156 Edward’s Real Teachers.  [cuap. 1x. 
a book- learner, nor have I ever read any scientific works. 
I never had any access to them. Nor do I possess any 
means besides those that I have earned by hard and con- 
stant work.” 
‘‘What! have you no education? no access to scientific 
works ?” 
“No, sir.” 
“Then how the deuce did you manage ?” 
“Well, I think I have told you that several times before. 
But I'll tell you again—this time in a few words. My 
chief school was the earth, and my principal teacher was 
nature. What I have been able to do, has been done by 
economizing every farthing of money, and every moment of 
time.” 
“Do you mean to say that you got no education, and had 
no money, but what you worked for ?” 
“T do; and—” 
“ Confounded nonsense !” 
“ Allow me to proceed. It is not always those who have 
the most money and the best education that do the most 
work, either in natural history or any thing else.” 
“Oh yes! That’s all very well; but it’s not to the point. 
But [looking at his watch] I find I must go. I'll call again; 
for I am determined to be at the bottom of this affair.” 
The next time he called, Edward was standing at the door. 
“Well,” said he, “TI can’t wait to-day, for I have to go into 
the country, and I can’t be home for a week. But here’s 
your fare.” “No, no,” said Edward; “ you haven’t been 
in.” ‘Very well, here goes!” and he pitched the fare in 
among the birds. When Edward went to look at the fare, 
instead of a penny, he found a crown-piece. The gentleman 
never called again. By the time he returned from the coun- 
try the exhibition was at’ an end. 
As Edward had announced in his handbill that he had 
been an inhabitant of Aberdeen, and worked at the Grand- 
holm Mills in his boyhood, some of his old companions 
