8 THE EEV. J. G. WOOD. 



Soon followed another step, and a most important 

 one, in the pursuit after knowledge, for at a very early 

 age the young naturalist found his way to the Ash- 

 molean Museum, and almost immediately succeeded in 

 getting upon unusually friendly terms with the kind- 

 hearted old curator, who sympathised most heartily with 

 the hoy's keenness and wonderful thirst for information. 

 Any help that he could give was freely given, and soon 

 " Johnny Wood " was a constant visitor to the Museum, 

 and as constant an enquirer of the curator, who, so far 

 from being annoyed by his persistence, said that his 

 questions were so apt and sensible that it was a real 

 pleasure to answer them. For several years these visits 

 were kept up, and even after school-days had begun the 

 boy's first visit at the beginning of every holiday season 

 was always to the Museum, in order that he might 

 discover all the new specimens, carefully examine them, 

 and find out whatever there was to be learnt concerning 

 them. 



So passed the time until 1838, by which time eight 

 years of active, outdoor life, with unlimited exercise in 

 the way of running, swimming, climbing, and exploring 

 woodland, hill, and dell, had so strengthened the boy's 

 constitution that it was deemed that home study might 

 profitably be exchanged for the severer discipline of a 

 school. He was therefore sent to Ashbourne Grammar 

 School, in Derbyshire, over which his uncle, the Rev. 

 G. E. Gepp, presided as head-master ; and there he 

 remained for the next half-dozen years. 



The school was conducted on old-fashioned principles, 



