“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.
“It is a good story,” said Mrs. Starkweather. “True, it is said to be but a dream, but I read it in my youth and liked it well. It has been a treat to see it, Mrs. Stoddard. ’Tis seldom I have so care-free an afternoon. Six boys to look after keep me busy,” and the good woman rose from her chair and with cordial words of good-bye started for home.
“I wish I could read this book,” said Anne, turning the leaves over carefully and wondering what the pictures meant.
“So you shall. We’ll read a little now. Come, you shall spell out the words, and I will speak them for you and tell you their meaning.”
An hour later when Captain Enos stepped into the kitchen he declared that he thought school had begun there; and while Mrs. Stoddard hurried about to prepare supper Uncle Enos continued Anne’s reading lesson.
“Perhaps I can read this book after I go to school,” said Anne.
“That you can,” answered the captain.