JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 13 

 may it please God that I never forget it, 

 when for the first time I entered Mr. 

 BakewelPs dwelling. It happened that 

 he was absent from home, and I was 

 shown into a parlour where only one 

 young lady was snugly seated at her 

 work by the fire. She rose on my en- 

 trance, offered me a seat, assured me of 

 the gratification her father would feel 

 on his return, which, she added, would 

 be in a few moments, as she would des- 

 patch a servant for him. Other ruddy 

 cheeks and bright eyes made their trans- 

 ient appearance, but, like spirits gay, 

 soon vanished from my sight ; and there 

 I sat, my gaze riveted, as it were, on the 

 young girl before me, who, half work- 

 ing, half talking, essayed to make the 

 time pleasant to me. Oh ! may God 

 bless her ! It was she, my dear sons, 

 who afterwards became my beloved 

 wife, and your mother. Mr. Bakewell 

 soon made his appearance, and received 

 me with the manner and hospitality of 



