294 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



eighty-seventh year. Besides two time-worn, tall dress hats 

 which were of the real old beaver, with long hairy pile 

 he had two round, blue, flat " Tarn o' Shanter " bonnets, with 

 great tassels on the top, which he wore in going about the 

 house and on less formal occasions. One of these bonnets 

 was borrowed by the Alford Mutual Improvement Society, 

 to help in one of their dramatic entertainments. When 

 John received it back, he gave it a good brushing, according 

 to his wont, in presence of the member who returned it, 

 although the man had previously cleaned it, knowing the 

 scrupulosity of its owner. 



John went regularly to church every Sunday, travelling 

 four miles over the hill to the Free Church of Cushnie, and 

 nothing but storm kept him at home. He always left 

 Droughsburn in good time, to have leisure to visit or talk 

 to a friend and pluck some of his favourites by the way- 

 side. 



The Rev. George Williams and his cousin, Dr. Williams 

 of Tarland on the Dee, then lived with their parents about 

 a mile from church, and both recall the old man from their 

 early boyhood, with pleasant memories and great respect. 

 Their homes were frequently visited by John, and there he 

 was much appreciated and hospitably entertained. The 

 children, glad to escape the over-restraints of sabbath keep- 

 ing as then observed in the strict country, made a point of 

 setting out very early for church to have a chat with the 

 old botanist. They liked to hear him talking about the 

 plants, and to repeat their grand names after him. 



Though tight-laced on several religious matters, John 

 never thought it any desecration of the holy day to admire, 

 gather, and discourse of God's illuminated herbarium, 



