8 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



the beauty of his well-trained dogs, and finally promised to call 

 upon him and his family. Well do I recollect the morning, 

 and may it please God that I may never forget it, when, for the 

 first time, I entered the Bakewell household. It happened that 

 Mr. Bakewell was from home. I was shown into a parlour, where 

 only one young lady was snugly seated at work, with her back 

 turned towards the fire. She rose on my entrance, offered me a 

 seat, and assured me of the gratification her father would feel 

 on his return, which, she added with a smile, would be in a few 

 minutes, as she would send a servant after him. Other ruddy 

 cheeks made their appearance, but like spirits gay, vanished from 

 my sight. Talking and working, the young lady who remained 

 made the time pass pleasantly enough, and to me especially so. 

 It was she, my dear Lucy Bakewell, who afterwards became my 

 wife and the mother of my children." 



Mr. Bakewell speedily returned, and Luoy attended to the 

 lunch provided before leaving on a shooting expedition. " Lucy 

 rose from her seat a second time, and her form, to which I h^ 

 before paid little attention, seemed radiant with beauty, and my 

 heart and eyes followed her every step. The repast beijg over, 

 guns and dogs were provided, and as we left I was phased to 

 believe that Lucy looked upon me as a not very strange animal. 

 Bowing to her, I felt I knew not why, that I was at least not 

 indifferent to her." a 



The acquaintance so pleasantly pegun rapidly matured. 

 Audubon and Bakewell were often companions in their shooting 

 excursions, and finally the whole Bakewell family were invited 

 to Mill Grove. 



The property of Audubon was separated from Bakewell's 

 plantation by a road leading from Morristown to Pawling's 

 Landing, now Pawling's Bridge, or about a quarter of a mile 

 apart; and the result of the friendly relationship established 

 between the two households gave rise to a series of mutual 

 signals, chalked on a board and hung out of the window. 

 The friendship deepened. Lucy Bakewell taught English to 

 Audubon, and received drawing lessons in return. Of course 

 no one failed to predict the result ; but as a love affair is chiefly 

 interesting to those immediately concerned, we pass on to other 

 matters. 



