390 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



the dear old man to gain such rare praise from appreciative 

 students of the flowers, as sweet in its way as when he first 

 discovered the Linncsa. Was it vanity or childishness to 

 be so elated over so small a matter ? God send us all such 

 vanity and simplicity ! 



The plants had been carefully pressed and neatly 

 fastened on and named, and were scented with camphor to 

 preserve them from the moths. We were truly surprised 

 how an old man, his study of the cryptogams being recent, 

 had been able to make out such obscure species ; for they 

 require the most minute and even microscopic examina- 

 tion. They certainly formed no mean monument of his 

 enthusiasm and of his love and knowledge of the science.* 

 The precious collection was sympathetically examined and 

 then closed, as carefully covered with its multitudinous 

 wrappings, and then restored to its old hiding-place in the 

 bottom of the box, below its protecting companions. 



Our time had now expired, and leaving John to put 

 away the books, we turned to say good-bye in the doorway. 

 But the old man would not permit us to depart so coldly, 

 but, with the true feeling of the worthy host and gentleman, 

 conducted us, bare-headed as he was, to the gate at the 

 bottom of the garden ; and, cordially shaking hands with 

 us all and thanking us for the visit, which he said he had 

 enjoyed, he bade us good night. 



On the following day, I made my way alone once more 

 to Droughsburn. The weather was fine, the Leochel flowed 

 down its quiet valley in the bright sunlight amidst the 



* John used to say truly that the Hicracia, the Hawkweeds, and 

 the Salicacetz, the Willows, were "eneuch to fleg a young botanist." 

 The Cryptogamia might have " flegged " one so aged. 



