Liberty Hall. 145 



Audubon his wife and son, accompanied by Mr. 

 Edward Harris, arrived in due time. 



Hunting, fishing and botanizing, were the order 

 of the day. 



The plantation of Dr. C. Desel, his hospitable 

 home, Liberty Hall, Goose Creek, near Charleston, 

 was a favorite resort for the friends. 



It is a cold night in December. Let us throw 

 back the heavy chintz curtains, and look within. 

 Great blazing logs are in the open fire place, light- 

 ing up the whole room. The antlers of deer captured 

 in the chase, adorn the walls. The hunters seated 

 around the fire, are jubilant over the splendid luck 

 of the day. 



It is an interesting, happy group before us ; Au- 

 dubon, with his massive forehead and his waving, 

 dark hair slightly touched with gray worn long, 

 and flowing over an ample, white collar ; his nose 

 aquiline; his mouth well formed ; and his beautiful, 

 eagle eye full of animation. Bachman, with his 

 noble countenance, and genial flow of thought and 

 word. Mr. Edward Harris, the tall, refined, cul- 

 tivated gentleman. Dr. Wilson, as trim as shiny 

 boots and well brushed coat could make a successful 

 practitioner. John W. Audubon, with his compact, 

 well developed body, and his handsome face brim- 

 ' ful of fun. To-day he has killed his first deer, and, 

 according to ancient usage, was blooded that is, 

 was marked on the face with the warm blood of the 

 newly killed deer (a ceremony decidedly more en- 

 joyable to the old hunters, than to the one under- 



