`` Did you ever hear the story of Bruce and his spider ? Most children know and like that , '' said Miss Celia , seeing that he seemed interested . `` No , 'm ; I do n't know ever so many things most children do , '' answered Ben , soberly ; for , since he had been among his new friends , he had often felt his own deficiencies . `` Ah , but you also know many things which they do not . Half the boys in town would give a great deal to be able to ride and run and leap as you do ; and even the oldest are not as capable of taking care of themselves as you are . Your active life has done much in some ways to make a man of you ; but in other ways it was bad , as I think you begin to see . Now , suppose you try to forget the harmful part , and remember only the good , while learning to be more like our boys , who go to school and church , and fit themselves to become industrious , honest men . '' Ben had been looking straight up in Miss Celia 's face as she spoke , feeling that every word was true , though he could not have expressed it if he had tried ; and , when she paused , with her bright eyes inquiringly fixed on his , he answered heartily , -- `` I 'd like to stay here and be respectable ; for , since I came , I 've found out that folks do n't think much of circus riders , though they like to go and see 'em . I did n't use to care about school and such things , but I do now ; and I guess he 'd like it better than to have me knockin ' round that way without him to look after me . '' `` I know he would ; so we will try , Benny . I dare say it will seem dull and hard at first , after the gay sort of life you have led , and you will miss the excitement . But it was not good for you , and we will do our best to find something safer . Do n't be discouraged ; and , when things trouble you , come to me as Thorny does , and I 'll try to straighten them out for you . I 've got two boys now , and I want to do my duty by both . '' Before Ben had time for more than a grateful look , a tumbled head appeared at an upper window , and a sleepy voice drawled out , -- `` Celia ! I ca n't find a bit of a shoe-string , and I wish you 'd come and do my neck-tie . '' `` Lazy boy , come down here , and bring one of your black ties with you . Shoe-strings are in the little brown bag on my bureau , '' called back Miss Celia ; adding , with a laugh , as the tumbled head disappeared mumbling something about `` bothering old bags '' , `` Thorny has been half spoiled since he was ill . You must n't mind his fidgets and dawdling ways . He 'll get over them soon , and then I know you two will be good friends . ''
XXXXX had his doubts about that , but resolved to do his best for her sake ; so , when Master Thorny presently appeared , with a careless `` How are you , Ben ? ''
Ben Benny Bruce Celia Shoe-strings fidgets first head neck-tie something