`` She 's tired , wants a ride ; I 'll leave it all right , true as I live and breathe , '' explained Ben , half ashamed yet anxious to get his little responsibility home as soon as possible , for mishaps seemed to thicken . `` Ho , you could n't cart her all that way ! she 's most as heavy as a bag of meal , '' jeered the taller lad , amused at the proposition . `` I 'm stronger than most fellers of my size . Try , if I ai n't , '' and Ben squared off in such scientific style that Joslyn responded with sudden amiability , -- `` All right , let 's see you do it . '' Bab huddled into her new equipage without the least fear , and Ben trundled her off at a good pace , while the boy retired to the shelter of a barn to watch their progress , glad to be rid of an irksome errand . At first , all went well , for the way was down hill , and the wheel squeaked briskly round and round ; Bab smiled gratefully upon her bearer , and Ben `` went in on his muscle with a will , '' as he expressed it . But presently the road grew sandy , began to ascend , and the load seemed to grow heavier with every step . `` I 'll get out now . It 's real nice , but I guess I am too heavy , '' said Bab , as the face before her got redder and redder , and the breath began to come in puffs . `` Sit still . He said I could n't . I 'm not going to give in with him looking on , '' panted Ben , and he pushed gallantly up the rise , over the grassy lawn to the side gate of the Batchelors ' door-yard , with his head down , teeth set , and every muscle of his slender body braced to the task . `` Did ever ye see the like of that now ? Ah , ha ! `` The streets were so wide , and the lanes were so narry , He brought his wife home on a little wheelbarry , '' sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his load and push back his hat , to see Pat 's red head looking over the fence . To have his enemy behold him then and there was the last bitter drop in poor Ben 's cup of humiliation . A shrill approving whistle from the hill was some comfort , however , and gave him spirit to help Bab out with composure , though his hands were blistered and he had hardly breath enough to issue the Command , -- `` Go along home , and do n't mind him . '' `` Nice childer , ye are , runnin ' off this way , settin ' the women distracted , and me wastin ' me time comin ' after ye when I 'd be milkin ' airly so I 'd get a bit of pleasure the day , '' grumbled Pat , coming up to untie the Duke , whose Roman nose Ben had already recognized , as well as the roomy chaise standing before the door . `` Did Billy tell you about us ? ''
asked XXXXX , gladly following toward this welcome refuge .
Bab Billy Duke amiability childer first right runnin settin wheelbarry