36 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



Young Audubon fell deeply in love with Lucy the first 

 time he saw her, and his love never abated. He married 

 her in the spring of 1808, and the two left their noble 

 estates among the primeval trees of the Schuylkill for 

 Louisville, Ky. 



At this period of life Audubon became fond of fine 

 clothes, and he afterward ridicules himself for his vanity 

 at this time. 



His passion for nature partly abated. He drew around 

 him a social circle on the Schuylkill. 



Among the winter sports of these days was skating, 

 which became a fine art. 



The skating parties took place at night under full moons 

 and crystal stars. The air was keen, the ice-fields glittered, 

 and the shores were lined with firs, which gleamed. There 

 were air-holes in the ice, but accidents rarely happened on 

 that account. 



One evening in the weak period of his pleasures and 

 fineries he led a party over the smooth ice toward the 

 roosting grounds of the wild duck. He fastened a white 

 handkerchief on a stick, and held it high in air as a signal. 

 Then his feet flew in graceful curves, and his voice led the 

 merry skaters and shouters. 



The hilarity waxed warm. He increased his speed, and 

 the skaters who followed him flew onward after him as 

 for life. 



Suddenly an air-hole appeared directly before him. He 



