CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 DUNCAN'S BIRTHPLACE AND EARLY TRAINING. 



Stonehaven at the end of last century ; John Duncan's unwedded mother ; 

 his birth ; his father ; picturesque boy life in town ; attractions in the 

 country round ; Geology of Stonehaven ; cliffs and caves and adventures 

 there ; Dunnottar Castle. 



17941804. Pages i ii 



CHAPTER II. 



THE UNLETTERED HERD-BOY, AND HIS ONLY EDUCATION. 



Schools in Stonehaven then; "bickers" between them; Johnnie never at 

 school ; reasons why ; his mother's poverty lessened by his selling rushes ; 

 becomes a herd-boy at ten ; cruelty and kindliness ; Dunnottar, its 

 scenery and memories and their influence on him ; his love of flowers and 

 nature generated ; his life-long memories of his youth ; how is he to 

 become able to read ? 



1804 1809. 12 20 



CHAPTER III. 



WEAVING AND A VILLAGE OF WEAVERS AT THE BEGINNING OF 

 THE CENTURY. 



Bucolic life then ; weaving and its effects ; weavers as a class at that period ; 

 the loom in its relation to natural studies : Drumlithie, a typical weaving 

 village ; his reception and appearance ; daily life there ; its flax-spinning 

 and weaving ; its intellectual activity and simple tastes. 



1809. 2129 



