AUDUBON. 163 



ously purchased. Here he was gay, and fond of dress. 

 He even hunted in satin breeches and low pump shoes. 

 As during his childhood in France, so now when he 

 was grown, he was always trying to gratify his passion 

 for birds. He had a fondness for all animals, and was 

 skillful in training dogs. 



But poverty came to him at last. Through the 

 carelessness and failure of agents, his property was 

 lost. Having married, he removed to Kentucky, where 

 he tried to be a merchant, but failed. He then made 

 his home in Louisiana. His early sports in hunting 

 and fishing had helped to give him a good physical 

 constitution. His polite training fitted him for winning 

 the friendship of all sorts of people. 



PART 2. 



A SINGLE anecdote will give something of Audu- 

 bon's earlier experiences. He had to cross the wild 

 prairie in southern Illinois alone, except for the presence 

 of his dog who was his constant companion. When 

 night came, the distant howling of the wolves encour- 

 aged him to hope that he was near the wooded coun- 

 try where a camp-fire might be enjoyed. Soon a light 

 gleamed ahead, and a log cabin was at length reached. 

 Here a tall, haggard woman appeared, who consented 

 to allow the traveler to lodge in the cabin. By the 

 fire within sat a young Indian who refused to talk. 



Having supped on venison and fed his dog, Audu- 

 bon took out his gold watch and remarked to the 

 woman that, as it was late, he would like to retire. 

 She cast a longing look upon the treasure, and Audu- 



