CHAP. vi. MAKES A COLLECTION. 93 



drous and countless millions of orbs which roll, both 

 near and far, in the endless immensity of space the 

 Home of Eternity. 



" Every living thing that moves or lives, every- 

 thing that grows, everything created or formed by the 

 hand or the will of the Omnipotent, has such a fasci- 

 nating charm for me, and sends such a thrill of plea- 

 sure through my whole frame, that to describe my 

 feelings is utterly impossible." 



Another advantage which Edward possessed, be- 

 sides his intense love of Nature, was his invincible 

 determination. Whatever object in Natural History 

 he desired to possess, if it were possible to obtain it, 

 he never rested until he had succeeded. He sometimes 

 lost for a time the object of which he was in search, 

 because he wished to observe its traits and habits. 

 For this purpose, he would observe long and carefully, 

 before obtaining possession of it. By this means he 

 was enabled to secure an amount of information in 

 Natural History, such as no book, except the book of 

 Nature, could have supplied him with. 



Edward proceeded to make a collection of natural 

 objects early in the spring of 1838. He was then 

 twenty-four years old, and had been married about a 

 year. He had, a short time before, bought an old gun 

 for four and sixpence ; but it was so rickety that he 

 had to tie the barrel to the stock with a piece of 

 thick twine. He carried his powder in a horn, and 

 measured out his charges with the bowl of a tobacco- 



