LIFE AT "MINNIE'S LAND" 233 



what you will, "there is nothing like home" ... I wish I could 

 be with you, if only for one week, for then I imagine that 

 between your friends of the mountains, yourself, and myself, 

 we could Tree a "Catamount" and soon untree him. The tug- 

 ging part of that far-famed animal, I would cheerfully give 

 up to your youthful shoulders, but not so with the figuring of 

 it, yet for a while. Is there such a Beast in existence? Do let 

 me know as soon as you can. I am heartily glad that you have 

 procured a wild cat from the mountainous part of Pennsyl- 

 vania, and that you have preserved its skin, which I beg you to 

 forward as soon as you please, along with whatever other 

 quadrupeds you may have in hand, that we may say more on 

 those Beasts of the Central States, than has ever been before 

 told. . . . 



Look out for Martens, and try to find me some youself ! 

 I am glad that you find wild cat meat pretty good, as it 

 corroborates the sayings of many others, who pronounce it 

 equal to young veal. 



Let me say to you ("en passant") that your handwriting 

 is considerably improved, and depend upon it that your at- 

 tention to Drawing will soon enable you as of "copper plate." 

 Go ahead ! 



I now wish you earnestly to offer our joint respects, re- 

 gards, and best wishes to all your family and friends, and to 

 believe me always, 



Yours most truly, 



John J. Audubon. 



86 White Street. 



P. S. Thank you for what you say of the Bedford gentleman. 

 When I write next, I will mention him at greater length. I 

 wish you could let me know whether we could procure first rate 

 peach trees from your vicinity, and how much 50 of them would 

 cost. I should like to have them assorted, soft, and clings 

 yellow, or red, or blood-red. We wish to plant these as early 

 in March as possible, if young trees, two years old could be 

 had, we might, perhaps, have fruit on some of them during the 



