164 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



"At length we got to the house, the door of which was 

 already opened, the sight of strangers being nothing uncommon 

 in our woods, even in the most remote parts. On entering I 

 was presented with a chair, while my conductor was shown the 

 way to the stable ; and on expressing a wish that I should be 

 permitted to remain in the house for some weeks, I was gratified 

 by receiving the sanction of the good woman to my proposal, 

 although her husband was then from home. As I immediately 

 fell talking about the nature of the country, and if birds were 

 numerous in the neighbourhood, Mrs. Irish, more au fait to 

 household affairs than ornithology, sent for a nephew of her 

 husband, who soon made his appearance, and in whose favour 

 I became at once prepossessed. He conversed like an educated 

 person, saw that I was comfortably disposed of, and finally bade 

 me good-night, in such a tone as made me quite happy. 



"The storm had roUed away before the first beams of the 

 morning sun shone brightly on the wet foliage, displaying all 

 its richness and beauty. My ears were greeted by the notes, 

 always sweet and mellow, of the wood-thrush, and other 

 songsters. Before I had gone many steps the woods echoed to 

 the report of my gun, and I picked from among the leaves a 

 lovely bird long sought for, but till then sought for in vain. 

 I needed no more, and standing stiU for a while, I was soon 

 convinced that the Great Pine Swamp harboured many other 

 objects interesting to me. The young man joined me, bearing 

 his rifle, and offered to accompany me through the woods, all of 

 which he well knew. But I was anxious to transfer to paper 

 the form and beauty of the little bird I had in my hand ; and 

 requesting him to break a twig of blooming laurel, we returned 

 to the house, speaking of nothing else than the picturesque 

 beauty of the country around. 



" A few days passed, during which I became acquainted with 

 my hostess and her sweet children, and made occasional rambles, 

 but spent the greater portion of my time in drawing. One 

 morning, as I stood near the window of my room, I remarked a 

 tall and powerful man alight from his horse, loose the girth of 

 his saddle, raise the latter with one hand, pass the bridle over 

 the head of the animal with the other, and move towards the 

 house, while the horse betook himself to the little brook to 



