76 AUDUBON 



invaluable aid this last work was finished, but not during 

 Audubon's life. He travelled more or less in the inter- 

 ests of his publications during these years, largely in New 

 England and in the Middle States. 



In 1847 the brilliant intellect began to be dimmed; at 

 first it was only the difficulty of finding the right word to 

 express an idea, the gradual lessening of interest, and this 

 increased till in May, 1848, Dr. Bachman tells the pa- 

 thetic close of the enthusiastic and active life : " Alas, 

 my poor friend Audubon ! The outlines of his beautiful 

 face and form are there, but his noble mind is all in ruins. 

 It is indescribably sad." 



Through these last years the devotion of the entire 

 household was his. He still loved to wander in the 

 woods, he liked to hear his wife read to him, and music 

 was ever a delight. To the very last his daughter-in-law, 

 Mrs. Victor G. Audubon, sang a little Spanish song to 

 him every evening, rarely permitting anything to interfere 

 with what gave him so much pleasure, and evening by 

 evening he listened to the Bucnas Noclies, which was so 

 soon to be his in reality. 



His grandchildren, also, were a constant source of en- 

 joyment to him, and he to them, for children always found 

 a friend in him; and thus quietly did he pass through that 

 valley which had no shadows for him. 



I wish to wholly correct the statement that Audubon 

 became blind. His sight became impaired by old age, 

 as is usually the case ; he abhorred spectacles or glasses 

 of any kind, would not wear them except occasionally, 

 and therefore did not get the right focus for objects near 

 by; but his far-sight was hardly impaired. That won- 

 derful vision which surprised even the keen-eyed Indian 

 never failed him. 



Well do I remember the tall figure with snow-white 

 hair, wandering peacefully along the banks of the beautiful 

 Hudson. Already he was resting in that border land 



