CHAPTER XVII. 



18481852. 



His SECOND MARRIAGE. 



HEALTH FAILS SOJOURN AT MADISON SPRINGS VISIT FROM: 

 VICTOR AUDUBON LETTER TO EDWARD HARRIS QUADRU- 

 PEDS OF NORTH AMERICA HIS PART IN THE WORK. 



To VICTOR G. AUDUBON : 



CHARLESTON, Dec. 18th, 1848. 



DEAR VICTOR: I am sure that you will be 

 glad to see a few lines written by 1113" own 

 hand, at daylight. It is just to sa3 r that the old 

 fellow is alive, and only half blind. For three 

 months I have been sadty off. If I only wrote or read 

 for half an hour I was punished all night with sand 

 in my eyes, and such an itching that I waked every 

 half hour. I tried to abide by the Doctor's pre- 

 scriptions ; rested 1113^ eyes, and even used no notes 

 in the pulpit or at college. 



I go out of town, and leave cares behind me 

 whenever I can and am the better for it. I shall 

 go to Columbia, Lexington, etc., to spend my vaca- 

 tion-week, and return to my duties on Saturday. 



Now about the letter-press. At last, I think, I 

 see my way clear ; Maria has promised to be my 

 amanuensis, and, on the second day of January, she 

 will hold the pen for me. There is only one other 

 person that could do this, and that is 3 7 ourself ; but 

 I won't call on 3 r ou unless the other plan fails. 



