72 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



Audubon hears his own Ghaeacter curiously describbd — ^His Wite 

 AND Sons arrive at New Orleans — Diteicultibs or Obtaining a 

 Livelihood — Mrs. Audubon obliged to accept a Situation — Reso- 

 lution TO LEAVE FOR NATCHEZ — PASSAGE MONET PAID BY DRAWING 



THE Portrait of the Captain and the Captain's Wife — Recol- 

 lections of an Eccentric — A Grotesque Figure — A Bied-fancibr 

 AND AN Artist — ^Bifle Practice in a Studio. 



" December 8. Mt wife and family arrived to-day by steamer; 

 We dined with our Mend Mr. Pamar, and met my old friend 

 Mr. Rosier in tlie evening. We reached our lodging, and all 

 felt happy and comforted at the reunion, after fourteen months 

 of separation." 



For the first two months of 1822, the records of Audubon's 

 life are sparse and imperfect, on account of his inability to 

 purchase a book to write his journal in ! The one at last ob- 

 tained was made of thin, poor paper, and the records entered 

 are rather in keeping with his financial difficulties. It took all 

 his means at this time to supply his family with the necessaries 

 of life, and in order to obtain money to educate the children, his 

 wife undertook the duties of a situation, in which she had charge 

 of and educated the offspring of a Mr. Brand. 



"March 7. Spring is advancing, with many pleasant 

 associations, but my bodily health suffers from depression. I 

 have resolved to leave for Natchez, but grieve to leave my 

 family. My money is scarce, and I find great difficulty in 

 collecting what is owing to me. 



