A DANCING LESSON. 99 



thinking to give the young ladies time to compose themselves 

 and get ready when they were called. How I toiled before 

 I could get one graceful step or motion ! I broke my bow and 

 nearly my violin in my excitement and impatience! The 

 gentlemen were soon fatigued. The ladies were next placed, 

 in the same order and made to walk the steps ; and then came 

 the trial for both parties to proceed at the same time, while I 

 pushed one here and another there, and was all the while 

 singing myself, to assist their movements. Many of the parents 

 were present, and were delighted. After this iirst lesson was 

 over I was requested to dance to my own music, which I did 

 until the whole room came down in thunders of applause in 

 clapping of hands and shouting, which put an end to my first 

 lesson and to an amusing comedy. Lessons in fencing followed 

 to tlie young gentlemen, and 1 went to bed extremely fatigued. 



" The dancing speculation fetched two thousand dollars ; and 

 with this capital and my wife's savings I was now able to 

 foresee a successful issue to my great ornithological work.'' 



The remainder of Audubon's residence at Bayou Sara was 

 taken up with preparations for his intended voyage to England, — 

 where he expected to find the fame given to all heroes so tardily - 

 in their own countries. 



H 2 



