ii6 Life of Audubon, 



meet a black man, who told me where I was, and that I 

 had passed Mrs. Percy's plantation two miles. Turning 

 my horse's head, and putting spurs to him, a brisk gallop 

 soon brought me to the house. It was early, but I found 

 my beloved wife up and engaged in giving a lesson to her 

 pupils, and, holding and kissing her, I was once more 

 happy, and all my toils and trials were forgotten. 



" December i. After a few days' rest I began to think 

 of the future, and to look about to see what I could do 

 to hasten the publication of my drawings. My wife was 

 receiving a large income, — nearly three thousand dollars 

 a year, — from her industry and talents, which she gener- 

 ously offered me to help forward their publication ; and I 

 resolved on a new effort to increase the amount by my 

 own energy and labor. Numerous pupils desired les- 

 sons in music, French, and drawing. From Woodville 

 I received a special invitation to teach dancing, and a 

 class of sixty was soon organized. I went to begin my 

 duties, dressed myself at the hotel, and with my fiddle 

 under my arm entered the ball-room. I found my 

 music highly appreciated, and immediately commenced 

 proceedings. 



" I placed all the gentlemen in a line reaching across 

 the hall, thinking to give the young ladies time to com- 

 pose themselves and get ready when they were called. 

 How I toiled before I could get one graceful step or 

 motion ! I broke my bow and nearly my violin in my 

 excitement and impatience ! The gentlemen were soon 

 fatigued. The ladies were next placed in the same order 

 and made to walk the steps ; and then came the trial for 

 both parties to proceed at the same time, while I pushed 

 one here and another there, and was all the while singing 

 myself, to assist their movements. Many of the parents 

 were present, and were delighted. After this first lesson 

 was over I was requested to dance to my own music^ which 



