454 



AUDUBON 



I saw Gideon B. Smith and a few other friends, and on the 

 next morning we entered the cars for Cumberland, which 

 we reached the same evening about six. Here we had all 

 our effects weighed, and were charged thirty dollars addi- 

 tional weight — a first-rate piece of robbery. We went on 

 now by coaches, entering the gap, and ascending the Alle- 

 ghanies amid a storm of snow, which kept us company for 

 about forty hours, when we reached Wheeling, which we 

 left on the i6th of March, and went on board the steamer, 

 that brought us to Cincinnati all safe. 



We saw much game on our way, such as Geese, Ducks, 

 etc., but no Turkeys as in times of yore. We left for 

 Louisville in the U. S. mail steamer, and arrived there be- 

 fore daylight on the 19th inst. My companions went to 

 the Scott House, and I to William G. Bakewell's, whose 

 home I reached before the family were up. I remained 

 there four days, and was, of course, most kindly treated; 

 and, indeed, during my whole stay in this city of my youth 

 I did enjoy myself famously well, with dancing, dinner- 

 parties, etc. We left for St. Louis on board the ever- 

 to-be-remembered steamer " Gallant," and after having 

 been struck by a log which did not send us to the bottom, 

 arrived on the 28th of March. 



On the 4th of April, Harris went off to Edwardsville, 

 with the rest of my companions, and I went to Nicholas 

 Berthoud, who began housekeeping here that day, though 

 Eliza was not yet arrived from Pittsburgh. My time at 

 St. Louis would have been agreeable to any one fond of 

 company, dinners, and parties ; but of these matters I am 

 not, though I did dine at three different houses, bon gri^ 

 inalgr^. In fact, my time was spent procuring, arranging, 

 and superintending the necessary objects for the comfort 

 and utility of the party attached to my undertaking. The 

 Chouteaux supplied us with most things, and, let it be said 

 to their honor, at little or no profit. Captain Sire took me 

 in a light wagon to see old Mr. Chouteau one afternoon, 



