CHAP. VI. | Marries a Huntly Lass. 95 
shop, as the landlady with whom he lodged would not al- 
low any of his “ vermin,” as she called them, to enter her 
house. He had one day taken in about a dozen caterpillars 
of the puss moth, and asked her for a box to hold them in. 
The landlady told him at once to get out of the house with 
his “ beasts.” She never could understand her lodger. Sle 
could not fathom “fat kin o’ a chiel he was. A’body tried 
to keep awa frae vermin but himsel’ !” 
The idea again recurred to Edward of saving money 
enough to enable him to emigrate to the United States; 
but this was prevented by his falling in love! Man pro- 
poses: God disposes. He met with a Huntly lass at the 
farm of Boyndie. He liked her, loved her, courted her, 
married her, and brought her home to the house which he 
had provided for her in Banff. 
Edward was only twenty-three years old when he brought 
his wife home. Many may think that he was very impru- 
dent in marrying so early. But he knew nothing about 
“Malthus on Population.” He merely followed his natu- 
ral instincts. What kept him would keep another also. It 
turned out, however, that he had married wisely. His mar- 
riage settled him for life. He no longer thought of emigra- 
ting to America. Then, his marriage gave him a happy home. 
His wife was bright and cheerful, and was always ready to 
welcome him from his wanderings. They were very poor, 
it is true; but mutual affection makes up for much. Per- 
haps they occasionally felt the bitterness of poverty; for 
Edward’s earnings did not yet amount to more than about 
nine shillings and sixpence a week. 
Another result of Edward’s marriage was, that it enabled 
him to carry on his self-education in natural history. 
While he lived in lodgings, he had few opportunities for 
collecting objects. It is true, he explored the country in 
the neighborhood of Banff. He wandered along the sands 
toward Whitehills, and explored the rocky cliffs between 
Macduff and Gamrie. He learned the geography of the in- 
