54 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



love of virtue, both in precept and example." He 

 has drawn a charming picture of his birthplace ; 

 it was situated in a very pleasant valley adjoining 

 the lake Moklen, which formed a bay, in the centre 

 of which stood the parish church of Stenbrohult. 

 On the banks of this fine lake, surrounded by hills 

 and valleys, woods and cultivated grounds, the 

 father of Linnaeus dwelt ; his garden and his fields 

 yielding him, at the same time, both amusement 

 and profit. The young Carl had no sooner left his 

 cradle than he was constantly in the garden, in 

 which, to use his own expression, he almost lived, 

 delighted with the brilliant hues and fragrance of 

 the beauteous shrubs and flowers which flourished 

 there. 



In a letter to Baron Haller, written at the time 

 of his father's death, Linnaeus says : " He was an 

 uncommon lover of plants, and had a select garden 

 of numerous rare species." The favourite taste of 

 the father was quickly imbibed by the child, who 

 was his constant companion while he cultivated 

 the choice parterre, and eagerly tried to yield such 

 slight aid as his childish powers permitted. He 

 has recorded the first occasion when this innate 

 passion was decidedly displayed, or rather, perhaps, 

 when it sprung into consciousness. He was hardly 

 four years old when he chanced to accompany his 

 father to a rural fete at Moklen, and in the evening, 

 it being a pleasant season of the year, the guests 

 seated themselves on the flowery turf and listened 

 to the good pastor, who entertained them with 



