`` Oh , tell about it ! '' begged Betty . `` Well , I came along and found Ben treed , and Sam stoning him . I stopped that at once , and told the ` fat boy ' to be off . He said he would n't till Ben begged his pardon ; and Ben said he would n't do it , if he stayed up for a week . I was just preparing to give that rascal a scientific thrashing , when a load of hay came along , and Ben dropped on to it so quietly that Sam , who was trying to bully me , never saw him go . It tickled me so , I told Sam I guessed I 'd let him off that time , and walked away , leaving him to hunt for Ben , and wonder where the dickens he had vanished to . '' The idea of Sam 's bewilderment amused the others as much as Thorny , and they all had a good laugh over it before Miss Celia asked , -- `` Where has Ben gone now ? '' `` Oh , he 'll take a little ride , and then slip down and race home full of the fun of it . But I 've got to settle Sam . I wo n't have our Ben hectored by any one -- '' `` But yourself , '' put in his sister , with a sly smile , for Thorny was rather domineering at times . `` He does n't mind my poking him up now and then , it 's good for him ; and I always take his part against other people . Sam is a bully , and so is Mose ; and I 'll thrash them both if they do n't stop . '' Anxious to curb her brother 's pugnacious propensities , Miss Celia proposed milder measures , promising to speak to the boys herself if there was any more trouble . `` I have been thinking that we should have some sort of merry-making for Ben on his birthday . My plan was a very simple one ; but I will enlarge it , and have all the young folks come , and Ben shall be king of the fun . he needs encouragement in well-doing , for he does try ; and now the first hard part is nearly over , I am sure he will get on bravely . If we treat him with respect , and show our regard for him , others will follow our example ; and that will be better than fighting about it . '' `` So it will ! What shall we do to make our party tip-top ? ''
asked Thorny , falling into the trap at once ; for he dearly loved to get up theatricals , and had not had any for a long XXXXX .
bewilderment bully encouragement folks pardon respect sister time times trouble