JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. 183 



says, " the hope of my completing my book upon 

 the birds of America became less clear ; and, full of 

 despair, I feared my hopes of becoming known to 

 Europe as a naturalist were destined to be blasted." 



To feel within one's breast the aspiration which 

 is God-given, and know that one has genius, and 

 yet be bound hand and foot by circumstances, 

 what is harder ? 



Poor Audubon! with his lessening hope of 

 " becoming known ' to Europe." His wife had 

 come to Natchez and obtained a position as teacher, 

 similar to the one she had held in New Orleans. 

 Poverty had tested their love, but it had stood the 

 test. Audubon had made a copy of the " Death of 

 Montgomery ; " and for this friends raffled, and 

 gave him the proceeds, three hundred dollars, and 

 the picture also. 



Mrs. Audubon now made an engagement with 

 a lady at Bayou Sara, to teach her children with 

 her own, and a limited number of pupils. Seeing 

 that his family would now be provided for, "I 

 determined," he says, " to break through all bonds, 

 and pursue my ornithological pursuits. My best 

 friends solemnly regarded me as a madman, and 

 my wife and family alone gave me encouragement. 

 My wife determined that my genius should prevail, 

 and that my final success as an ornithologist should 

 be triumphant." 



Blessed faith of woman ! Giving a love that 

 knows only self-sacrifice ; that braves all, bears all, 

 and finally wins all for its beloved object. 



