The Home. 151 



up in his arms and carried her to the aviary. The 

 gentle birds answered his call ; but the Pouter- 

 pigeons extended their breasts, and, with sullen 

 notes, strutted about. A little story followed, that 

 interested the child, and made her feel greatly 

 ashamed of her ill temper. Many such lessons he 

 gave to the children in a series of stories, that 

 appeared later in one of the religious journals. 



He was the chief promoter of fun and frolic 

 among the children ; often he would come home at 

 twilight, and before the lamps were lighted, call to 

 the eager little people to join him in a Deer Hunt. 



He, as the swift old buck, took the lead in some- 

 what leap-frog fashion, and the children who repre- 

 sented the pack of hounds, followed in close pursuit. 

 Before long, the tired deer wa brought to bay by 

 one of the hounds jumping nimbly on his back ; 

 then, above the din, a hunter's horn would be heard, 

 to announce that the merry chase was at an end. 



This was the home so dear to the Pastor of St. 

 John's. 



TO HIS SON-IN-LAW, JOHN W. AuDUBON, IN LONDON. 



CHARLESTON, August, 1837. 



My dear John : I suppose that by this time you 

 are hard at work doing something to keep want 

 from the home ; and this, they say, will keep the 

 little "God of Love" from flying out of the window. 

 Maria, I am sure, will be prudent and industrious. 

 Her education and habits are such as will, I think, 

 render her an assistant, as well as a blessing, to you. 

 A part of my boy W's prayer every night is, that 



