DISCIPLES AND SYMPATHISERS AT DROUGHSBURN. 345 



gang up tae the auP weyver abeen the burn, for he's near 

 wud * aboot plants and floo'rs ; and some o' the fowk up 

 yonder say he's whiles up gin four o' the mornin', wan'erin' 

 aboot the stanks f and dike-sides aifter them." This was 

 the first time he had heard of John, though the weaver had 

 then lived sixteen years by the Leochel ! Willie at once 

 conceived a strong desire to become acquainted with him, 

 especially when he now learned his enthusiasm and success. 



Shortly after this, while at Alford cattle market, Deans 

 observed, as he writes, "an aged man standing in the centre 

 of the fair, neat, clean, dressed in a blue home-spun coat 

 with a large collar and brass buttons, and leaning upon a 

 large blue umbrella." Assured, from descriptions he had 

 got, that this was the botanist he sought, he introduced 

 himself to John, who received him with a kindly smile, 

 saying, "Ay, laddie, fat dae ye dee and far dae ye bide?" 

 The young man, having satisfied him on these points, told 

 him how he had been working at Botany for five or six 

 weeks, and said he would be greatly obliged for his kindly 

 assistance in the science. They at once entered into 

 earnest confabulation, personal and botanical, and John 

 finished with some counsels about the plants and a warm 

 invitation to meet him next day at Droughsburn. 



With a collection of wild flowers in his hand, William 

 entered the weaver's curious domain at the appointed hour, 

 and found him at his loom, the clatter of which had guided 

 him to the door. John at once ceased work, and with 

 wonted care, spreading a sheet of brown paper on the web 

 at which he was working and a newspaper over that, asked 

 him to lay out his plants there. Then, after arming himself 

 * Mad. t Pools. 



