380 EDWARD'S FAMILY. CHAP. xvm. 



home in time for his next day's work. He stuffed 

 his birds, or prepared the cases for his collection, by 

 the light of the fire. He was never a moment idle. 



Another thing must be mentioned to his credit, 

 and here his wife must share the honour. He brought 

 up his large family of eleven children respectably and 

 virtuously. He educated them much better than he 

 himself had been educated. They were all well clad 

 and well shod, notwithstanding the Scottish proverb 

 to the contrary.* Both parents must have felt hope 

 and joy in the future lives of their children. This is 

 one of the greatest comforts of the poor, to see their 

 family growing up in knowledge, virtue, industry, 

 well-being, and well-doing. We might say much of 

 Edward's eldest daughter, who has not only helped to 

 keep her parents, but to maintain her brother at 

 school and college. It is families such as these, that 

 maintain the character and constitute the glory of 

 their country. 



But to return to Edward and his culture. In one 

 of the earliest letters which the author addressed to 

 him, he made inquiry as to the manner in which he had 

 become acquainted with the scientific works which 

 are so necessary for the study of Natural History. 

 " You seem to wonder," he said in his reply, " why I 

 did not mention books in my memoir. You may just 

 as well wonder how I can string a few sentences to- 



* "The Smith's meer and the Shaemakers' bairns are aye the 

 worst shod. " 



