If she saw that boys were eagerly reading a certain book she immediately read it; if it were harmless she encouraged them to read it; if otherwise, she had a convenient way of _losing_ the book.

In November, when the trustees made their annual examination, the book appeared upon the shelf, but the next day after it was again lost.

At this time Nantucket was a thriving, busy town.

The whale-fishery was a very profitable business, and the town was one of the wealthiest in the State.

There was a good deal of social and literary life.