164 EDWARD'S REAL TEACHERS. CHAP. ix. 



"What! have you had no education? no access 

 to scientific works ?" 



"No, sir." 



" Then, how the deuce did you manage ?" 



" Well, I think I have told you that several times 

 before. But I'll tell you again, this time in a few 

 words. My chief school was the Earth, and my 

 principal teacher was Nature. What I have been 

 able to do, has been done by economising every 

 farthing of money, and every moment of time." 



" Do you mean to say that you got no education, 

 and had no money but what you worked for ? " 



"I do, and"- 



" Confounded nonsense ! " 



" Allow me to proceed ! It is not always those 

 who have the most money and the best educa- 

 tion, that do the most work, either in natural history 

 or anything else." 



" Oh yes ! That's all very well ; but it's not to 

 the point. But (looking at his watch) I find I must 

 go. I'll call again ; for I am determined to be at the 

 bottom of this affair." 



The next time he called, Edward was standing at 

 the door. " Well," said he, " I can't wait to-day, for I 

 have to go into the country, and I can't be home for 

 a week. But here's your fare." "No, no," said 

 Edward ; " you haven't been in." " Very well, here 

 goes ! " and he pitched the fare in amongst the birds. 

 When Edward went to look at the fare, instead of a 



