138 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



receive the negro back, and purchase his family for him, and 

 they should have one cabin. He did so. 



So the evenings came and went at the beech-woods. 



Little could that true-hearted family have dreamed of 

 what awaited them in the near future. 



This was a time for reflection — under the trees. 



" You have done a great work, father," said Victor. 



" How can I make it known to the world? How can I 

 let the world see what I have done? I must go to London. 

 London is the world." 



" I will work for you in Louisville or anywhere while 

 you are gone, if I can best help you in that way. You may 

 have the money I earn." 



" You have your mother's heart. Oh, it is worth a 

 world to feel a heart like yours beating true to mine. I am 

 happy in my poverty with such a son as you. 



" My son, I sometimes think of the words of the old 

 Knitter at Nantes, who said that, on account of my dili- 

 gence, I would stand before kings. If I could secure the 

 signature of George IV to my drawings, what a man I would 

 be! The world would see in my pictures what America is; 

 the feet of an army of pioneers would follow me. Yes, I 

 must go to England. I was led to my destiny by suggestion, 

 and suggestion is as a whisper from God." 



The two prepared to return to Louisville together in 

 October. They reached Green River on foot, when a new 



