58 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



evinced in these studies procured him, both among 

 masters and scholars, the name of "the Little 

 Botanist." 



At the end of two years his father went to 

 Wexio, "hoping to hear from the preceptors the 

 most flattering account of his beloved son's progress 

 in his studies and morals." But he was sorely- 

 disappointed at learning that, unexceptionable as 

 the general behaviour of the youth had been, he 

 was evidently quite unfit for a divine ; and, indeed, 

 in the opinion of the authorities, it was a pity to 

 incur any further expense towards giving him a 

 learned education, some manual employment being 

 far more suitable for him. The youth, they thought, 

 would be well placed as apprentice to some tailor 

 or shoemaker ! 



Grieved at having thus lost his labour, and 

 supported his son at school for twelve years (an 

 expense he could very ill afford) to no purpose, 

 the venerable clergyman went his way, pondering 

 what course to pursue. It chanced that he was 

 suffering from a complaint which required medical 

 advice, and he betook himself to the house of 

 Dr. Rothmann, the provincial physician, also a 

 lecturer in physics, to whom, in the course of con- 

 versation, he mentioned his perplexity with refer- 

 ence to his son Carl. Rothmann suggested that, 

 though the opinions of his colleagues might be 

 correct as to the boy's inaptitude for theological 

 studies, there was good reason to believe he might 

 distinguish himself in the profession of medicine, 



