I will , thank y ' , '' and with an effort the boy steadied his voice and plunged into the middle of his story . `` Father was always good to me , and I liked bein ' with him after granny died . I lived with her till I was seven ; then father took me , and I was trained for rider . You jest oughter have seen me when I was a little feller all in white tights , and a gold belt , and pink riggin ' , standing ' on father 's shoulder , or hangin ' on to old General 's tail , and him gallopin ' full pelt ; or father ridin ' three horses with me on his head wavin ' flags , and every one clapping like fun . '' `` Oh , were n't you scared to pieces ? '' asked Betty , quaking at the mere thought . `` Not a bit . I liked it . '' `` So should I ! '' cried Bab enthusiastically . `` Then I drove the four ponies in the little chariot , when we paraded , '' continued Ben , `` and I sat on the great ball up top of the grand car drawed by Hannibal and Nero . But I did n't like that , 'cause it was awful high and shaky , and the sun was hot , and the trees slapped my face , and my legs ached holdin ' on . '' `` What 's hanny bells and neroes ? '' demanded Betty . `` Big elephants . Father never let 'em put me up there , and they did n't darst till he was gone ; then I had to , else they 'd ` a ' thrashed me . '' `` Did n't any one take your part ? '' asked Mrs. Moss . `` Yes , 'm , ` most all the ladies did ; they were very good to me , ` specially ` Melia . She vowed she would n't go on in the Tunnymunt act if they did n't stop knockin ' me round when I would n't help old Buck with the bears .
So they had to stop it , 'cause she led first rate , and none of the other ladies rode half as well as ` XXXXX . ''
Bab Ben Father General Melia Moss holdin oughter riggin wavin