482 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



Myosotis, Veronica, and a host of similar technicalities, 

 accompanied with admiring expressions like 'bonny blue 

 floories/ and the like. 



"John," he continues, "was my human protoplasm, man 

 in his least complex form. He seemed to be a survival of 

 those * rural swains' who lived in idyllic simplicity, as 

 pictured in our pastoral poetry, and whose even tenor of 

 existence our modern complexity renders impossible. As 

 for his goodness, his pure simplicity of nature," he observes, 

 " I never saw any evil in him. I do not say there was 

 none, but I say, in real earnest, that I never saw any in the 

 good, inoffensive soul." 



While they were resting one day during a botanical 

 ramble in Tough, and James was indulging quiet reflection 

 on many matters suggested by the bent enthusiast, John 

 awoke him from his reverie by some remarks on the 

 medicinal properties of digitalis, which he had in his hand. 

 Just then a man appeared on the road, naked down to the 

 waist. He walked sideways, with one arm raised to the level 

 of his shoulder and pointing forwards, and the other slanting 

 downwards behind him. On he came, without observing 

 them, his whole features contorted as if he were oppressed 

 by some hidden, overwhelming power. He passed them, 

 unconscious of their presence, and held on his strange path 

 in the same silent and constrained attitude till out of sight. 

 When he disappeared, John burst out spontaneously with 

 the lines of Addison, uttered in the most earnest tones 



" When all Thy mercies, O my God, 



My wondering soul surveys, 

 Transported with the view, I'm lost 

 In wonder,* love, and praise." 



