CHAP. XVIII. ] Edward’s Family. 825 
exposed during so many years of his life. When he went 
out at night, his food consisted for the most part of plain 
oatmeal cakes; and his drink was the water from the near- 
est brook. 
He never lost a moment of time. When his work for 
the day was over, he went out to the links or the fields 
with his supper of oatmeal cakes in his hand; and after 
the night had passed, he returned 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 honor. 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, notwith- 
standing the Scottish proverb to the contrary.* Both par- 
ents 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, in- 
dustry, 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 col- 
lege. It is families such as these that maintain-the char- 
acter 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 acquaint- 
ed 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 sen- 
tences togetiter, or, indeed, how I ean write at all. My 
* “The smith’s meer and the shae-makers’ bairns. are aye the worst 
shod.” . 
