 Edward returned to Westtown in 1855 , accompanied by two of his sisters . Biology began to interest him more that year , and he studied natural history texts in his spare time . While at the school , he frequently visited the Academy of Natural Sciences . Edward often obtained bad marks due to quarreling and bad conduct . His letters to his father show he chafed at farm work and betrayed flashes of the temper for which he would later become well known . After sending Edward back to the farm for summer break in 1854 and 1855 , Alfred did not return Edward to school after spring 1856 . Instead , Alfred attempted to turn his son into a gentleman farmer , which he considered a wholesome profession that would yield enough profit to lead a comfortable life , and improve the undersized Edward 's health . Until 1863 , Cope 's letters to his father continually expressed his yearning for a more professional scientific career than that of a farmer , which he called " dreadfully boring " . 
