190 Life of Audubon. 



strangers. The ground was so overgrown by laurels and 

 tall pines of different kinds, that the whole presented only 

 a mass of darkness. 



" At length we got to the house, the door of which 

 was already opened, the sight of strangers being nothing 

 uncommon in our woods, even in the most remote 

 parts. On entering I was presented with a chair, while 

 my conductor was shown the way to the stable ; and on 

 expressing a wish that I should be permitted to remain in 

 the house for some weeks, I was gratified by receiving 

 the sanction of the good woman to my proposal, although 

 her husband was then from home. As I immediately 

 fell talking about the nature of the country, and if birds 

 were numerous in the neighborhood, Mrs. Irish, more au 

 fait to household affairs than ornithology, sent for a ne- 

 phew of her husband, who soon made his appearance, and 

 in whose favor I became at once prepossessed. He con- 

 versed like an educated person, saw that I was comforta- 

 bly disposed of, and finally bid me good-night, in such a 

 tone as made me quite happy. 



" The storm had rolled away before the first beams of 

 the morning sun shone brightly on the wet foliage, dis- 

 playing all its richness and beauty. My ears were greet- 

 ed by the notes, always sweet and mellow, of the wood- 

 thrush, and other songsters. Before I had gone many 

 steps the woods echoed to the report of my gun, and I 

 picked from among the leaves a lovely bird long sought 

 for, but till then sought for in vain. I needed no more, 

 and standing still for a while, I was soon convinced that 

 the Great Pine Swamp harbored many other objects inter- 

 esting to me. The young man joined me, bearing his 

 rifle, and offered to accompany me through the woods, all 

 of which he well knew. But I was anxious to transfer to 

 paper the form and beauty of the little bird I had in my 

 hand ; and requesting him to break a twig of blooming 



