39 ^ l f e of Auduhon. 



buttons when needed ; they may do for the parlor, but 

 not for the kitchen. Although she has the eyes of a ga- 

 zelle, and capital teeth, I soon discovered that she would 

 be no help to me : when I mentioned subscription, it 

 seemed to fall on her ears, not as the cadence of the wood 

 thrush or mocking-bird does in mine, but as a shower- 

 bath in cold January. Ornithology seemed to be a thing 

 for which she had no taste ; she said, however, ' I will 

 suggest your wish to my father, sir, and give you an an- 

 swer to-morrow morning.' She showed me some valuable 

 pictures, especially one by that king of Spanish painters, 

 Murillo, representing himself, and gun, and dog ; the 

 Spanish dress and tout ensemble brought to my mind my 

 imaginations respecting Gil Bias. At last I bowed, she 

 curtsied, and so the interview ended. 



" September 23. ' Chemin faisant' I met the curator 

 of the Natural History Society of Salem, and gladly ac- 

 cepted his invitation to examine the young collection of 

 that new-born institution, and there I had the good for- 

 tune to find one egg of the American bittern. 



" It was now nearly one o'clock, and going to the 

 office of Mr. Cleveland, I found him waiting to conduct 

 me to his house. We soon entered it and his dining- 

 room, where I saw three lovely daughters and a manly- 

 looking youth, their brother. The dinner was excellent, 

 and served simply ; but as our future bread and buttei 

 depend on my exertions, I excused myself as soon as con- 

 venient, and went to Dr. Pierson, who accompanied me 

 to call on some gentlemen who would be likely to take an 

 interest in my work." 



Audubon returned on September 24th to Boston, and 

 remained there one week, visiting his friends and looking 

 for subscribers to his Birds. 



" September 27. The citizens are all excitement ; guns 

 are firing, flags flying, and troops parading, and John 



