316 
LINN/EUS 
drew various figures with charcoal on the clean floor, 
which was more than the hostess’s patience could 
stand, outraging her sense of orderliness. When 
sometimes the wife let fall some hasty words, saying 
that it was the money she brought into the home, and 
therefore she had a right to be the determining party, 
it was only a passing cloud over their usually sunny 
married life. If Linne had felt himself oppressed or 
unhappy at home he surely would not have had that 
glad and free humour nor the indomitable love of 
work, which he retained to his old age. It is known 
that he sometimes wished to surprise his wife with 
something pleasant. Thus, when she once uttered 
a wish to have a little silk for a pinafore, he went out 
unknown to her, and came back with a whole piece. 
What she said is not known, but with part of it she 
made a cape, which is still extant. 
How warmly Linne was attached to her was 
shown during a severe illness; on Christmas Eve of 
1754 she sickened with the malignant epidemic fever, 
and then followed more than a month, which was the 
severest trial he had ever had. The whole house was 
in confusion, the children complaining and crying, and 
he himself sat by her bedside weakened by disquiet, 
sorrow and want of sleep. It was not till the 26th 
day that she showed signs of improvement, but a 
relapse soon followed. At last on the 31st January he 
was able to tell Back, that he was now like a prisoner 
liberated from prison, as his little wife was gradually 
mending. 
With his children Linne was a too indulgent 
father, the elder son especially being spoiled by him 
for life. He said his principle was to hold a tight 
hand over a young man, and encourage him to fare 
hardly, thus making a man of him, but he did not act 
so with his own son. This is shown by his appoint¬ 
ment while quite young as Demonstrator and Pro¬ 
fessor, partly because he did not oppose it nor show 
other wishes for a profession. He was certainly not 
