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.