84 FOREST FANCIES 



them, will not improve by being engrafted, but 

 continue like wild untrained stems, and when 

 they are finally removed and transplanted, 

 they change their wild nature, and become 

 beautiful trees that bear excellent fruit. In 

 which this respect, and no other, this youth is 

 now promoted to the University, where, per- 

 haps, he may come to a clime that will favor 

 his further development." 



At Lund Carl lodged with Dr. Stobaeus. Dr. 

 Stobseus had a fine museum and a library from 

 which a fellow student secretly lent Carl books. 



Now the good old mother of Dr. Stobaeus, 

 who was infirm and ailing and not inclined to 

 sleep, knew that something was wrong. Could 

 she not see a light burning in young Linnaeus' 

 room long after a youth of twenty should be 

 in bed? *^We are flying in the face of Provi- 

 dence," she told her son, ^^and inviting 

 fire." 



He promised, in his old-time, obedient way, 

 to quiet her fears by investigating their cause. 

 So one night, at two o'clock, he stole softly up 

 to Carl's room — and was himself taken by sur- 



