THE LINDEN-TREE 91 



over, and again Carl would thank God that 

 **He had permitted him to visit His secret 

 council chambers." 



In the white dawn of the year 1778, when he 

 was three-score years and ten, while the old 

 linden-tree was sleeping and the linden blos- 

 soms lived only in the dreams of those who 

 loved them, Carl Linnaeus, born with spring 

 flowers, now too restless to wait for their sweet 

 encouragement, picked up his staff once more 

 and set out alone on his last and most wonder- 

 ful j ourney of all. And so he found his ^ ' fields 

 of asphodel." 



