2/2 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



Since his wife's death, notwithstanding his unhappy 

 domestic experiences, and perhaps all the more strongly 

 because of them, Duncan's thoughts had more than once 

 turned to matrimony ; for he was of a quiet, domestic dis- 

 position, and longed for a home of his own and a dear 

 companion, to cheer him after his enforced long solitary 

 life. He frequently expressed his opinion of general 

 married life, when he heard of any one entering that critical 

 condition, in this way : " Gin they had been as muckle 

 married as I hae been, they widna care sae muckle for't ! " 

 But human nature was too strong even for John's bitter 

 experience and sedate philosophy, and he more than once 

 essayed to take a wife. 



He had the reputation of being " a great ladies' man," 

 or, as they said in the vernacular, " he liket the lasses ; " 

 as the greatest and best of the race have done. The 

 presence of the young and fair, who alone touched his fancy, 

 always roused him to a pleasant state of excitement, and 

 then "he was all glee." But as might be expected from 

 such a shy mortal, he was painfully bashful in his ap- 

 proaches, and not seldom ludicrous in his attempts to make 

 himself agreeable to the other sex. He was often con- 

 strained^to solicit the kind mediation of a friend, whose love 

 of mischief still further increased John's embarrassment. 



If rumour and history are to be fully believed, our gay 

 Lothario of stars and flowers proposed to more than one 

 fair Dulcinea of his acquaintance. John's opinion of his 

 own matrimonial qualifications was certainly far from small. 

 There is no doubt that he would have made any woman 

 whom he loved, and who loved him in return, very happy. 

 But with all the sterling qualities he possessed, it is to be 



