46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Nov. 5, 
paid him. But it was of no avail to struggle against his fate, 
and one morning he entered the Blakewell residence. He was 
shown into a drawing-room, when a young lady rose to wel- 
come him and to assure him of the pleasure her father would 
have in receiving him. This was his introduction to Miss Lucy 
Blakewell, his future wife, who proved to be a most fitting mate 
for such a man as Audubon. Affectionate, patient, sympa- 
thetic, entering with her whole heart into her husband’s pur- 
suits, self-sacrificing, ever ready to encourage him when de- 
pressed by disappointments, jealous of his neputation, cheer- 
fully submitting to any privation in order that his immortal 
work should be carried to a successful completion, enduring 
without a murmur long separations from husband and children, 
and accepting at times the uncongenial labor of teaching to 
gain means to advance the publication of his book; she was a 
type of that woman of whom it is written, “her children shall 
rise up and call her blesssed,” and whatever wreath shall be 
twined for the brows of the naturalist, sprays from it must be 
taken to form a similar crown to adorn the head of his faithful, 
devoted wife. 
The acquaintance thus formed ripened into intimacy, and in 
due course of time on expressing to Mr. Blakewell his desire to 
unite himself with his daughter, he was advised before marriage 
to gain some knowledge of mercantile pursuits, which, with his 
characteristic impulsiveness, Audubon at once put into practice 
by going to New York, entering the counting house of Mr. 
Benjamin Blakewell, and beginning his acquaintance with busi- 
ness methods by losing several thousand dollars in speculation. 
It was not long before Mr. Blakewell discovered that it was im- 
possible to make a merchant of Audubon, and he returned to 
Mill Grove. During all this time he kept adding to his collec- 
tions, visiting constantly the woods and fields, and his rooms 
were turned into a museum filled with all manner of specimens 
in Natural History. He has givena sketch of himself at this 
time, which brings him vividly before us. ‘I measured,” he 
writes, “five feet ten and a half inches, was of a fair mien, and 
quite a handsome figure, large dark and rather sunken eyes, light 
colored eye-brows, aquiline nose, and a fine set of teeth; hair, 
fine texture and luxuriant, divided and passing down behind each 
ear in luxuriant ringlets as far as the shoulders.” 
After his return to Mill Grove, he decided to go to Louisville, 
Kentucky, and having sold his place he invested the proceeds in 
goods, and was married to Miss Blakewell on the 8th of April, 
1808. 
It was while residing at Louisville a memorable occurrence 
