384 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



with some difficulty up the narrow passage between the 

 looms and the winding-wheels, the clergyman advanced 

 towards John, gave him friendly greeting, and introduced 

 me as one who had come a long distance to see him. He 

 looked very old, and well he might, for he had entered his 

 eighty-third year, and his vigour, remarkable though it had 

 been, had now largely abated. His head was uncovered, 

 and we could see that it was not yet bald, the hair, only a 

 little mixed with grey, falling from the crown all round and 

 hanging over the brow. At once he ceased his weaving, 

 and replied to the minister with evident pleasure, excusing 

 himself for not returning his last visit, on account of the 

 recent bad weather. The presence of a stranger seemed to 

 create some shyness, as he turned to say that he was glad 

 to see me ; but the mention of his friend, Charles Black, 

 at once stirred a pleasure that raised a bright smile and 

 lighted up his eye and countenance. That name had 

 evidently struck a deep chord and wakened distant 

 memories, for he was silent and absorbed for a little ; 

 but it charmed away at once and for ever his constitutional 

 reserve. We soon got into active conversation, as I told 

 him of Charles and his many tales of their past lives, and 

 my own long wish to see a man so great a student of plants 

 and so dear to one I so much esteemed. 



After talking for some time, he returned to his loom, 

 according to his custom, to reflect in silence on what he 

 had heard, and to save time, for he generally talked to his 

 friends amidst the clatter of the shuttle. He worked slowly, 

 but with great regularity, earnestly watching the progress 

 of the web and scanning the threads to notice any defects 

 as it grew under his hands. Old as he was, he was " gleg 



