s knowledge in his head."

"And so should all people have," said Mrs. Stoddard. "Anne, go to the big
red chest in my bedroom and take out the book that lays there and fetch it
to me. Mayhap Mistress Starkweather would like to see it."

Anne quickly obeyed. The big red chest was one that Captain Enos had
carried when he went on whaling voyages. It had handles of twisted rope,
and a huge padlock swung from an iron loop in front. Anne lifted the top
and reached in after the book; but the chest was deep; there were only a
few articles on the bottom of the chest, and she could not reach it. So
she pushed the lid back until it rested against the wall, and stepped into
the chest, stooping down to pick up the book. As she leaned over,
bang,--down came the lid to the chest, shutting Anne closely in. For an
instant the child was too frightened to move, as she lay on her face in
the big chest; then she tried to sit up, and found she could not. She
tried to call "Aunt Martha," but her voice sounded thick and muffled.

In the kitchen the two neighbors sat waiting for Anne and the book.

"Anne! Anne!" called Mrs. Stoddard. "Why, the child is usually so spry. I
wonder what keeps her," and she went into the bedroom.

"Did Anne slip out while we talked?" she called back to Mrs. Starkweather.
"She's not here."

Just then there came a sound from the chest. "Pity's sake!" exclaimed Mrs.
Stoddard. "I do believe Anne is in the chest," and she hastened to swing
back the big lid and to lift the half-stifled child out.

"Did you ever!" she said. "How came you in the chest, child?"

"I got in to get the book and the lid fell on me," half whispered Anne,
clinging to Mrs. Stoddard's skirts.

"Well, well, child, there is no harm done," said Mrs. Stoddard, "but 'Tis
not a safe thing to get into chests. I will get the book. I thought your
arms were longer," and Mrs. Stoddard reached into the sea-chest and drew
out a long black-covered book. "It has many pictures," she said. "I wonder
I have not shown it to Anne before."

Mrs. Starkweather looked at the book admiringly, and Mrs. Stoddard took
Anne in her lap that they might all enjoy the pictures together.

"Look," she said; "here is Christian setting forth on his journey, and
here are Obstinate and Pliable, two of his neighbors, following him to
urge him to come home."

Anne looked at the picture eagerly. She had never seen pictures in a book
before, and it seemed very wonderful to her.