WEXIO 39 



to the study of his choice. He wandered about the 

 outskirts of the town seeking plants. Laenerius, the 

 rector of the school, often talked with Dr. Rothman 

 about the talent of the boy, and, being himself such a 

 lover of botany, perhaps relaxed discipline in his favour. 

 Stoever says he viewed his pursuits with complacency ; 

 at least, he considered them as innocent. l He grew 

 fond of a youth who so ardently entered into his own 

 researches and displayed such extraordinary talent. He 

 formed a proper judgment of his genius and applica- 

 tion, while Carl's schoolfellows considered him as a 

 vagabond who wasted his time in useless studies and 

 running about.' * It is true he was not sent to school 

 for that. 



At sixteen he began forming a small library of 

 botanical books, comprising Hanson's Orta-bok,' or 

 herbal, Tilland's < Catalogue,' Palmberg's ' Serta Florea 

 Suecana,' the ' Chloris Gothica ' of Bromelius, and 

 Rudbeck's ( Hortus Upsaliensis.' These latter he could 

 not as yet understand, but he committed them to 

 memory. 2 For this his schoolfellows nicknamed him 

 the Little Botanist. Our nicknames in England are 

 seldom so well-sounding, but boys are more mannerly 

 in Sweden. He was confirmed in the cathedral of 

 Wexio, by the bishop and another minister, in full lawn 

 sleeves and copes of crimson velvet with great gold 

 crosses on the back. 3 It is a pretty sight to see all the 

 little fair heads of the girls as the deaconesses range 

 1 Jardine. 2 Diary. 8 The Swedish clergy always wear ruffs. 



