VICTOR, THE SON OF AUDUBON 65 



enjoyment. Audubon gave a dollar to a chubby little 

 urchin, which must have filled the child's eyes with wonder. 



The two went away, the children of the family after 

 breakfast went to their work, and the lazy man went to 

 the door to smoke his corn-cob pipe. 



There were many families of this description on the 

 Ohio at the time — families in which the wife and children 

 made up for the indolence of the father, and sometimes 

 vice versa. But the children of these mismatched families 

 often turned out well; the fact that their pride was hurt 

 seemed to give them energy. 



Victor at last became exhausted with his journey. Says 

 Audubon : 



" My son became faint. Dear boy, never can I forget 

 him as he lay down on a log, large tears rolling down his 

 cheeks. I bathed his temples." 



A fine turkey cock ran by. 



" Look there, Victor! " said Audubon. 



The boy saw the bird and gave a leap. He called into 

 himself new energy and ran after the bird. "When he came 

 back he was so invigorated that he was able to take up his 

 journey. 



Day by day the sun rose in splendor, and " the Ohio 

 reflected its beams." 



So they journeyed on amid brakes and barrens, meeting 

 strange people in solitary cabins. 



Audubon, on a like journey with his son, gives the fol- 



