348 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



Benachie. John often visited Mrs. Deans' cottage on 

 Sunday evenings, to have a cup of tea and talk with her 

 son. At such times, his conversation never touched on 

 Botany, but was confined to religious, political, and social 

 themes, in which he wished to interest the young student. 

 He used to deplore " the decay of modern preaching," and 

 to bemoan the general run of sermons as " a rigmarole of 

 ecclesiastical phrases " a criticism, it is to be feared, too 

 often merited. 



In time, Mr. Deans left for a school in Stoke-on-Trent, 

 and he is now head master of a successful upper-class 

 school at Clifton, near Bristol ; being the " grand teacher 

 awa in Ingland," referred to by Mrs. Allanach. He recalls 

 his ancient botanical tutor with gratitude and appreciation. 



Droughsburn is situated on the large farm of Dorsell, 

 which lies on the slope of the valley above the road skirting 

 the Leochel, and was then leased by Mr. McCombie, 

 the celebrated cattle-breeder of Tillyfour up the Leochel, 

 brother of the editor. To Dorsell, in 1866, there came to 

 learn Scotch farming, a young Swede, about thirty, called 

 Hans J. Samson, belonging to Gothenberg. He was 

 pleasant, intelligent and bright, had been well educated, 

 being able to read Latin, and was a general favourite. He 

 took lessons in English from the Rev. Andrew Christie, then 

 schoolmaster of Alford, now parish minister of Kildrummie 

 on the Don, and he could use the language very creditably. 



The rough ploughmen with whom Hans worked used 

 sometimes to visit Duncan, having encountered him on the 

 road and met him at harvesting ; and they laughed at 

 his eccentricities, and especially at the droll names he gave 

 the weeds. They told Samson about the botanical weaver, 



