Under the Lilacs

When two young girls decide to have a tea party with their dolls and a mysterious dog comes and steals their prized cake, they end up finding a circus run-away in their play barn, Ben Brown. Ben is a horse master, and loves horses, so when the Mosses take the young boy in they decide to give him work at the neighbor's house driving cows.

In the course of events, Ben finds out his beloved father is dead. Miss Celia, a neighbor, feels sorry and comforts him, and finally offers to let Ben stay with her and her fourteen-year-old brother Thornton, who is called Thorny.

After that many adventures and summer-happenings go on in Celia's house. Sancho gets lost, Ben is accused of stealing, Miss Celia even gets hurt and Ben takes a wild ride on her horse, Lita.