THE INN IN THE FOREST STRANGE NEWS 209 



" Wait till I look over the paper, and I will tell you, 

 should I find anything worthy of remark." 



Some of the men lit their pipes; others fanned them- 

 selves with burdock leaves; and others sat motionless. 



The reader at last looked up. 



" Well, here is something strange. Calvert ! Calvert, 

 come out here now, and stand in the cool. I've something 

 to read to you." 



" Well, what it is, squire? " 



" Say, don't you remember that young man, Audu- 

 bon?" 



" Yes, yes, I can see him now in my mind's eye. He 

 hunted chickadees." 



"You laughed at him?" 



" Any one would ; he gave away his own property to 

 his sister, and he lost all his wife's fortune, and took to 

 portrait-painting to pay his debts. Laughed at him! I 

 guess I did. Why, he looked like a wild man of the woods, 

 always a bird-hunting and painting birds didn't know 

 enough to earn his salt." 



" Had you heard that he had written a book? " 



" A book ! What could be written about wrens, and 

 chickadees, and owls? Who does he expect is going to 

 read it?" 



" He has been selling it by subscription." 



"What does he ask for it?" 



" A thousand dollars a copy, I am told." 

 14 



