120 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



that year had been unusually severe, though less so than 

 afterwards in 1837, known as the year of the "big storm." 

 Mrs. Wilson, the good woman whom John had frightened 

 at midnight, left the farm to go over the hill to Auchleven 

 with some wool, to get it made into worsted at John's old 

 mill there. The afternoon was fair enough, but a heavy 

 snow-storm came on with the evening, and as she did 

 not return after the dark had come down, an alarm was 

 raised. The whole population of the Braes of Whitehaugh, 

 John amongst the rest, turned out to seek the lost woman, 

 who happily was found, after long search, in a snow 

 wreath, where she would without doubt have perished, 

 had she not been rescued in time by her kindly neighbours. 

 Duncan was counted by most about Tullynessle, " a 

 queer kind o' creatur'," "a droll body," "an awfu' queer 

 man," " losing his time, instead of working at his loom," 

 though the worst never did or could accuse him of being 

 lazy. He was, nevertheless, " universally respected," as 

 an intelligent, honourable, well-living man, with " nothing 

 mean " about him, and " generous as far as he was able." 

 Though he was always poor, his wages being small, he 

 never failed to pay his way, and borrowed from no one. 

 His unusual aspect is still remembered on the Braes, 

 especially when he went for oil for his lamp to the shop 

 at Waterside, at the north end of the bridge of Alford. 

 He would then set out, dressed in his best, in the style 

 already described at Auchleven, and, as became one who 

 was going into civilized regions at the merchant's, he of 

 course wore his tall " lum " hat. He also carried the 

 inevitable umbrella under his arm, his stick in the right 

 hand, and a great black earthenware bottle held by a 



