of a thing who lay asleep on the hay , such a miniature copy of its little mouse-colored mamma that one could hardly believe it was alive . `` Oh , Ben , I must feel of it ! -- the cunning baby horse ! '' and down went Bab inside the rope to pat and admire the pretty creature , while its mother smelt suspiciously at the brown hat , and baby lazily opened one eye to see what was going on . `` Come out of that , it is n't allowed , '' commanded Ben , longing to do the same thing , but mindful of the proprieties and his own dignity . Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolation in watching the young lions , who looked so like big puppies , and the tigers washing their faces just as puss did . `` If I stroked 'em , would n't they purr ? '' she asked , bent on enjoying herself , while Ben held her skirts lest she should try the experiment . `` You 'd better not go to patting them , or you 'll get your hands clawed up .
Tigers do purr like fun when they are happy , but these fellers never are , and you 'll only see 'em spit and snarl , '' said XXXXX , leading the way to the humpy carrels , who were peacefully chewing their cud and longing for the desert , with a dreamy , far-away look in their mournful eyes .
Bab Ben Ma XIV day gambolling heath proprieties puss ticket-office