AUDUBON 19 



he was a most excellent man, a great shot, and possessed of ex- 

 traordinary learning — aye, far beyond my comprehension. A 

 few days after this first interview with the family the Perkiomen 

 chanced to be bound with ice, and many a one from the neighbor- 

 hood was playing pranks on the glassy surface of that lovely stream. 

 Being somewhat of a skater myself, I sent a note to the inhabi- 

 tants of Fatland Ford, inviting them to come and partake of the 

 simple hospitality of Mill Grove farm, and the invitation was 

 kindly received and accepted. My own landlady bestirred her- 

 self to the utmost in the procuring of as many pheasants and 

 partridges as her group of sons could entrap, and now under my 

 own roof was seen the whole of the Bakewell family, seated round 

 the table which has never ceased to be one of simplicity and 

 hospitality. 



After dinner we all repaired to the ice on the creek, and there 

 in comfortable sledges, each fair one was propelled by an ardent 

 skater. Tales of love may be extremely stupid to the majority, 

 so that I will not expatiate on these days, but to me, my dear 

 sons, and under such circumstances as then, and, thank God, now 

 exist, every moment was to me one of delight. 



But let me interrupt my tale to tell you somewhat of other 

 companions whom I have heretofore neglected to mention. 

 These are two Frenchmen, by name Da Costa and Colmesnil. 

 A lead mine had been discovered by my tenant, William Thomas, 

 to which, besides the raising of fowls, I paid considerable atten- 

 tion ; but I knew nothing of mineralogy or mining, and my 

 father, to whom I communicated the discovery of the mine, sent 

 Mr. Da Costa as a partner and partial guardian from France. 

 This fellow was intended to teach me mineralogy and mining 

 engineering, but, in fact, knew nothing of either ; besides which 

 he was a covetous wretch, who did all he could to ruin my father, 

 and indeed swindled both of us to a large amount. I had to go 

 to France and expose him to my father to get rid of him, which 

 I fortunately accomplished at first sight of my kind parent. A 

 greater scoundrel than Da Costa never probably existed, but 

 peace be with his soul. 



The other, Colmesnil, was a very interesting young Frenchman 



