72 



AUDUBON 



woods all around resounded to the songs of the birds he 

 so loved ; many animals (deer, elk, moose, bears, wolves, 

 foxes, and smaller quadrupeds) were kept in enclosures 

 — never in cages — mostly about a quarter of a mile 

 distant from the river, near the little building known 

 as the " painting house." What joyous memories are 

 those of the rush out of doors, lessons being over, to the 

 little brook, following which one gathered the early blos- 

 soms in their season, or in the autumn cleared out leaves, 

 that its waters might flow unimpeded, and in winter found 

 icicles of wondrous shape and beauty ; and just beyond its 

 source stood the painting house, where every child was 

 always welcome,* where the wild flowers from hot little 

 hands were painted in the pictures of what we called " the 

 animals," to the everlasting pride and glory of their 

 finder. 



It was hoped that only shorter trips would now be 

 taken, and a visit to Canada as far as Quebec was made 

 in August and September of 1842. 



But even in this home after his own tastes, where hospi- 

 tality and simplicity ruled, Audubon could not stay, for 

 his heart had always been set on going farther west, and 

 though both family and friends thought him growing too 

 old for such a journey, he started in March, 1843, fo*" St 

 Louis, and thence up the Missouri on the steamboat 

 " Omega " of the American Fur Company, which left on its 

 annual trip April 25, 1843, taking up supplies of all 

 sorts, and returning with thousands of skins and furs. 

 Here again Audubon speaks for himself, and I shall not 

 now anticipate his account with words of mine, as the 

 Missouri journal follows in full. He was accompanied 

 on this trip by Mr. Edward Harris, his faithful friend of 

 many years, John G. Bell as taxidermist, Isaac Sprague 



I " These little folk, of all sixes, sit and play in my room and do not 

 touch the specimens." (Letter of Dr. Bachman, May 1 1, 1848, to his familj 

 in Charleston.) 



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Mrs. V. gI 



