216 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



Victor comes into the room. He is a fine-looking man, 

 with the consciousness of moral worth on his face. 



" This is my forest boy," says Audubon. " How many 

 hours have we passed together listening to the songs of 

 birds!" 



" I would ask, i Does the woodpecker drum for grubs, 

 or to make music for other birds ? ' " 



"Lucy!" he calls. 



" In a moment ! " 



A little woman, the very impersonation of purpose and 

 refinement, comes into the room. 



" This is the gentle lady who left everything, and went 

 into the forests to nurse Victor under the trees. The dan- 

 ger of the fever in the woods had no terror for her. She 

 loved. I introduced her to the President one day, and 

 she dined with him; and if she took snuff, which Heaven 

 forbid, she might do so out of the Czar's snuff-box. Lucy 

 believed in me when no one else but my two sons did. I 

 want you to take her by the hand. I love her with the 

 same old love. Happy is he avIio holds a heart like hers. 

 It is the best of all things to be true-hearted." 



Another room contains his old leathern dress of the 

 woods, and his portfolio cases that could not be destroyed 

 by the weather. 



We wander about the place. All bird-life here seems 

 happy and contented. Wings and fur feet gravitate to 

 and not from the stranger. 



