76 RESUMES SHOEMAKING. CHAP. v. 



ing the ensuing year, and two shillings more during 

 his last, or fifth year. But Edward strongly objected 

 to return to the master who had so cruelly used him. 



Not wishing, however, to withstand his parents' 

 advice any longer, he at last consented to go on with 

 his trade. But, instead of serving out his time with 

 his former master, he found a pupil-master in Shoe 

 Lane, who was willing to employ him, and to improve 

 him in his business. Edward agreed to give the 

 master, for his trouble, a percentage of his earnings, 

 besides his pupil-money, and a share of the fire and 

 light. 



Edward's work at this place was mostly of the 

 lighter and smaller sort. His employer was of a much 

 kindlier nature than the last, and he got on very well 

 with him. Edward was also in a measure his own 

 master. He could still look after his bird-nesting. 

 That was his strongest attraction out of doors. He 

 did not rob the birds of their eggs. ^His principal 

 pleasure was to search for their nests, and to visit them 

 from time to time. When the eggs were hatched, 

 and the little birds were grown and ready to fly, he 

 would take one or two, if they were singing birds, and 

 rear them for himself, or for other bird-fanciers. 



It was about this time that Edward began what 

 he called his Wild Botanical Garden. His parents 

 had left the Green and removed to another quarter 

 of the town. Behind the house, and behind the ad- 

 joining houses, was a piece of waste ground about 



