Bab quite beamed with sisterly pride , and Betty smoothed down her apron with modest satisfaction , for Bab seldom praised her , and she liked it very much . `` I never went to school , so that 's the reason I ai n't smart . I can write , though , better 'n some of the boys up at school . I saw lots of names on the shed door . See here , now , '' -- and scrambling down , Ben pulled out a cherished bit of chalk , and flourished off ten letters of the alphabet , one on each of the dark stone slabs that paved the walk . `` Those are beautiful ! I ca n't make such curly ones . Who taught you to do it ? '' asked Bab , as she and Betty walked up and down admiring them . `` Horse blankets , '' answered Ben , soberly . `` What ! '' cried both girls , stopping to stare . `` Our horses all had their names on their blankets , and I used to copy 'em . The wagons had signs , and I learned to read that way after father taught me my letters off the red and yellow posters . First word I knew was lion , 'cause I was always goin ' to see old Jubal in his cage . Father was real proud when I read it right off . I can draw one , too . '' Ben proceeded to depict an animal intended to represent his lost friend ; but Jubal would not have recognized his portrait , since it looked much more like Sancho than the king of the forest . The children admired it immensely , however , and Ben gave them a lesson in natural history which was so interesting that it kept them busy and happy till bedtime ; for the boy described what he had seen in such lively language , and illustrated in such a droll way , it was no wonder they were charmed . CHAPTER VII NEW FRIENDS TROT IN Next day Ben ran off to his work with Quackenbos 's `` Elementary History of the United States '' in his pocket , and the Squire 's cows had ample time to breakfast on way-side grass before they were put into their pasture .
Even then the pleasant lesson was not ended , for Ben had an errand to town ; and all the way he XXXXX busily , tumbling over the hard words , and leaving bits which he did not understand to be explained at night by Bab .
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