12 AUDUBON THE XATUJIALI^T 



tienal lining of some large soft featliers of the 

 goose, picked up by them along the water's 

 edge. Meanwhile, the emotion of their twitter- 

 ing notes and gentle expressions of tenderness 

 in their caresses, seemed to anticipate their fu- 

 ture joys. As long as the plantation remained 

 to Audubon, a pewee's nest continued in his 

 favourite retreat. This species of bird is abun- 

 dant in the Floridas, as also during winter in 

 Louisiana and the Carolinas. It almost invaria- 

 riably forms its nest in caves or the rocky banks 

 of creeks. 



And now the enthusiastic passion, hitherto 

 awakened only by birds and flowers, was kin- 

 dled in the presence of a nobler breathing nature 

 realizing more than all of material beauty beheld 

 before, as well as the highest idealism could con- 

 ceive. He loved ; and we may conclude, that 

 "his affection" was not '' light as the feathers he 

 delineated," since soon he was a husband, and 

 through existence continued tenderly mindful of 

 the relationship he owned. Of this, we have 

 ample testimony, notwithstanding the long in- 

 tervals of absence his occupations necessitated. 

 We have treasured reminiscences and brighten- 

 ing glimpses of returning dearly-cherished joys 

 glittering like sparingly-scattered gems over the 

 restless and often troubled current of his way. 



At this time, his feelings were wounded by 



