20 
FIRST LESSONS. 
which held his padlock, from the door-frame, she 
entered, and carefully gathering up his earthly 
effects, removed them to a convenient point on 
the plains, where she left them in a neat pile to 
await his further disposition, while she proceeded 
to adjust things to her own mind in the recovered 
domicile ! 
Among his possessions were not the birds she 
had seen— those he had already sold — but others 
in an early stage of preparation. Of them she 
felt at liberty to make a critical examination, and 
gather an idea of the materials he used in stuffing 
them, if nothing more. 
Her sisters knew she would be only too glad 
to assist their teacher in his proposed experiment, 
so the collection was undertaken. 
There was no taxidermist in the place, but a 
gentleman who was fond of field sports, and had 
learned something of the principles of “ making 
skins,” gave them the benefit of his knowledge, 
and they obtained what further information they 
could from the limited printed matter within their 
reach, Mrs. Maxwell’s ingenuity supplying the 
rest. 
The professor procured the birds, and was to 
do the unpleasant work ; she was to look on, 
suggest and give the finishing touches. 
An amusing time they had mounting their 
first birds ! After laboring long and faithfully 
