358 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



especially after 1843, going often three times to church ; 

 and he could give off long after " great screeds " of the 

 sermons he had heard, and describe the orators with humour 

 and point. 



From 1842 to 1848, his visits to the city were more 

 frequent and extended than at any other time, for Charles 

 Black then lived at Raeden, and there John used to stay 

 several times a year ; for the two friends could not remain 

 long apart while they lived in the same county. 



By none was the weaver more welcomed than by 

 Charles's brother, James, who retained the most genuine 

 friendship for him since their wandering together on the 

 braes of Tough, in the thirties. James had been long 

 settled near or in Aberdeen, where he was successful in 

 business, being able ultimately to retire and live in its 

 neighbourhood. To him, John's visits, with his old-world 

 style and stories and his intense enthusiasm, were always 

 peculiarly interesting, as studies of human nature in the 

 man himself, and bright glimpses of the happy past. As- 

 he often repeated in reference to them 



" They brought him back the holms and howes 



Where sillar burnies shine, 

 The lea-rig where the gowans glint 



We pu'd in auld lang syne. 

 Oh, born o' feeling's warmest depths, 



O' fancy's wildest dreams, 

 They twined wi' monie lovely thochts, 



Wi' mony lo'esome themes ! " 



" Many and varied were the floweries," he says, " that 

 did glint in John's path and mine, and fresh and lovely 



a lord, and a common term' in Scotland, as well as at Oxford and 

 Cambridge. 



