148 AUDUBON THE NATUKALIST. 



stantly bespoke the gentleman and polished 

 citizen of the world. He immediately recognized 

 the name of Audubon, and declared that he had 

 been expecting to greet him during the last 

 three weeks, having read in the journals of his 

 intention to visit Labrador. He then cordially 

 welcomed him to his elegant mansion, and its 

 pleasant inmates. A chosen collection of books, 

 with newspapers from all quarters, evinced that 

 no contracting influences of seclusion had chilled 

 their sympathies or deadened their interest in 

 that society from which they were removed. 

 *' How had they thus hidden themselves from 

 the world, with every incentive to mingle pleas- 

 antly and profitably in it ?" inquired Audubon. 

 *' Having mixed once in society," replied his 

 companion, "he never wished to return to it. 

 The country around," he continued, " is all my 

 own, much farther than you can see. No fees, 

 no lawyers, no taxes are here. I do just as I 

 choose. My means are ample through my own 

 industry. Vessels come here for seal skins, seal 

 oil, and salmon, and give me in return all the 

 necessaries, and, indeed, comforts of the life I 

 love to follow. And what else could the world 

 afford? My wife and I teach the children all 

 that is necessary for them to know, and is not 

 that enough ? My girls will marry their country- 

 men, my sons the daughters of my neighbours, 



