BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION 9 
of the church. The level farmlands surround the 
church on all sides except the west, where Moklen 
displays its limpid waters. A little way off, the fine 
beechwoods show themselves towards the south, with 
Taxas high hill to the north and Moklanas beyond the 
lake to the west. To the east the fields are sheltered 
from the north by coniferous woods, and from east 
and south are pleasant fields and leafy trees/’ In 
another place he says “ the meadows resemble more 
the most splendid groves and richest flower gardens, 
than their actual selves, so that one may sit in summer 
and hear the cuckoo with other different birds’ songs, 
insects piping and humming, and at the same time 
view the glowing and splendidly coloured flowers. 
One cannot but turn giddy at the Creator’s magnifi¬ 
cent arrangement.” Lastly in yet another place he 
declares “ Stenbrohult parish is like a queen amongst 
sisters, she has predominance of rare and scarce 
plants, which in other localities in the country seldom 
or never show themselves. Yes, the Rector’s sur¬ 
roundings seemed as if they had been adorned by 
Flora herself. ... I doubt if there is a spot in the 
whole world set out in more pleasant fashion, so 
that it is not surprising if I had cause to complain 
‘ Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos ducit et 
immemores non sinit esse sui ’ (I know not how the 
natal soil draws all with delight, and permits us never 
to forget it.) ” To this loved abode he returned from 
his journeys as often as was possible, and with great 
gladness he sought, and again saw, the rarest plants, 
which grew wild in that spot. 
With floral playthings soon were blended earnest 
things. Book knowledge was early sown, and the 
15th February, 1714, was, in its outlook, an important 
day for little Carl, as then he received his first tutor, 
Johan Telander, of the Gymnasium (1694-1763). 
“ Quick intelligence was not wanting, though his 
fancy turned mostly to the garden. The mother 
forbade this, but the father, tolerant, took his only 
