`` Bab does ; she shoots nearly as well as Ben , and wants to win even more than he or Billy . She must have her chance at any rate . '' `` So she may , but she wo n't do any thing ; girls ca n't , though it 's good exercise and pleases them to try . '' `` If I had full use of both my arms I 'd show you that girls can do a great deal when they like . Do n't be too lofty , young man , for you may have to come down , '' laughed Miss Celia , amused by his airs . `` No fear , '' and Thorny calmly departed to set his targets for Ben 's practice . `` We shall see , '' and from that moment Miss Celia made Bab her especial pupil , feeling that a little lesson would be good for Mr. Thorny , who rather lorded it over the other young people . There was a spice of mischief in it , for Miss Celia was very young at heart , in spite of her twenty-four years , and she was bound to see that her side had a fair chance , believing that girls can do whatever they are willing to strive patiently and wisely for . So she kept Bab at work early and late , giving her all the hints and help she could with only one efficient hand , and Bab was delighted to think she did well enough to shoot with the club . Her arms ached and her fingers grew hard with twanging the bow , but she was indefatigable , and being a strong , tall child of her age , with a great love of all athletic sports , she got on fast and well , soon learning to send arrow after arrow with ever increasing accuracy nearer and nearer to the bull 's - eye . The boys took very little notice of her , being much absorbed in their own affairs , but Betty did for Bab what Sancho did for Ben , and trotted after arrows till her short legs were sadly tired , though her patience never gave out . She was so sure Bab would win that she cared nothing about her own success , practising little and seldom hitting any thing when she tried . CHAPTER XX BEN 'S BIRTHDAY A superb display of flags flapped gayly in the breeze on the September morning when Ben proudly entered his teens . An irruption of bunting seemed to have broken out all over the old house , for banners of every shape and size , color and design , flew from chimney-top to gable , porch and gate-way , making the quiet place look as lively as a circus tent , which was just what Ben most desired and delighted in . The boys had been up very early to prepare the show , and when it was ready enjoyed it hugely , for the fresh wind made the pennons cut strange capers . The winged lion of Venice looked as if trying to fly away home ; the Chinese dragon appeared to brandish his forked tail as he clawed at the Burmese peacock ; the double-headed eagle of Russia pecked at the Turkish crescent with one beak , while the other seemed to be screaming to the English royal beast , `` Come on and lend a paw . '' In the hurry of hoisting the Siamese elephant got turned upside down , and now danced gayly on his head , with the stars and stripes waving proudly over him . A green flag with a yellow harp and sprig of shamrock hung in sight of the kitchen window , and Katy , the cook , got breakfast to the tune of `` St. Patrick 's day in the morning . '' Sancho 's kennel was half hidden under a rustling paper imitation of the gorgeous Spanish banner , and the scarlet sun-and-moon flag of Arabia snapped and flaunted from the pole over the coach-house , as a delicate compliment to Lita , Arabian horses being considered the finest in the world . The little girls came out to see , and declared it was the loveliest sight they ever beheld , while Thorny played `` Hail Columbia '' on his fife , and Ben , mounting the gate-post , crowed long and loud like a happy cockerel who had just reached his majority .
He had been surprised and delighted with the gifts he found in his room on awaking and guessed why Miss Celia and XXXXX gave him such pretty things , for among them was a match-box made like a mouse-trap .
Arabia Ben Celia Columbia Katy Patrick Russia Thorny XX coach-house