EARLY BOTANICAL RAMBLES. I/I 



cranberry, which he brought home in triumph, announcing 

 the discovery to Charles in a wonderful transformation of 

 the strange-looking name, and which they then counted a 

 treasure. 



His botanical explorations in his own neighbourhood 

 were the astonishment of the people. Being very short- 

 sighted, the little man was obliged to grope along the 

 ground in order to see the plants, and when this was done 

 in bogs and mosses, it was not very pleasant work. But no 

 place was too wet, no peat moss too dirty, no boghole too 

 disagreeable for the enthusiast, who was often seen crawling 

 along on hands and knees in such places till his neighbours 

 really thought him becoming demented. To secure time for 

 these outdoor pursuits, he used to get up in the early morn- 

 ing while others were asleep, even in that early-rising com- 

 munity, or work at his loom late at night, to complete his 

 day's " stent " at the loom ; for, with all his love of rambling, 

 he never neglected his daily business, though he never made 

 money like some of his contemporaries at the loom, as his 

 friends Hunter and Cameron did at Netherton. 



One morning in June, John rose before the lark to carry 

 home to a customer, who lived at some distance, a web that 

 he had just finished. Having delivered it, and got a kindly 

 breakfast from the good lady of the house to speed him on 

 his way homewards, he left the high-road and descended 

 into the Moss of Tillyfourie, near the head of the pass 

 through which the railway now runs, above Netherton, then 

 an extensive peat bog, now greatly reclaimed for the 

 plough. He wished to examine the numerous aquatic 

 plants that grew in its black haggs and pools. He wore 

 his tall hat, as he always did when visiting, and carried a 



