THE AUTHOR'S FIRST VISIT TO DROUGHSBURH. 39! 



ripening corn, and the retired nook where John lived, 

 with its willows and rowans, seemed more removed from 

 the outer world than before. I found him outside in his 

 own little plot, bare-headed and bent but hale and bright, 

 having come out for a rest from toil, for nothing cheered 

 and restored him like the flowers. The enclosing dike was 

 crested with honeysuckle in bright blossom and sweetest 

 scent ; and the Woody Nightshade, with its lurid flower, 

 rose prominent above the rest. John gave me cordial 

 welcome and a warm shake of the hand, and seemed in 

 excellent but quiet spirits. After some remarks on the 

 plants, we entered his house, and seated ourselves opposite 

 each other between the two looms. He placed himself with 

 his back to the front windows, through which the sunbeams 

 streamed and prettily touched his head and eager, intelligent 

 face. He was brighter and more communicative than on the 

 previous day. My relations with his bosom friend, Charles, 

 had evidently opened to me his solitary and silent heart, 

 and I enjoyed the glow created by memory and friendship. 

 As he sat, he told me in considerable detail, amongst 

 other things, the story of Linnaeus, suggested by some 

 subject we had mentioned, characterising him as " a gran' 

 chiel,* an awfu' clever man, wha had to fecht his way up frae 

 naething, for they were to mak' 'im a shoemakker." Thus, 

 in delightful Doric, which somehow sounded strange regard- 

 ing one so associated with bristling technicalities, he told of 

 the early struggles of the great Swede his going to college, 

 assisted by " a kind and bonnie lass," to whom " the only 



* Or chield, a young man, often used with endearment. Pronounced 

 cheel or cheeld; the same word, likely, as the English childe, as in 

 " Childe Harold." It occurs frequently in the old ballads. 



