DISCIPLES AND SYMPATHISERS AT DROUGHSBURN. 349 



and accompanied him one evening "to the weaving shop, to 

 get some fun, as they said, out of "the queer cretur." 

 But their merriment received an unexpected check from 

 their companion. To their surprise, he entered earnestly 

 into all that was said and shown by the old man. They 

 never returned with him there, as it was evidently useless 

 for their purposes ; for the Swede was " tarred wi' the same 

 stick " as the man of weeds. He took to John immensely, 

 studied Botany with him, and visited him frequently. John 

 spoke highly of him to me, and had great pleasure in his 

 company, delighted as he was at all times to gain a convert 

 to his beloved science. They made some botanical 

 journeys together, and became great friends during the 

 year the young Swede remained on the farm. As John 

 said, " Hans .was unco' fond to hear about the floo'rs and 

 their names, and to talk about his great countryman." At 

 the mention of Carl Linne's name, he "would hae jumpit 

 shortly," John said ; that is, he would start from his seat 

 with enthusiasm. He made considerable progress in 

 Botany, and could by-and-by decipher a plant with a little 

 help from his aged tutor. 



The purpose of Mr. Samson's bucolic companions was 

 thus pleasantly frustrated, in a way that issued in pleasure 

 and profit to himself, and helped to cheer the old man's 

 latter days with the too rare joys of sympathy in his 

 solitary and misunderstood pursuits. Samson left Dorsell 

 for England, to prosecute his agricultural studies under 

 eminent farmers there. He then returned to Sweden, but 

 his subsequent history I have been unable to trace. 



Dr. Williams' memories of John and his plants are 

 pleasant and appreciative, recalling him from earliest 



