158 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTAXIST. 



would he like to see it ? Certainly he would, and he was 

 obliged to him for mentioning it. He called alone soon 

 after, and found the book to be the long-desired Hooker ! 

 What a treasure, and what a God-send ! So it seemed to 

 the grateful young man, provided almost by special 

 providence. Charles not only saw it, but got a loan of it ; 

 but for a short time only, for the old man cherished it too 

 dearly for his son's sake, who had been his special favourite, 

 to risk its possible loss. 



This son of Davidson's, who had evidently been above 

 the average of his class at that time, had been apprenticed 

 as a gardener at Castle Forbes, and had, like our two 

 friends, entered on the scientific study of Botany. After 

 completing his time at home, he had gone to a situation in 

 England, where the gentleman in whose garden he worked, 

 observing his studious habits, and wishing to assist him in 

 such laudable and unusual pursuits, had generously 

 presented him with both of Hooker's volumes, then just 

 issued. The lad, however, was weakly in constitution, and 

 had to return home to his parents at Mayfield, bringing 

 with him the precious work, along with others he had 

 purchased. Here he soon died of consumption, in the 

 flower of his age, leaving his books behind him. These his 

 father treasured as mementoes of his dead son, and kept 

 carefully locked up in a drawer. 



If our two earnest students could only gain regular 

 access to these lockfast volumes ! That turned out to be 

 less difficult than they thought ; for the old man, when he 

 learnt their desire, was only too pleased and proud to see 

 them put any value on what his son had prized, and no one 

 else seemed to care for. 



