When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the
marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe
him.

"Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!" cried they. "How is it
possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the
ceiling of a dark chamber?"

Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was
determined to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when
he was again left alone, he got out of bed and examined the window-
shutters. He soon perceived a small chink in one of them, through which
a ray of light found its passage and rested upon the ceiling. Now, the
science of optics will inform us that the pictures of the white cow and
the pigs, and of other objects out of doors, came into the dark chamber
through this narrow chink, and were painted over Benjamin's head. It is
greatly to his credit that he discovered the scientific principle of
this phenomenon, and by means of it constructed a camera-obscura, or
magic-lantern, out of a hollow box. This was of great advantage to him
in drawing landscapes.

Well, time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures
until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should
choose a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable
perplexity about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers, it is not
right for people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real
and sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the
world expect from Benjamin's pictures? This was a difficult question;
and, in order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to
consult the preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they