VISIT TO MILL GKOVE. 87 



France, and afterwards nominated me for membership to the 

 Academy in Philadelphia. He was one of the best men I have 

 met with in the city, and the very best among the naturalists." 



This was the beginning of a warm friendship between these two 

 good men, which increased with time, and lasted until the doctor 

 died. At the same time Audubon formed a friendship with 

 Edward Hands, a young ornithologist of refinement, wealth, and 

 education, who outlived Audubon, and extended prompt relief 

 to his wife during her distress after her husband's death. 

 When the naturalist was about to leave Philadelphia, Hands 

 purchased some of his drawings, and on being offered his picture 

 of the Falls of the Ohio, at a sacrifice, declined the purchase, 

 but as he was saying good-bye, squeezed a hundred-dollar bill 

 into his friend's hand, saying, " Mr. Audubon, accept this frohi 

 me ; men like you ought not to want for money." 



" I could only express my gratitude by insisting on his receiving 

 the drawings of all my French birds, which he did, and 1 was 

 relieved. This is the second instance of disinterested generosity I 

 have met with in my life, the good Dr. Provan of Natchez being 

 the other. And now I have ia hand one hundred and thirty dollars 

 to begin my journey of three thousand miles. Before, this I 

 have always thought I could work my way through the world 

 by my industry ; but I see that I shall have to leave here, as 

 Wilson often did, without a cent in my pocket. 



" July 26. Eeuben Haines, a generous friend, invited me to 

 visit Mill Grove in his carriage, and I was impatient until the 

 day came. His wife, a beautiful woman, and her daughter, 

 accompanied us. On the way my heart swelled with many 

 thoughts of what my life had been there, of the scenes I had 

 passed through since, and of my condition now. Ks we entered 

 the avenue leading to Mill Grove, every step brought to my 

 mind the memory of past years, and I was bewildered by the 

 recollections until we reached the door of the house, which had 

 once been the residence of my father as well as myself. The 

 cordial welcome of Mr. Watherell, the owner, was extremely 

 agreeable. After resting a few moments, I abruptly took my 

 hat and ran wildly towards the woods, to tlie grotto where I 

 first heard from my wife the acknowledgment that I was not 

 indifferent to her. It had been torn down, and somu atones 



