144 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



" Will you paint me a sign if I pay you well? " 



"My good friend, I need the money. I have tried to 

 live very sparingly, I and my faithful son. But I will put 

 good work into your sign, and such as will not be any dis- 

 honor to me or to art." 



The sign was painted, and other signs were painted by 

 Audubon for other men. But though he painted signs, 

 Audubon, in his necessities, was a model gentleman. That 

 any man can be. 



The meeting of a friendly eye is sometimes a turning- 

 point in life. That decisive moment came to Audubon. 

 He showed his wonderful plates to Prince Canino, the son 

 of Lucien Bonaparte. The prince saw their worth at once. 



" I should advise you to take these to England," he said, 

 " and publish them in book form by subscription." 



" But I am poor." 



" Take the first steps and the ways will open before 

 you." 



He went to his wife and Victor with the prince's counsel. 



" Go," said they; " our hearts are yours, our hands shall 

 be; we will be true to our own! " 



