46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [NOV. 5, 



paid him. But it was of no avail to struggle against his fate, 

 and one morning he entered the Blakewell residence. He was 

 shown into a drawing-room, when a young lady rose to wel- 

 come him and to assure him of the pleasure her father would 

 have in receiving him. This was his introduction to Miss Lucy 

 Blakewell, his future wife, who proved to be a most fitting mate 

 for such a man as Audubon. Affectionate, patient, sympa- 

 thetic, entering with her whole heart into her husband's pur- 

 suits, self-sacrificing, ever ready to encourage him when de- 

 pressed by disappointments, jealous of his reputation, cheer- 

 fully submitting to any privation in order that his immortal 

 work should be carried to a successful completion, enduring 

 without a murmur long separntions from husband and children, 

 and accepting at times the (uicongenial labor of teaching to 

 gain means to advance the publication of his Ijook; she was a 

 type of that woman of whom it is written, "her children shall 

 rise up and call her blesssed," and wliatever wreath shall be 

 twined for the brows of the naturalist, sprays from it must be 

 taken to form a similar crown to adorn the head of his faithful, 

 devoted wife. 



The acquaintance thus formed ripened into intlimacy, and in 

 due course of time on expressing to Mr. Blakewell his desire to 

 unite himself with his daughter, he was advised before marriage 

 to gain some knowledge of mercantile i)ursuits, which, with his 

 characteristic impulsiveness, Audubon at once put into practice 

 by going to New York, entering the counting house of Mr. 

 Benjamin Blakewell, and beginning his acquaintance with busi- 

 ness methods by losing several thousand dollars in speculation. 

 It was not long before Mr. Blakewell discovered that it was im- 

 possible to make a merchant of Audul)on, and he returned to 

 Mill Grove. During all this time he kei)t adding to his collec- 

 tions, visiting constantly the woods and fields, and his rooms 

 were turned into a museum filled with all manner of specimens 

 in Natural History. He has given a sketch of himself at this 

 time, which brings him vividly before us. " I measured," he 

 writes, " five feet ten and a half inches, was of a fair mien, and 

 quite a handsome figure, large dark and rather sunken eyes, light 

 colored eye-brows, aquiline nose, and a fine set of teeth ; hair, 

 fine texture and luxuriant, divided and passing down behind each 

 ear in luxuriant ringlets as far as the shoulders."' 



After his return to Mill Grove, lie decided to go to Louisville, 

 Kentucky, and having sold his place he invested the proceeds in 

 goods, and was married to Miss Blakewell on the 8th of April, 

 1808. 



It was while residins; at Louisville a memorable occurrence 



