I declare it fairly takes my breath away ! '' Before Bab could obey , or her mother compose herself , Sancho bounced in and spun round like an insane top , trying to stand on his head , walk upright , waltz and bark all at once , for the good old fellow had so lost his head that he forgot the loss of his tail . `` They are coming ! they are coming ! See , Ma , what a nice man he is , '' said Bab , hopping about on one foot as she watched the slowly approaching pair . `` My patience , do n't they look alike ! I should know he was Ben 's Pa anywhere ! '' said Mrs. Moss , running to the door in a hurry . They certainly did resemble one another , and it was almost comical to see the same curve in the legs , the same wide-awake style of wearing the hat , the same sparkle of the eye , good-natured smile and agile motion of every limb . Old Ben carried the bag in one hand while young Ben held the other fast , looking a little shame-faced at his own emotion now , for there were marks of tears on his cheeks , but too glad to repress the delight he felt that he had really found Daddy this side heaven . Mrs. Moss unconsciously made a pretty little picture of herself as she stood at the door with her honest face shining and both hands ont , saying in a hearty tone , which was a welcome in itself , `` I 'm real glad to see you safe and well , Mr. Brown ! Come right in and make yourself to home . I guess there is n't a happier boy living than Ben is to-night . '' `` And I know there is n't a gratefuler man living than I am for your kindness to my poor forsaken little feller , '' answered Mr. Brown , dropping both his burdens to give the comely woman 's hands a hard shake . `` Now do n't say a word about it , but sit down and rest , and we 'll have tea in less 'n no time . Ben must be tired and hungry , though he 's so happy I do n't believe he knows it , '' laughed Mrs. Moss , bustling away to hide the tears in her eyes , anxious to make things sociable and easy all round . With this end in view she set forth her best china , and covered the table with food enough for a dozen , thanking her stars that it was baking day , and every thing had turned out well . Ben and his father sat talking by the window till they were bidden to `` draw up and help themselves '' with such hospitable warmth that every thing had an extra relish to the hungry pair . Ben paused occasionally to stroke the rusty coat-sleeve with bread-and-buttery fingers to convince himself that `` Daddy '' had really come , and his father disposed of various inconvenient emotions by eating as if food was unknown in California . Mrs. Moss beamed on every one from behind the big tea-pot like a mild full moon , while Bab and Betty kept interrupting one another in their eagerness to tell something new about Ben and how Sanch lost his tail .
`` Now you let Mr. XXXXX talk a little ; we all want to hear how he ` came alive , ' as you call it , '' said Mrs. Moss , as they drew round the fire in the `` settin ' - room , '' leaving the tea-things to take care of themselves .
Bab Ben Betty Brown Sanch coat-sleeve day gratefuler right tea-pot