Peterkin.
"The hackman could not lift it, either," said Mr.Peterkin.
"People do travel with a great deal of baggage," said Elizabeth Eliza.
"And with very large trunks," said Agamemnon.
"Still they are trunks that can be moved," said Mr.Peterkin, giving another try at the trunk in vain."I am afraid we must give it up,"he said; "it would be such a trouble in going from place to place.""We would not mind if we got it to the place," said Elizabeth Eliza.
"But how to get it there?" Mr.Peterkin asked, with a sigh.
"This is our first obstacle," said Agamemnon; "we must do our best to conquer it.""What is an obstacle?" asked the little boys.
"It is the trunk," said Solomon John.
"Suppose we look out the word in the dictionary," said Agamemnon, taking the large volume from the trunk."Ah, here it is-" And he read:- "OBSTACLE, an impediment.""That is a worse word than the other," said one of the little boys.
"But listen to this," and Agamemnon continued: "Impediment is something that entangles the feet; obstacle, something that stands in the way; obstruction, something that blocks up the passage;hinderance, something that holds back."
"The trunk is all these," said Mr.Peterkin, gloomily.
"It does not entangle the feet," said Solomon John, "for it can't move.""I wish it could," said the little boys together.
Mrs.Peterkin spent a day or two in taking the things out of the trunk and putting them away.
"At least," she said, "this has given me some experience in packing."And the little boys felt as if they had quite been a journey.
But the family did not like to give up their plan.It was suggested that they might take the things out of the trunk, and pack it at the station; the little boys could go and come with the things.But Elizabeth Eliza thought the place too public.
Gradually the old contents of the great trunk went back again to it.
At length a friend unexpectedly offered to lend Mr.Peterkin a good-sized family trunk.But it was late in the season, and so the journey was put off from that summer.
But now the trunk was sent round to the house, and a family consultation was held about packing it.Many things would have to be left at home, it was so much smaller than the grandmother's hair-trunk.But Agamemnon had been studying the atlas through the winter, and felt familiar with the more important places, so it would not be necessary to take it.And Mr.Peterkin decided to leave his turning-lathe at home, and his tool-chest.
Again Mrs.Peterkin spent two days in accommodating the things.
With great care and discretion, and by borrowing two more leather bags, it could be accomplished.Everything of importance could be packed, except the little boys' kite.What should they do about that?
The little boys proposed carrying it in their hands; but Solomon John and Elizabeth Eliza would not consent to this.
"I do think it is one of the cases where we might ask the advice of the lady from Philadelphia," said Mrs.Peterkin, at last.
"She has come on here," said Agamemnon, "and we have not been to see her this summer.""She may think we have been neglecting her," suggested Mr.
Peterkin.
The little boys begged to be allowed to go and ask her opinion about the kite.
They came back in high spirits.
"She says we might leave this one at home, and make a new kite when we get there," they cried.
"What a sensible idea!" exclaimed Mr.Peterkin; "and I may have leisure to help you.""We'll take plenty of newspapers," said Solomon John.
"And twine," said the little boys.And this matter was settled.
The question then was, "When should they go?"
