FONDNESS OF PLANTS 
309 
In another aspect he was more greedy than his 
pupils wished, and that was regarding the plants in the 
garden; but that was due to the large number of his 
pupils. If he had permitted every one to make a 
herbarium of the plants there flowering, the garden 
would have been stripped, to the injury of himself and 
the institution. He was greedy in adding to his 
collection, and thankfully received any contribution to 
it. He considered that he had a right to receive the 
plants collected by his pupils, at home or abroad, and 
valued them highly; if he missed such confidence he 
could not conceal his displeasure. 
Without doubt the most noteworthy trait of Linne’s 
character was his ardent piety. He rarely missed 
attending church on Sundays and holy days, and on 
those mornings his daughters or granddaughter would 
come into his room, and sing “ Papa’s Song,” probably 
of his own composition. This gives a clear impres¬ 
sion of the rules of life which he set before himself, and 
carefully followed. Amongst his memoranda, never 
meant to be read by any but his children, he, in his 
simple, childlike piety, gave expression to his feelings 
of humility, respect and thankfulness to Him, who had 
so wonderfully and happily directed his way unto his 
old age. Thus he wrote: 
“ God has conducted him with his own Almighty 
hand; 
has let him grow up from a trunk without 
root, planted him in a distant, splendid spot, 
let him grow to a considerable tree; 
has given him so ardent a mind for science, 
that it became the most desirable aim in 
life; 
ordained that all suitable means should be 
available in his time, to aid his progress; 
so directed him that his failure to win what 
he wanted became his greatest advantage; 
caused him to be taken up by patrons of 
