"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.