CLOSE OF HIS CAREER. 203 



rious sun arose, gladdening the earth with its 

 rays, starting to his feet, invigorated by health- 

 ful repose, the naturalist was urged to the pur- 

 suits of the day, by the delighting prospect of 

 the successful termination of his toils. Fancy 

 would then load the breeze with the praises of 

 admirers. Or with the sweet serenity of even- 

 ing, the flower-perfumed air, and the declining 

 melodies of forest warblers, thoughts of home 

 and friends would arise, awakening the dear 

 anticipation of joyful meeting. 



Incited ever onwards by pleasing images and 

 hopes such as these, Audubon found himself, he 

 tells us, " furnished as it were with large and 

 powerful wings, when, cleaving the air like an 

 eagle, he would fly off, and by a few joyous 

 bounds overtake the object of his desire." 



With no partial achievement could his am- 

 bition be content, for the ideal of true genius 

 through the slightest detraction is destroyed. 

 " How often," he exclaims, " I long to see the 

 day on which my labours should be brought to 

 an end" — when hope should be converted into 

 assurance, that devotion to nature so enthusi- 

 astic, so untiring, had not been in vain. Thus 

 incited and sustained, the wanderer toiled on, till 

 at length in the completion of his great work, he 

 beheld liis rich and abundant reward. This was 

 in the sixty- third year of his age. Once more 



