A Thorn in the Flesh. 211 



C. is obedient and excellent. I have not liad occa- 

 sion to reprove her for six months, and she is grow- 

 ing in size and improving in knowledge. 



The whole family send 3^ou a thousand remem- 

 brances. Love to the Audubons. * * '^ J. B. 



P. S. — My article on the Beaver, that did not 

 please me, I have re-written, and Julia has copied 

 it clearly for me. Say to Victor that it is now ready 

 for the press. 



To John Audubon : 



Charleston, March 21st, 1845. 



I find the describing and writing the histories of 

 animals slow and tedious work. I have been nearly 

 two days, until late in the evenings, hammering at 

 tlie Porcupine, and the article is not yet quite 

 finished. * ^ * * " 



Victor writes that I am growing savage. True, 

 my boy, for I am the school-master just now, and 

 find him a little lazy, and I am lashing him to work. 

 When he behaves like an industrious boy, I shall 

 put him at the head, and give him sugar jdums. 



18th. I have suffered so much with inflammation 

 of the eyes for the last four or five days, that the Doc- 

 tors insist that I have overworked them, and have 

 made me give up writing for some days. Sister 

 Maria hid my spectacles, and I only found them 

 after all had gone to bed. 



If to-morrow Doctor Horlbeck should allow me, 

 with a shade over my eyes, in an hour I could ex- 

 amine my specimens. Every book that you have 

 lately sent me is a treasure. " * ^' " 



My daughter Harriet, and son-in-law Haskell, are 

 with us. 



