416 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



handed it to him, in a way that conveyed more than his 

 words, saying : " There, Johnnie, I'm to gee ye that. See 

 that ye'll get on noo. Ye ken Botany, and ye're noo to 

 tak' my place." His young friend was much moved. He 

 received the volume as a proof of a friendship he prized 

 and the highest incitement to further study, and gave his 

 aged tutor the desired pledge. It was one of those 

 moments in a man's history that live for ever in the 

 memory and heart, and deeply sway the after life, as the 

 young man strongly felt. 



John Taylor remained at Droughsburn for three days 

 more, gathering together the whole collection and adding 

 to the names and localities, which his use of short-hand 

 enabled him to do with rapidity. Old John felt the 

 greatest pleasure in getting the herbarium gathered and 

 packed up for transport, and in thinking of its destination 

 and future influence, even although it involved parting 

 with the treasured possessions of half a century. 



His gift of the plants to the University, though tinged 

 with the sadness of parting and the decay and death it sig- 

 nified, was a spontaneous, free-will offering for the sake of 

 his beloved study, made without one thought of reward or 

 even desire of praise. He frequently spoke of the gratifica- 

 tion it gave him to think of the use they would be to the 

 students ; that " they micht see them and ken them," and 

 thus be induced, more of them, to love the wild flowers and 

 study the science that described them. During their exa- 

 mination, the sight of many of them recalled dear memories, 

 which roused latent humour, stirred old merriment, 

 and also struck long-silent chords of sorrow. Amongst 

 others, when the leaf of the water-lily was turned up, he 



