290 AUDUBON 



it with elated heart. My drawings were safely landed, and 

 for anything else I cared little at the moment. I searched 

 in vain for the officer of our navy, to whom I still feel 

 grateful, and gave one of our dollars to the sailors to drink 

 the " freedom of the waters ; " after which we betook our- 

 selves to a humble inn to procure bread and milk, and 

 consider how we were to proceed. 



Our plans were soon settled, for to proceed was decidedly 

 the best. Our luggage was rather heavy, so we hired a 

 cart to take it to Meadville, for which we offered five 

 dollars. This sum was accepted, and we set off. The 

 country through which we passed might have proved 

 favorable to our pursuits, had it not rained nearly the 

 whole day. At night we alighted and put up at a house 

 belonging to our conductor's father. It was Sunday night. 

 The good folks had not yet returned from a distant meeting- 

 house, the grandmother of our driver being the only indi- 

 vidual about the premises. We found her a cheerful dame, 

 who bestirred herself as actively as age would permit, got 

 up a blazing fire to dry our wet clothes, and put as much 

 bread and milk on the table as might have sufficed for sev- 

 eral besides ourselves. 



Being fatigued by the jolting of the cart, we asked for a 

 place in which to rest, and were shown into a room in 

 which were several beds. We told the good woman that I 

 should paint her portrait next morning for the sake of 

 her children. My companion and myself were quickly in 

 bed, and soon asleep, in which state we should probably 

 have remained till morning, had we not been awakened 

 by a light, which we found to be carried by three young 

 damsels, who, having observed where we lay, blew it out, 

 and got into a bed opposite to ours. As we had not 

 spoken, it is probable the girls supposed us sound asleep, 

 and we heard them say how delighted they would be to 

 have their portraits taken, as well as that of their grand- 

 mother. My heart silently met their desire, and we fell 



