CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 63 



at my own pleasurable laboring, but in commoner daily business 

 transactions to which I regret to say, I like the rest of our kind must 

 attend to from time to time. I am sorry to hear you speak of the 

 misfortune your good parents have met with, 19 and trust that now 

 that affairs are at the lowest ebb, that a better tide will soon bring 

 about you flowing with abundant relief. 



Your talked of Journeys to the Seaboard of Maryland, and to 

 the Mountains of Vermont, would delight me greatly, but it would 

 be next to impossible for me to leave home until my family have 

 removed to our Country place, and for another month at least must 

 I remain to assist and attend upon that movement 



Have you heard from my friend John Bachman? He wrote to 

 me for your address, and I sent it to him, as he said he was particu- 

 larly anxious to form an acquaintance with a young friend of whom I 

 continually spoke so very highly. What have you done in the way 

 of quadrupeds and of birds? The Shrews and the Scalops are now 

 out in numbers from their winter retreats and I try to become better 

 acquainted with them, and their Habits than I am at present. I 

 have a weasel alive, but what species of Mustela it is is more than I 

 can yet tell. It began changing from white to brown on the 5th 

 inst. and my memoranda about it will be a curiosity after a while. 



My son Victor is now at Philadelphia, and should you forward 

 anything to the care of Mr. Chevalier I could receive them soon. 

 Major LeConte, and Dr. Goldsmith, and us all at home often speak 

 of you, and I should like of all things to spend a week or so with 

 you, in, and about your beautiful and peaceful Carlisle. I am so 

 much fatigued this evening after having tramped all day long the 

 streets of our noisy city, that I must ask of you to excuse me for more 

 at present than my Wishes for a good-night to both of us, and all 

 those we honor and love, and to believe me ever your sincere friend, 



JOHN J. AUDUBON. 



Baird's mother had been in Washington but returned 

 with his Uncle Penrose and his cousins March 31. 



19 This refers to the depression in business and cessation of divi- 

 dends by many stock companies in which the Baird family were 

 interested. 



