STUDIES AND FRIENDS AT AUCHLEVEN. 2$$ 



between the man and the boy. As Mrs. Emslie expresses 

 it, young John " had a great wark " with old John, " and 

 really loved him," and their friendship became the talk of 

 the village. Dr. Mackay is now sorry that " fleeting years 

 and the serious concerns of life have effaced from his 

 memory much he could have wished to tell of his friend : 

 eheu fugaces . . . labuntur anni." He confesses that he 

 " owes to John, in great measure, the choice of a profes- 

 sion," for " he helped to flame the latent desire he had to 

 acquire knowledge." 



John of course introduced the young student to Botany. 

 At his first lessons, he dissected for him a simple flower, 

 and explained its component parts and structure. He 

 pointed out, explained and named the common plants in the 

 neighbourhood, and his pupil still recalls his early descrip- 

 tions of the Germander speedwell, Woodruff, Lady's mantle, 

 the Common Fox-tail grass (Alopecurus pratensis), and other 

 flowers, grasses and trees, both forest and garden. They 

 were accustomed to go to the field and hill together, John 

 crowned with his Tarn o' Shanter bonnet. He was then, 

 the doctor says, muscular and sinewy, and in the prime of life. 

 They also spent many happy hours alone in "the philo- 

 sopher," " going over the herbarium and books." They 

 had long talks, too, in the weaving shop on many subjects, 

 scientific and religious. Amongst other matters, they 

 " quite settled the future of church and state in Scotland ! " 

 Indeed, during college recess, when the young doctor was 

 at home, they were constant companions. Dr. Mackay 

 gratefully acknowledges that Duncan " influenced his mind 

 powerfully." They met for the last time in 1860, some 

 years after John had left the banks of the Gadie. 



