CHAP. Ix. ] Edward “A Mystery.” 159 
men, as you call them, than there are now. I’m not a mem- 
ber of the Temperance Society ; nevertheless, I am in favor 
of every thing that would make people more sober and dil- 
igent, and tend to man’s good, both here and hereafter.” 
“ But,” continued the man, “are ye satisfied that ye got 
nae help in the way I hinted ?” 
“None whatever.” 
“But far did ye learn the wrightin’ [carpentering], the 
paintin’, and the glazin’ ?” 
“At my ain fireside, where every thing good should be 
learned. My teachers were —first, ‘ Necessity ;’ and, sec- 
ondly, another teacher, of whom you may not have heard, 
called Wit.” 
“Ye’re a mystery,” said the man. 
“Perhaps I may be,” answered Edward’; “but I'll just 
tell you three things, whether you may understand the 
‘mystery’ or not. My neighbors in Banff say of me that 
‘that man surely means to tak’ the world by speed o’ fit.’ 
My shopmates say that ‘Tam is just the lad for taking time 
by the forelock ;’ and many of the inhabitants say, ‘Who- 
ever may be seen lounging about at the lazy corners, you'll 
never see Edward among them.’ Now, these are three lit- 
tle nuts which I hope you will crack among your shopmates ; 
and I hope they will do them good.” 
One day two ladies came to see the exhibition. They 
looked over the collection, and one of them came up to Ed- 
ward and looked him straight in the face. She asked him 
if he belonged to Aberdeen, 
“Well,” he replied, “although I was not born in Aber- 
deen, still I may say I belong to it. My mother was an 
Aberdeen woman, and I was brought up here until I went 
to Banff.” “Ah,” said the lady, “I thought so. Your 
countenance and appearance are very much the same as 
they were when I last saw you.” “ Indeed !” 
“Were you not at one time a private in the Aberdeen- 
shire militia?’ “I was; but what of that?’ ‘Allow me 
