Under the lilacs

38 UNDER THE LILACS."Guess I did! Never saw such a bed. I'm usedto hay and a horse-blanket, and lately nothin' but skyfor a cover and grass for my feather-bed," laughed Ben,grateful for present comforts and making light of pasthardships.* 4Clean, sweet corn-husks ain't bad for 3Toung bones,even if they haven't got more flesh on them than yourshave," answered Mrs. Moss, giving the smooth head amotherly stroke as she went by." Fat ain't allowed in our profession, ma'am. Thethinner the better for tight-ropes and tumblin' ;likewisebareback ridin' and spry jugglin'. Muscle 's the thing,and there you are."Ben stretched out a wiry little arm with a clenchedfist at the end of it, as if he were a young Hercules,ready to play ball with the stove if she gave him leave.Glad to see him in such good spirits, she pointed to thewell outside, saying pleasantly,"Well, then, just try your muscle by bringing insome fresh water."Ben caught up a pail and ran off, ready to be useful ;but, while he waited for the bucket to fill down amongthe mossy stones, he looked about him, well pleasedwith all he saw,the small brown house with a prettycurl of smoke rising from its chimney, the little sisterssuting in the sunshine, green hills and newly-plantedfields far and near, a brook dancing through the orchard,birds s:nging in the elm avenue, and all the world asfresh and lovely as early summer could make it." Don't you think it's pretty nice here?" asked Bab,as his eye came back to them after a long look, whichseemed to take in every thing, brightening as it roved.