JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 138 
may it please God that I never forget it, 
when for the first time I entered Mr. 
Bakewell’s dwelling. It happened that 
he was absent from home, and I was 
shown into a parlour where only one 
young lady was snugly seated at her 
work by the fire. She rose on my en- 
trance, offered me a seat, assured me of 
‘the gratification her father would feel 
on his return, which, she added, would 
be in a few moments, as she would des- 
patch a servant for him. Other ruddy 
cheeks and bright eyes made their trans- 
jent appearance, but, like spirits gay, 
soon vanished from my sight; and there 
Isat, my gaze riveted, as it were, on the 
young girl before me, who, half work- 
ing, half talking, essayed to make the 
time pleasant to me. Oh! may God 
bless her! It was she, my dear sons, 
who afterwards became my beloved 
wife, and your mother. Mr. Bakewell 
soon made his appearance, and received 
me with the manner and hospitality of 
