122 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
of my worldly mission then came over 
my mind, and having thanked the Crea- 
tor of all for his never-failing mercy, I 
closed my eyes, and was passing away 
into the world of dreaming existence, 
when suddenly there burst on my soul the 
serenade of the Rosebreasted bird, so rich, 
so mellow, so loud in the stillness of the 
night, that sleep fled from my eyelids. 
Never did I enjoy music more: it 
thrilled through my heart, and sur- 
rounded me with an atmosphere of bliss. 
One might easily have imagined that 
even the Owl, charmed by such delight- 
ful music, remained reverently silent. 
Long after the sounds ceased did I enjoy 
them, and when all had again become 
still, I stretched out my wearied limbs, 
and gave myself up to the luxury of re- 
pose.’? 
Probably most of the seventy-five or 
eighty copies of ‘‘Birds’’ which were 
taken by subscribers in this country are 
still extant, held by the great libraries, 
. 
