92 A LOVER OF NATURE. CHAP. vi. 



There was, however, one advantage which Edward 

 possessed, and it compensated him for many diffi- 

 culties. He was an intense lover of Nature. Every- 

 thing that lived and breathed had charms for him. 

 He loved the fields, the woods, the moors. The 

 living presence of the earth was always about him, 

 and he eagerly drank in its spirit. The bubbling 

 brooks, the whispering trees, the aspects of the clouds, 

 the driving wind, were all sources of delight. He 

 felt himself free amidst the liberty of Nature. 



The ocean in its devious humours, sometimes 

 peacefully slumbering, or laving the sands with 

 murmuring kisses at his feet ; then, full of life and 

 motion, carrying in and out the fishermen's boats 

 along the shores of the Firth ; or, roaring with seem- 

 ing agony, dashing itself in spray against the rock- 

 bound coast, these sights and scenes were always a 

 source of wonderment. As his wanderings were almost 

 invariably conducted*at night, he had abundant oppor- 

 tunities of seeing, not only the ocean, but the heavens, 

 in their various aspects. What were these stars so far 

 off in the sky ? Were they worlds ? Were they but 

 the outposts of the earth, from which other worlds 

 were to be seen, far beyond the ken of the most 

 powerful telescope ? 



To use Edward's own words, " I can never succeed 

 in describing my unbounded admiration of the works 

 of the Almighty ; not only the wonderful works 

 which we ourselves see upon earth, but those won- 



