CHAP. xvm. EDWARD AT HOME. 385 



Natural History is one of the most delightful of 

 hobbies. He had the adventure, the chase, the cap- 

 ture, and often the triumph of discovery. He must 

 have found great delight in finding a new bird, a new 

 star-fish, a new crustacean, a new ascidian. It must 

 also have been a pleasure to him to be in correspond- 

 ence with some of the most enlightened men of the 

 time ; to have received their congratulations upon his 

 discoveries ; and to have been rewarded with the 

 titular honours which they had to bestow. 



But what did they think of him at home ? A man 

 may be a well-disposed man out of doors, yet alto- 

 gether different in his domestic circle. Follow him 

 home, and see what he is there. We have seen that 

 Edward was a happy father and a happy husband. 

 His children, as we have said, were brought up well 

 and virtuously. There was no better conducted family 

 in Banff. When young they assisted him in his 

 labours amongst his fishes and crustaceans ; and, 

 when old, they were proud to help him in all ways. 

 Is not this a great feature in a man's character ? 



What did his wife say of him ? When reminded 

 of his wanderings about at night, and asked what 

 she thought of them, she replied, " Weel, he took 

 such an interest in beasts, that I didna compleen. 

 Shoemakers were then a very drucken set, but his 

 beasts keepit him frae them. My man's been a sober 

 man all his life ; and he never negleckit his wark. Sae 

 I let him be." Wise woman ! 

 2c 



