24 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST, 
But the most delighting triumph of all to Will 
was, that he could now claim his blue-eyed love, 
Mattie, as his own. In defiance of opposition, 
he took her for his bride. Years of unalloyed 
happiness were the reward of his trials and his 
toils, Care, sorrow, endurance were forgotten, 
even ambition slumbered, while he basked in 
the contest of his new-found joy. 
But changes awaited him. The noble contest 
for freedom and independence arose, and then 
all that was elevated and unselfish in his nature 
awoke. Wealth, ease, were relinquished with 
the ready consent of Mattie, joyful if her beloved, 
remained at her side. Will’s services in his 
country’s cause were unremitting and effectual. 
His sincerity was proved by the sacrifice of his 
entire fortune; for the conclusion of hostilities 
saw him a beggar, the result of his hardly 
earned possessions flown! Energy and enter- 
prise he knew must open a fresh path of pro- 
gress for him. The glorious lands beyond the 
Alleghanies offered the best resource; and 
thither he resolved, if Mattie would accompany 
him, to repair. He met with no remonstrancu 
from his sweet wife. Her whitening cheek alone 
told the one pang of consent. 
The journey was long and arduous, but the 
travellers found ompensation in the stimulus 
of novelty, as weli as in the charms of the lovely 
