490 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



creasingly inspired him with poetical sentiment, especially 

 when, in his later years, he caught glimpses of the deeper 

 problems of the universe. He used to enjoy natural descrip- 

 tive poetry, for example, especially when connected with 

 flowers, and a favourite piece of his was Mrs. Heman's poem, 

 " The Voice of Spring," beginning "I come, I come ! ye have 

 called me long," which he often carefully transcribed on paper 

 and used to quote. But his very devotion to other pursuits, 

 combined with the practical tendencies of his nature, pre- 

 vented his ever taking up poetical literature as a study. 

 As John said himself, he " hadna time for sick things." 



In this connection also, his perception of the beauties 

 of art, especially high art, was very small, as expressed 

 in painting and especially in sculpture. His life had 

 never introduced him to these, and thus far artistic taste 

 had never been kindled in him. He did not despise them : 

 he never saw them. James Black, for instance, had some 

 pretty examples of the artistic in his house, but these never 

 once seemed to attract John's notice. His perception and 

 love of the beautiful were strictly limited to its presenta- 

 tion in wild nature, and there they were real and delightful 

 as far as they went. 



His capacity for true friendship was unusually deep and 

 lasting. It flowed in a narrow stream, but its concentrated 

 energy was all the more powerful. His love for Charles 

 Black was pure, unselfish, genuine, and undying, far "passing 

 the love of woman," as Charles says. It became a clear, 

 perennial fountain of joy that flowed unstinted through 

 the quiet wilderness of his life, like the divine stream that 

 accompanied ancient Israel, refreshing, strengthening, and 

 cheering him ; as necessary and as blessed to him as the 



