20 



AUDUBON 



with whom I became acquainted. He was very poor, and I 

 invited him to come and reside under my roof. This he did, 

 remaining for many months, much to my delight. His appear- 

 ance was typical of what he was, a perfect gentleman ; he was 

 handsome in form, and possessed of talents far above my own. 

 When introduced to your mother's family he was much thought 

 of, and at one time he thought himself welcome to my Lucy ; 

 but it was only a dream, and when once undeceived by her whom 

 I too loved, he told me he must part with me. This we did with 

 mutual regret, and he returned to France, where, though I have 

 lost sight of him, I believe he is still living. 



During the winter connected with this event your uncle 

 Thomas Bakewell, now residing in Cincinnati, was one morning 

 skating with me on the Perkiomen, when he challenged me to 

 shoot at his hat as he tossed it in the air, which challenge I ac- 

 cepted with great pleasure. I was to pass by at full speed, within 

 about twenty-five feet of where he stood, and to shoot only when 

 he gave the word. Off I went like lightning, up and down, as if 

 anxious to boast of my own prowess while on the glittering sur- 

 face beneath my feet \ coming, however, within the agreed 

 distance the signal was given, the trigger pulled, off went the 

 load, and down on the ice came the hat of my future brother-in- 

 law, as completely perforated as if a sieve. He repented, alas ! too 

 late, and was afterward severely reprimanded by Mr. Bakewell. 



Another anecdote I must relate to you on paper, which I have 

 probably too often repeated in words, concerning my skating in 

 those early days of happiness ; but, as the world knows nothing 

 of it, I shall give it to you at some length. It was arranged one 

 morning between your young uncle, myself, and several other 

 friends of the same age, that we should proceed on a duck- 

 shooting excursion up the creek, and, accordingly, ofT we went 

 after an early breakfast. The ice was in capital order wherever 

 no air-holes existed, but of these a great number interrupted our 

 course, all of which were, however, avoided as we proceeded up- 

 ward along the glittering, frozen bosom of the stream. The day 

 was spent in much pleasure, and the game collected was not 

 inconsiderable. 



