`` Why she was ` Melia , -- Mrs. Smithers , the ringmaster 's wife . His name was n't Montgomery any more 'n hers was St. John . They all change 'em to something fine on the bills , you know . Father used to be Senor Jose Montebello ; and I was Master Adolphus Bloomsbury , after I stopped bein ' a flyin ' Coopid and a infant Progidy . '' Mrs. Moss leaned back in her chair to laugh at that , greatly to the surprise of the little girls , who were much impressed with the elegance of these high-sounding names . `` Go on with your story , Ben , and tell why you ran away and what became of your Pa , '' she said , composing herself to listen , really interested in the child . `` Well , you see , father had a quarrel with old Smithers , and went off sudden last fall , just before tenting season ' was over . He told me he was goin ' to a great ridin ' school in New York and when he was fixed he 'd send for me . I was to stay in the museum and help Pedro with the trick business . He was a nice man and I liked him , and ` Melia was goin ' to see to me , and I did n't mind for awhile . But father did n't send for me , and I began to have horrid times . If it had n't been for ` Melia and Sancho I would have cut away long before I did . '' `` What did you have to do ? '' `` Lots of things , for times was dull and I was smart . Smithers said so , any way , and I had to tumble up lively when he gave the word . I did n't mind doin ' tricks or showin ' off Sancho , for father trained him , and he always did well with me . But they wanted me to drink gin to keep me small , and I would n't , 'cause father did n't like that kind of thing . I used to ride tip-top , and that just suited me till I got a fall and hurt my back ; but I had to go on all the same , though I ached dreadful , and used to tumble off , I was so dizzy and weak . '' `` What a brute that man must have been ! Why did n't ` Melia put a stop to it ? ''
asked Mrs. XXXXX , indignantly .
Ben Bloomsbury Coopid Melia Montgomery Moss Smithers York flyin ridin