Removal to Louisville. ^y 



river. All cf these parlies failed in supporting the 

 concern at Hendersonville, which was only continued 

 through the desperate measure of taking in still more 

 partners. Finally, the mill went down, after ruining all 

 concerned. The naturalist speaks with bitterness of the 

 " infernal mill," and in an equally fierce strain of a 

 steamer purchased by the concern, and afterwards sold 

 to a party down the Mississippi, who cheated the sellers 

 out of most of the purchase money. From this date his 

 difficulties appeared to increase daily ; bills fell due, and 

 unmeasured vexations assailed him. He handed over 

 all he possessed, and left Hendersonville with his sick 

 wife, his gim, his dog, and his drawings, — but without 

 feeling really depressed at his prospects. The family 

 reached Louisville, where they were kindly received by 

 a relative, and Audubon had time to think over some 

 scheme for raising support for his family. Possessed 

 of considerable skill as an artist in crayons, he conceived 

 the project of starting as a portrait draughtsman. As he 

 started at very low prices, his skill soon became known, 

 and in a few weeks he had as much work as he could do. 

 His family were settled with him, and his business spread 

 so far into Kentucky, that affluence was again enjoyed by 

 the wanderer. Audubon succeeded so well in portraying 

 the features of the dead, that a clergyman's child was 

 exhumed in order that the artist might have an opportu- 

 nity of taking a portrait of the corpse. 



In illustration of his reputation as a crayon drawer, 

 Audubon relates that a settler cam.e for him in the middle 

 of the night from a considerable distance, to have the 

 portrait of his mother taken while she was on the eve of 

 death. Audubon went with the farmer in his wagon, and 

 with the aid of a candle made a satisfactory sketch. This 

 success brought other successes, and the portrait painter 

 seemed to have got a new start in life. Shortly after- 

 s' 



