AUDUBON 



35 



much injured in the wheels of the steam-engine), I stabbed him 

 and he instantly fell. Old Mr. Berthoud and others, who were 

 hastening to the spot, now came up, and carried him home on a 

 plank. Thank God, his wound was not mortal, but his friends 

 were all up in arms and as hot-headed as himself. Some walked 

 through my premises armed with guns; my dagger was once 

 more at my side, Mr. Berthoud had his gun, our servants were 

 variously armed, and our carpenter took my gun " Long Tom." 

 Thus protected, I walked into the Judiciary Court, that was then 

 sitting, and was blamed, only, — for not having killed the scoundrel 

 who attacked me. 



The " bad establishment," as I called the steam-mill, worked 

 worse and worse every day. Thomas Bakewell, who possessed 

 more brains than I, sold his town lots and removed to Cincinnati, 

 where he has made a large fortune, and glad I am of it. 



From this date my pecuniary difficulties daily increased ; I had 

 heavy bills to pay which I could not meet or take up. The 

 moment this became known to the world around me, that moment 

 I was assailed with thousands of invectives; the once wealthy 

 man was now nothing. I parted with every particle of property 

 I held to my creditors, keeping only the clothes I wore on that 

 day, my original drawings, and my gun. 



Your mother held in her arms your baby sister Rosa, named 

 thus on account of her extreme loveliness, and after my own sister 

 Rosa. She felt the pangs of our misfortunes perhaps more 

 heavily than I, but never for an hour lost her courage ; her brave 

 and cheerful spirit accepted all, and no reproaches from her 

 beloved lips ever wounded my heart. With her was I not always 

 rich ? 



Finally I paid every bill, and at last left Henderson, probably 

 forever, without a dollar in my pocket, walked to Louisville alone, 

 by no means comfortable in mind, there went to Mr. Berthoud's, 

 where I was kindly received ; they were indeed good friends. 



My plantation in Pennsylvania had been sold, and, in a word, 

 nothing was left to me but my humble talents. Were those 

 talents to remain dormant under such exigencies ? Was I to see 

 my beloved Lucy and children suffer and want bread, in the 



