EDWARD’S VINDICATION.
“Permit me to say, sir,” said Edward, “that I am not 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 constant work.”
“What! have you had 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 economising 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?”
“I do, and”——
“Confounded nonsense!”
EDWARD’S REAL TEACHERS.