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〃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？〃
THE PETERKINS SNOWED…UP。 MRS。 PETERKIN awoke one morning to find a heavy snow…storm raging。 The wind had flung the snow against the windows； had heaped it up around the house； and thrown it into huge white drifts over the fields； covering hedges and fences。
Mrs。 Peterkin went from one window to the other to look out； but nothing could be seen but the driving storm and the deep white snow。 Even Mr。 Bromwick's house； on the opposite side of the street； was hidden by the swift…falling flakes。
〃What shall I do about it？〃 thought Mrs。 Peterkin。 〃No roads cleared out！ Of course there'll be no butcher and no milkman ！〃
The first thing to be done was to wake up all the family early； for there was enough in the house for breakfast； and there was no knowing when they would have anything more to eat。
It was best to secure the breakfast first。
So she went from one room to the other； as soon as it was light； waking the family； and before long all were dressed and downstairs。
And then all went round the house to see what had happened。
All the water…pipes that there were were frozen。 The milk was frozen。 They could open the door into the wood…house； but the wood…house door into the yard was banked up with snow； and the front door； and the piazza door； and the side door stuck。 Nobody could get in or out！
Meanwhile； Amanda； the cook； had succeeded in making the kitchen fire； but had discovered there was no furnace coal。
〃The furnace coal was to have come to…day；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin； apologetically。
〃Nothing will come to…day；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； shivering。
But a fire could be made in a stove in the dining…room。
All were glad to sit down to breakfast and hot coffee。 The little boys were much pleased to have 〃ice…cream〃 for breakfast。
〃When we get a little warm；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃we will consider what is to be done。〃
〃I am thankful I ordered the sausages yesterday；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin。 〃I was to have had a leg of mutton to…day。〃
〃Nothing will come to…day；〃 said Agamemnon； gloomily。
〃Are these sausages the last meat in the house？〃 asked Mr。 Peterkin。
〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin。
The potatoes also were gone； the barrel of apples empty； and she had meant to order more flour that very day。
〃Then we are eating our last provisions；〃 said Solomon John； helping himself to another sausage。
〃I almost wish we had stayed in bed；〃 said Agamemnon。
〃I thought it best to make sure of our breakfast first；〃 repeated Mrs。 Peterkin。
〃Shall we literally have nothing left to eat？〃 asked Mr。 Peterkin。
〃There's the pig！〃 suggested Solomon John。
Yes； happily； the pigsty was at the end of the wood…house； and could be reached under cover。
But some of the family could not eat fresh pork。
〃We should have to 'corn' part of him；〃 said Agamemnon。
〃My butcher has always told me；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin； 〃that if I wanted a ham I must keep a pig。 Now we have the pig； but have not the ham！〃
〃Perhaps we could 'corn' one or two of his legs；〃 suggested one of the little boys。
〃We need not settle that now；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin。 〃At least the pig will keep us from starving。〃
The little boys looked serious； they were fond of their pig。
〃If we had only decided to keep a cow；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin。
〃Alas！ yes；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃one learns a great many things too late！〃
〃Then we might have had ice…cream all the time！〃 exclaimed the little boys。
Indeed； the little boys； in spite of the prospect of starving； were quite pleasantly excited at the idea of being snowed…up； and hurried through their breakfasts that they might go and try to shovel out a path from one of the doors。
〃I ought to know more about the water…pipes；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin。 〃Now； I shut off the water last night in the bath…room； or else I forgot to； and I ought to have shut it off in the cellar。〃
The little boys came back。 Such a wind at the front door； they were going to try the side door。
〃Another thing I have learned to…day；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃is not to have a