6 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



" Who did you let have that? " 



" I don't know — an old fellow from the mountains — 

 addled, he seemed to be; had been hunting old birds' nests." 



" That's strange." 



" Come to think of it, his face was fine — Frenchy. 

 He had a fine manner, too. But he didn't seem to know 

 anything — sort of a hermit wanderer, whose wits had 

 gone; he had long hair." 



The Honorable Judge Rush tapped the landlord on 

 the shoulder after hearing the description. 



" How do you know," he said, " but the stranger in 

 the top room may be Audubon? " 



The clerk stood as if transfixed. He had never heard 

 of Audubon before, but he recalled that the stranger that 

 he had sent to the garret had a remarkable face, although 

 it was scarred and torn. The judge had spoken the name 

 in a tone of reverence. 



" I will go up and see," said the landlord. 



The clerk was excited. If he had treated a man of 

 importance in a rude way would the landlord overlook 

 the blunder? 



There was loud talking in tones of surprise in the cock- 

 loft. The landlord was coming down the stairs, repeat- 

 ing apology after apology. 



The clerk heard a musical voice saying: 



" Oh, don't mention it; don't mention it. The clerk 

 judged me hastily by my woodsy appearance. I overlook 



