12 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



The French Revolution had passed, and the career of 

 Napoleon was now dazzling France. The elder Audubon's 

 heart seemed to dance at the thought that the eagles of 

 Napoleon would outshine those of Rome in glory. 



" Oh, could I have a son that would become great 

 on the sea ! " he thought. " I must place John James 

 in the naval academy." 



He came to his home to find his boy a fondling of 

 society, with his ears charmed by birds. 



He determined to break off these pursuits and to place 

 him in a naval school. 



So one day he started for a naval training school a 

 long distance from Nantes, taking his gentle son with 

 him. 



He thought that he must be stern with his son now. 

 So the two rode in silence together for several days. The 

 boy naturalist must be hardened for life on the sea. 



The boy obeyed him, or tried to do so, but his heart 

 and imagination turned to the American forests and to 

 the songs of the birds. He studied mathematics indeed, 

 but he began to wander into the woods again, and re- 

 turned to Nantes. 



" Give up birds and mosses and all such things as 

 those," said his father. " You must prepare to follow the 

 armies of Napoleon and the eagles of France." 



" But, father, I do not care for wealth or fame; I 

 love nature." 



