42 AUDUBON 



1774 was sold to Admiral Audubon, who in the year 

 following built an addition, also of rubble-stone. This 

 addition is lower than the main house, which consists of 

 two full stories and an attic with dormer windows, where, 

 it is said, Audubon kept his collections. The same Frank- 

 lin stove is in the parlor which stood there giving out its 

 warmth and cheer when the young man came in from the 

 hunting and skating expeditions on which he loved to dwell. 

 The dense woods which once covered the ground are 

 largely cut down, but sufficient forest growth remains to 

 give the needed shade and beauty ; the hemlocks in par- 

 ticular are noticeable, so large and of such perfect form. 



Going down a foot-path to Perkiomen Creek, a few 

 steps lead to the old mill which gave the place its name. 

 Built of stone and shaded by cottonwood trees, the stream 

 rushing past as in days long gone, the mill-wheel still re- 

 volves, though little work is done there now. 



When I saw Mill Grove 1 the spring flowers were abun- 

 dant; the soft, pale blossom of the May-apple (Podophyl- 

 lum peltatum) held its head above the blue of many violets, 

 the fingers of the potentilla with their yellow stars crept 

 in and out among the tangled grass and early under- 

 growth; the trilliums, both red and white, were in pro- 

 fusion ; in the shade the wood anemones, with their shell 

 pink cups grew everywhere, while in damp spots by the 

 brook yet remained a few adder's-tongues, and under the 

 hemlocks in the clefts of the rocks the delicate foliage of the 

 Dutchmen's breeches {Dicentra cucullarid) with a few late 

 blossoms ; all these and many more which I do not now 

 recall, Audubon has pictured with the birds found in the 

 same regions, as his imperishable tribute to the home he 

 loved — Mill-Grove Farm on the Perkiomen Creek. 



Fatland Ford, to the south of Mill Grove, is a far larger 

 and grander mansion than that of the modest Quaker 

 Evans; as one approaches, the white columns of the 

 1 April 28, 1893. 



