I was only fourteen when I wrote it ; but it came right out of my heart , and did me good . I hope it may help you a little . '' Ben murmured that he guessed it would ; but felt too shy to talk about such things before Thorny , so hastily retired to put the chair away , and the others went in to tea . But later in the evening , when Miss Celia was singing like a nightingale , the boy slipped away from sleepy Bab and Betty to stand by the syringa bush and listen , with his heart full of new thoughts and happy feelings ; for never before had he spent a Sunday like this . And when he went to bed , instead of saying `` Now I lay me , '' he repeated the third verse of Miss Celia 's hymn ; for that was his favorite , because his longing for the father whom he had seen made it seem sweet and natural now to love and lean , without fear upon the Father whom he had not seen . CHAPTER XII GOOD TIMES Every one was very kind to Ben when his loss was known . The Squire wrote to Mr. Smithers that the boy had found friends and would stay where he was . Mrs. Moss consoled him in her motherly way , and the little girls did their very best to `` be good to poor Benny . '' But Miss Celia was his truest comforter , and completely won his heart , not only by the friendly words she said and the pleasant things she did , but by the unspoken sympathy which showed itself just at the right minute , in a look , a touch , a smile , more helpful than any amount of condolence . She called him `` my man , '' and Ben tried to be one , bearing his trouble so bravely that she respected him , although he was only a little boy , because it promised well for the future . Then she was so happy herself , it was impossible for those about her to be sad , and Ben soon grew cheerful again in spite of the very tender memory of his father laid quietly away in the safest corner of his heart . He would have been a very unboyish boy if he had not been happy , for the new place was such a pleasant one , he soon felt as if , for the first time , he really had a home . No more grubbing now , but daily tasks which never grew tiresome , they were so varied and so light . No more cross Pats to try his temper , but the sweetest mistress that ever was , since praise was oftener on her lips than blame , and gratitude made willing service a delight . At first , it seemed as if there was going to be trouble between the two boys ; for Thorny was naturally masterful , and illness had left him weak and nervous , so he was often both domineering and petulant . Ben had been taught instant obedience to those older than him self , and if Thorny had been a man Ben would have made no complaint ; but it was hard to be `` ordered round '' by a boy , and an unreasonable one into the bargain . A word from Miss Celia blew away the threatening cloud , however ; and for her sake her brother promised to try to be patient ; for her sake Ben declared he never would `` get mad '' if Mr. Thorny did fidget ; and both very soon forgot all about master and man and lived together like two friendly lads , taking each other 's ups and downs good-naturedly , and finding mutual pleasure and profit in the new companionship . The only point on which they never could agree was legs , and many a hearty laugh did they give Miss Celia by their warm and serious discussion of this vexed question . Thorny insisted that Ben was bowlegged ; Ben resented the epithet , and declared that the legs of all good horsemen must have a slight curve , and any one who knew any thing about the matter would acknowledge both its necessity and its beauty . Then Thorny Would observe that it might be all very well in the saddle , but it made a man waddle like a duck when afoot ; whereat Ben would retort that , for his part , he would rather waddle like a duck than tumble about like a horse with the staggers .
He had his opponent there , for poor XXXXX did look very like a weak-kneed colt when he tried to walk ; but he would never own it , and came down upon Ben with crushing allusions to centaurs , or the Greeks and Romans , who were famous both for their horsemanship and fine limbs .
Bab Ben Celia Father Thorny comforter daily evening first left