22 CAROLUS LINNAEUS 



biblical learning had failed to interest him; 

 and they said to the father that they could 

 not, on their consciences, advise him to 

 continue the youth at school. In their view 

 it would be better at once to apprentice him 

 to the learning of some handicraft; that of 

 carpenter or tailor, for example. Doubtless 

 this counsel would have been followed, but 

 that Pastor Linnaeus had another errand at 

 Wexio that must be attended to before the 

 disheartened return to Stenbrohult, whither, 

 as it now seemed, he would have to convey 

 his son, now eighteen years old, as withdrawn 

 from college because of his having no taste 

 for learning; that is, theological. 



Pastor Linna3us's other errand was that of 

 placing himself under the direction of an 

 eminent physician of Wexio as to an ailment 

 of his. The physician was Dr. Rothman, who 

 was also a lecturer on medicine at the college; 

 and this man, as it happened, both knew and 

 was much interested in the youthful member 

 of the Linnaeus family. When the father con- 

 fidingly mentioned his deep grief over his 

 son's failure at school, Dr. Rothman was able 

 to cheer him with a very different account of 

 his boy's proficiency. He was so confident 

 that out of this bright youth a great physi- 



