PERSEVERING TOIL. 109 



CHAPTER IX. 



lyrOT WITHSTANDING years of toil devoted 

 "^^ by Audubon to ensure the achievement of 

 his cherished plan, disappointments and imped- 

 iments continued long to test the strength of 

 his resolution and the power of his faith. Yet 

 such was the vigour and elevation of his genius 

 that vicissitudes seemed only to increase the 

 elasticity of his naturally buoyant spirits, and 

 impart a more indomitable fervour to his en- 

 thusiasm. 



Irrepressible by trial from without — the chill 

 of uncongenial contact or contest with the harsh 

 inexorable conditions of expediency, his genius 

 possessed an imperishable spring within itself 

 which no opposing external force could destroy. 

 Intrinsically it was the source of unequalled 

 pleasures and satisfactions — themselves a rich 

 reward, a perpetual consolation and assistance. 

 From the arguments of interested or sordid 

 policy, the coldness of skepticism, the apathy of 

 ignorance or selfishness, he took refuge in the 

 seclusion of his beloved woods. There, in 

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