He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly he beheld the dim apparition of a white cow, moving slowly over his head!  Ben started, and rubbed his eyes, in the greatest amazement.

“What can this mean?” thought he.

The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, who trotted along the ceiling, and vanished into the darkness of the chamber.  So lifelike did these grunters look, that Ben almost seemed to hear them squeak.

“Well, this is very strange!” said Ben to himself.

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 all assembled in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from beginning to end.

Finally, they came to a very wise decision.  It seemed so evident that Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination.  They even acknowledged that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the mind, and might benefit the heart, as much as a good book or a wise discourse.  They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God, being well assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of usefulness.  The old men laid their hands upon Benjamin’s head, and gave him their blessing, and the women kissed him affectionately.  All consented that he should go forth into the world, and learn to be a painter, by studying the best pictures of ancient and modern times.