`` Now I 'll show you my toys , and we 'll have a little play before it gets too late for Thorny to stay with us , '' said Miss Celia , as Randa carried away the tea-things and brought back a large tray full of picture-books , dissected maps , puzzles , games , and several pretty models of animals , the whole crowned with a large doll dressed as a baby . At sight of that , Betty stretched out her arms to receive it with a cry of delight . Bab seized the games , and Ben was lost in admiration of the little Arab chief prancing on the white horse , -- all saddled and bridled and fit for the fight . Thorny poked about to find a certain curious puzzle which he could put together without a mistake after long study . Even Sancho found something to interest him ; and , standing on his hind-legs , thrust his head between the boys to paw at several red and blue letters on square blocks . `` He looks as if he knew them , '' said Thorny , amused at the dog 's eager whine and scratch . `` He does . Spell your name , Sanch ; '' and Ben put all the gay letters down upon the flags with a chirrup which set the dog 's tail to wagging as he waited till the alphabet was spread before him . Then , with great deliberation , he pushed the letters about till he had picked out six ; these he arranged with nose and paw till the word `` Sancho '' lay before him correctly spelt . `` Is n't that clever ? Can he do any more ? '' cried Thorny , delighted . `` Lots ; that 's the way he gets his livin ' , and mine too , '' answered Ben ; and proudly put his poodle through his well-learned lessons with such success that even Miss Celia was surprised . `` He has been carefully trained . Do you know how it was done ? '' she asked , when Sancho lay down to rest and be caressed by the children . `` No , 'm , father did it when I was a little chap , and never told me how . I used to help teach him to dance , and that was easy enough , he is so smart . Father said the middle of the night was the best time to give him his lessons ; it was so still then , and nothing disturbed Sanch and made him forget . I ca n't do half the tricks , but I 'm goin ' to learn when father comes back .
He 'd rather have me show off XXXXX than ride , till I 'm older . ''
Arab Bab Celia Father Randa Sanch hind-legs livin night picture-books