Ben 's other treasures had been stolen with his bundle ; but these he cherished and often looked at when he went to bed , wondering what heaven was like , since it was lovelier than California , and usually fell asleep with a dreamy impression that it must be something like America when Columbus found it , -- `` a pleasant land , where were gay flowers and tall trees , with leaves and fruit such as they had never seen before . '' And through this happy hunting-ground `` father '' was for ever riding on a beautiful white horse with wings , like the one of which Miss Celia had a picture . Nice times Ben had in his little room poring over his books , for he soon had several of his own ; but his favorites were Hamerton 's `` Animals '' and `` Our Dumb Friends , '' both full of interesting pictures and anecdotes such as boys love . Still nicer times working about the house , helping get things in order ; and best of all were the daily drives with Miss Celia and Thorny , when weather permitted , or solitary rides to town through the heaviest rain , for certain letters must go and come , no matter how the elements raged . The neighbors soon got used to the `` antics of that boy , '' but Ben knew that he was an object of interest as he careered down the main street in a way that made old ladies cry out and brought people flying to the window , sure that some one was being run away with . Lita enjoyed the fun as much as he , and apparently did her best to send him heels over head , having rapidly earned to understand the signs he gave her by the touch of hand and foot , or the tones of his voice . These performances caused the boys to regard Ben Brown with intense admiration , the girls with timid awe , all but Bab , who burned to imitate him , and tried her best whenever she got a chance , much to the anguish and dismay of poor Jack , for that long-suffering animal was the only steed she was allowed to ride . Fortunately , neither she nor Betty had much time for play just now , as school was about to close for the long vacation , and all the little people were busy finishing up , that they might go to play with free minds . So the `` lilac-parties , '' as they called them , were deferred till later , and the lads amused themselves in their own way , with Miss Celia to suggest and advise . It took Thorny a long time to arrange his possessions , for he could only direct while Ben unpacked , wondering and admiring as he worked , because he had never seen so many boyish treasures before . The little printing-press was his especial delight , and leaving every thing else in confusion , Thorny taught him its and planned a newspaper on the spot , with Ben for printer , himself for editor , and `` Sister '' for chief contributor , while Bab should be carrier and Betty office-boy . Next came a postage-stamp book , and a rainy day was happily spent in pasting a new collection where each particular one belonged , with copious explanations from Thorny as they went along . Ben did not feel any great interest in this amusement after one trial of it , but when a book containing patterns of the flags of all nations turned up , he was seized with a desire to copy them all , so that the house could be fitly decorated on gala occasions . Finding that it amused her brother , Miss Celia generously opened her piece-drawer and rag-bag , and as the mania grew till her resources were exhausted , she bought bits of gay cambric and many-colored papers , and startled the store-keeper by purchasing several bottles of mucilage at once . Bab and Betty were invited to sew the bright strips of stars , and pricked their little fingers assiduously , finding this sort of needle-work much more attractive than piecing bed-quilts . Such a snipping and pasting , planning and stitching as went on in the big back room , which was given up to them , and such a noble array of banners and petitions as soon decorated its walls , would have caused the dullest eye to brighten with amusement , if not with admiration . Of course , the Stars and Stripes hung highest , with the English lion ramping on the royal standard close by ; then followed a regular picture-gallery , for there was the white elephant of Siam , the splendid peacock of Burmah , the double-headed Russian eagle , and black dragon of China , the winged lion of Venice , and the prancing pair on the red , white , and blue flag of Holland . The keys and mitre of the Papal States were a hard job , but up they went at last , with the yellow crescent of Turkey on one side and the red full moon of Japan on the other ; the pretty blue and white flag of Greece hung below and the cross of free Switzerland above . If materials had held out , the flags of all the United States would have followed ; but paste and patience were exhausted , so the busy workers rested awhile before they `` flung their banner to the breeze , '' as the newspapers have it . A spell of ship-building and rigging followed the flag fit ; for Thorny , feeling too old now for such toys , made over his whole fleet to `` the children , '' condescending , however , to superintend a thorough repairing of the same before he disposed of all but the big man-of-war , which continued to ornament his own room , with all sail set and a little red officer perpetually waving his sword on the quarter-deck .
These gifts led to out-of-door water-works , for the brook had to be dammed up , that a shallow ocean might be made , where Ben 's piratical `` Red Rover , '' with the black flag , might chase and capture XXXXX 's smart frigate , `` Queen , '' while the `` Bounding Betsey , '' laden with lumber , safely sailed from Kennebunkport to Massachusetts Bay .
Bab Ben Siam States Thorny Turkey day man-of-war rag-bag store-keeper