CHAPTER VII. 



Wife and Sons arrive at New Orleans — Difficnlties of Obtaining 

 a Livelihood — Recollections of an Eccentric — A Bird fancier 

 and an Artist — Rifle Practice in a Studio — Atidubon's Ar- 

 rival at Natchez — Attack of Fever — Raffle of a Drawings 

 and Results — Audubon studies Oil Painting — The Naturalist 

 lets loose his Pet Birds — Visit to Bayou Sara — A Den of 

 Gamblers — Leaves for Louisville with his son Victor — Wan- 

 derings through the Wilds — Residence at Loidsville — An Ad- 

 venture in the Woods — Floods of the Mississippi — The Waste 

 of Waters — The Flooded Forest — Slaughter of Game. 



ECEMBER 8. My wife and family arrived to- 

 day by steamer. We dined with our friend Mr. 

 Pamar, and met my old friend Mr. Rosier in the 

 evening. We reached our lodging, and all felt happy and 

 comforted at the reunion, after fourteen months of separa- 

 tion." 



For the first two months of 1822, the records of Au- 

 dubon's life are sparse and imperfect, on account of his 

 inability to purchase a book to write his journal in ! The 

 one at last obtained was made of thin, poor paper, and 

 the records entered are rather in keeping with his finan- 

 cial difficulties. It took all his means at this time to 

 supply his family with the necessaries of life, and in order 

 to obtain money to educate the children, his wdfe under- 

 took the duties of a situation, in which she had charge of 

 and educated the offspring of a Mr. Brand. 



''^ March 7. Spring is advancing, with many pleasant 

 associations, but my bodily health suffers from depres- 

 sion. I have resolved to leave for Natchez, but grieve to 



