202 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



was in this way subjected to a good deal of ridicule on 

 account of his peculiar pursuits. Yet, in spite of it all, James 

 testifies that his equanimity was seldom or never ruffled, 

 even in trying circumstances ; so that in time their silly 

 annoyances never went beyond a " fling " at the eccentric 

 weaver, as he passed with his treasures, weeds, nasty weeds, 

 as they were in their eyes. 



After James Black left Tough, he passed through not 

 a few remarkable experiences, was a successful man of 

 business, and has now retired to enjoy his well-earned 

 leisure. He felt high esteem and affection for his old 

 friend during their intercourse at Netherton, and these 

 increased with after years. They met frequently at Charles 

 Black's, at Raeden, where James accompanied the old 

 botanist in rambles round Aberdeen. To the last, John 

 continued to visit James after he had settled down near the 

 bridge of Dee, and their intercourse there will in due time 

 appear in our story. 



A little above the parish church of Tough and the 

 mansion of Tonley * amongst its trees, a short distance to 

 the south-west of Netherton, lay the hamlet of the Craigh. 

 It then contained five families, with their houses and small 

 crofts of land, and formed a comfortable and happy com- 

 munity, now altogether changed from what it was forty 

 years ago. The largest holding there, of some fifty acres, 

 belonged to a farmer called William Beveridge, an indus- 

 trious, worthy and successful man, who improved his farm 

 till it became one of the best in the district, and was able to 

 follow the plough till above seventy. He had a son named 

 after himself, a bright, vigorous boy, who in his eighth year 

 * Pronounced Ton-Uy, with accent on the second syllable. 



