360 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



if he had been walking "ower the moor amang the 

 heather." 



Of the effect thus produced by John's 



" Outlandish ways and dress 

 On which his neighbours laid such stress," 



like the Pied Piper's, Mr. Black gives some amusing 

 examples. James lived in various parts of the city, and 

 always duly instructed his old friend in regard to any 

 change of residence, and directed his attention to the 

 precise situation of his house. John, however, could not 

 remember the exact number, and on coming to the locality 

 had always to make diligent and numerous inquiries at 

 all the neighbours till he succeeded in his search. To 

 John, his friend was still the same as he had been at 

 Netherton, neither more nor less than plain " Jamie Black." 

 No matter that he had risen in the world, and was the 

 manager of an establishment in which many hundreds were 

 employed, and where he was invested with autocratic power ; 

 to the old weaver, braid Scotch was more than all modern 

 stuck-up courtesies, and so Mr. Black remained and was 

 spoken of by him to all and sundry, strangers, employees 

 and friends, as " Jamie." 



One day, John had come from Alford and walked to 

 the Loch of Belhelvie, some miles north of Aberdeen, for 

 some plants he wished to get there. Tired, footsore, dusty 

 with long travel, and bespattered with the mud of his 

 scramblings, he returned to Aberdeen to seek out his friend. 

 He was clad in his usual picturesque garb, with hat at 

 proper slope and rolled-up trousers, carrying a bundle of 

 plants, and trailing behind him a thick sheaf, seven feet long, 



