62 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



disreputable to herself and intolerable to him, and under 

 conditions that might at any moment seriously compromise 

 his social respect. It was an ever-present, inexorable fate, 

 through which none but the most depraved would wish 

 their worst enemy to pass. But it was endured daily for 

 more than a score of years, with all its painful possibilities, 

 by this simple weaver, in silence and dignity, without 

 vituperation of its cause, and with no loss of his own self- 

 respect or the esteem of society ; the man himself being 

 strong enough, throughout the long and wasting trial, to 

 preserve his equanimity and calmness, and in time to 

 regain his natural brightness and humour. No doubt, the 

 necessity for hiding from his fellows this skeleton of the 

 heart would increase his native reserve and make him 

 more retiring, mistrustful, and self-absorbed. But the man 

 passed through the bitter ordeal, if not unscathed, at least 

 undeteriorated ; and undoubtedly, in many respects, raised 

 and broadened, through the sanctity of conquered sorrow. 

 This was largely owing to his own moral balance and 

 strength of character and will. But it was also in great 

 part due to the measures he wisely took for relief, in 

 moving about the country, in working all the harder at his 

 trade, in seeking variety of employment, and, chief of all, in 

 sedulously prosecuting the higher pursuits to which he now 

 increasingly devoted himself. 



His two daughters were boarded out by their father, with 

 poor people to whom their labour was of some value, and 

 were in this way carefully brought up, though they were a 

 drain upon his slender resources. In time, they grew to 

 womanhood, and became domestic servants to several of 

 John's friends and relations. They did well, preserving. 



