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so's you shall have a chance to talk with Mr. Stubbs's brother," said Ben, as they were driving along. As a matter of course Toby promised to be there, and to bring Abner with him. "You said that little cripple had to live at the poor-farm, didn't you?" asked Ben, after quite a long pause. "Yes, an' it's 'cause he hain't got no father or mother, nor no Uncle Dan'l like I've got," said Toby sadly. "Hain't he got any relations anywhere?" "No; Uncle Dan'l said he didn't have a soul that he could go to." "It must be kinder hard for him to live there alone, an' I don't s'pose he'll ever be able to walk." Toby was not at all certain whether or not Abner could ever be cured; but he told the old driver what he knew of the lonely life the boy led. Ben did not appear to hear what was said, for he was in one of his deep studies and seemed unconscious of everything except the fact that his horses were going in the proper direction. "I'll tell you what I'll do, Toby," he said, after remaining silent until they were nearly at the tent. "I hain't got a child or a chick in the world, an' I'll take care of that boy." Toby looked up in surprise, as he repeated, in a puzzled way: "You'll take care of him?" "I don't mean that I'll take hold an' tote' him 'round; but he shall have as much as he needs out of every dollar I get. I'll see your Uncle Dan'l, an' fix it somehow so he'll be taken out of the poorhouse." "Why, Ben, how good you are!" and Toby looked up at his friend with sincere admiration imprinted on his face. "It hain't 'cause I'm good, my lad; but if I didn't help that poor fellow in some way, I'd see them big eyes an' that pale face of hisn every night I rode on this box alone; so you see I only do it for the sake of havin' peace," said Ben, with a forced laugh; and then he stopped the horses at the rear of Mr. Treat's tent. "Now you jump down, Toby, so's to see the skeleton don't break himself all to pieces gettin' out, for I'm kinder 'fraid he will some day. I'd rather drive a hundred monkeys than one sich slim man as him." Then Ben had a fit of internal laughter caused by his own remark, and Uncle Daniel's guests were ready to resume their duties at the circus. CHAPTER IX MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER It was so near the time for the circus to begin that Toby was obliged to hurry considerably in order to distribute among his friends the tickets the skeleton had given him, and he advised A
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