in red cambric letters half a foot long sewed upon it . `` Hullo ! I do believe they 've got up a bonfire , without asking my leave . Miss Celia never would let us , because the sheds and roofs are so old and dry ; I must see about it . Catch me , Daddy , I 'm coming down ! '' cried Ben , dropping out of the elm with no more thought of where he might light than a squirrel swinging from bough to bough . His father caught him , and followed in haste as his nimble-footed son raced up the avenue , to stop in the gate-way , frightened at the prospect before him , for falling sparks had already kindled the roof here and there , and the chimney smoked and roared like a small volcano , while Katy 's wails and Randa 's cries for water came from within . `` Up there with wet blankets , while I get out the hose ! '' cried Mr. Brown , as he saw at a glance what the danger was . Ben vanished ; and , before his father got the garden hose rigged , he was on the roof with a dripping blanket over the worst spot . Mrs. Moss had her wits about her in a minute , and ran to put in the fireboard , and stop the draught . Then , stationing Randa to watch that the falling cinders did no harm inside , she hurried off to help Mr. Brown , who might not know where things were . But he had roughed it so long , that he was the man for emergencies , and seemed to lay his hand on whatever was needed , by a sort of instinct . Finding that the hose was too short to reach the upper part of the roof , he was on the roof in a jiffy with two pails of water , and quenched the most dangerous spots before much harm was done . This he kept up till the chimney burned itself out , while Ben dodged about among the gables with a watering pot , lest some stray sparks should be over-looked , and break out afresh . While they worked there , Betty ran to and fro with a dipper of water , trying to help ; and Sancho barked violently , as if he objected to this sort of illumination . But where was Bab , who revelled in flurries ? No one missed her till the fire was out , and the tired , sooty people met to talk over the danger just escaped . `` Poor Miss Celia would n't have had a roof over her head , if it had n't been for you , Mr. Brown , '' said Mrs. Moss , sinking into a kitchen chair , pale with the excitement . `` It would have burnt lively , but I guess it 's all right now .
Keep an eye on the roof , XXXXX , and I 'll step up garret and see if all 's safe there .
Bab Ben Betty Celia Hullo Moss Randa fire fireboard gate-way