238 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



John took an interest in the family, and one of the 

 circle that grew up round that kitchen fire, who was named 

 after his father,* recalls his father's scientific assistant with 

 pleasure and high respect. On John's return to Auch- 

 leven, young Sandy was a lad of thirteen, and for two 

 years was his bedfellow in "the philosopher." He was 

 much impressed with the man and his unusual habits and 

 studies, and received from him permanent impulses for 

 good. His mother and John were great friends, and he 

 regrets that she has passed away before her abundant 

 memories of Duncan were recovered ; for she was " full " 

 of John and his ways, and read with pleasure the account 

 of him given in " Good Words " in 1877. John was much 

 interested in her and her many children, and used to 

 cheer her with advice and assistance, in her praiseworthy 

 struggles to bring them up worthily with the lightest of 

 purses. 



Mr. Smith testifies to John's remarkable temperance 

 in both eating and drinking, and his simple tastes, which 

 were satisfied with the plainest fare, if clean and whole- 

 some. He never saw him dissipate even in tea ; for porridge 

 and brose were his staple dishes, varied at supper-time 

 with "kail," in which a big " castock," or stalk of the 

 cabbage, was counted by him a luxury. John's appetite 

 in the morning was something remarkable ; and no 

 wonder, for early though it was, he had already done some 

 hours' study and work. He soon appeared in the kitchen 

 after the house-wife was astir, exclaiming, " Is the kettle 

 boilin' yet, Betty ? " a consummation that was crowned 

 by John making his own brose. His achievements in 

 * Mr. Alex Smith, of the wool mill, Knockando. 



