And Mr. Brown was never weary of hearing , for every hour showed him more plainly what a lovely miracle her gentle words had wrought , and every hour increased his gratitude , his desire to return the kindness in some humble way . He had his wish , and did his part handsomely when he least expected to have a chance . On Monday he saw Mr. Towne , and , thanks to the Squire 's good word , was engaged for a month on trial , making himself so useful that it was soon evident he was the right man in the right place . He lived on the hill , but managed to get down to the little brown house in the evening for a word with Ben , who just now was as full of business as if the President and his Cabinet were coming . Every thing was put in apple-pie order in and about the old house ; the great gate , with much creaking of rusty hinges and some clearing away of rubbish , was set wide open , and the first creature who entered it was Sancho , solemnly dragging the dead mullein which long ago had grown above the keyhole . October frosts seemed to have spared some of the brightest leaves for this especial occasion ; and on Saturday the arched gate-way was hung with gay wreaths , red and yellow sprays strewed the flags , and the porch was a blaze of color with the red woodbine , that was in its glory when the honeysuckle was leafless . Fortunately it was a half-holiday , so the children could trim and chatter to their heart 's content , and the little girls ran about sticking funny decorations where no one would ever think of looking for them . Ben was absorbed in his flags , which were sprinkled all down the avenue with a lavish display , suggesting several Fourth of Julys rolled into one . Mr. Brown had come to lend a hand , and did so most energetically , for the break-neck things he did with his son during the decoration fever would have terrified Mrs. Moss out of her wits , if she had not been in the house giving last touches to every room , while Randa and Katy set forth a sumptuous tea . All was going well , and the train would be due in an hour , when luckless Bab nearly turned the rejoicing into mourning , the feast into ashes . She heard her mother say to Randa , `` There ought to be a fire in every room , it looks so cheerful , and the air is chilly spite of the sunshine ; '' and , never waiting to hear the reply that some of the long-unused chimneys were not safe till cleaned , off went Bab with an apron full of old shingles , and made a roaring blaze in the front room fire-place , which was of all others the one to be let alone , as the flue was out of order . Charmed with the brilliant light and the crackle of the tindery fuel , Miss Bab refilled her apron , and fed the fire till the chimney began to rumble ominously , sparks to fly out at the top , and soot and swallows ' nests to come tumbling down upon the hearth . Then , scared at what she had done , the little mischief-maker hastily buried her fire , swept up the rubbish , and ran off , thinking no one would discover her prank if she never told . Everybody was very busy , and the big chimney blazed and rumbled unnoticed till the cloud of smoke caught Ben 's eye as he festooned his last effort in the flag line , part of an old sheet with the words `` Father has come ! '' 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 XXXXX 's cries for water came from within .
Bab Father Katy Randa Sancho Towne evening fire-place month right