the travellers had not arrived three weeks earlier ; for," said he, "it was our wedding-day. My father gave us a good house-warming, and you might have fared better; but if you can eat bacon, with eggs and a broiled chicken, you shall have that. I have no whisky; but my father has some excellent cider. I'll go for a keg of it-it's only three miles, so I'll be back before Eliza has cooked your supper." In a minute, through the pouring of the rain, which fell in torrents, the galloping of his horse was heard. Meantime the negroes ground some coffee, and bread was baked by the fair young wife. The cloth was set, and all arranged, when the clattering of hoofs told the husband's return. He entered, bearing a two-gallon keg of cider. His eyes beamed with benevolent pleasure at the adventure, while, seated by the fire, he filled a bowl with the sparkling juice. Supper over, part of the bedding was arranged for the guests. Sweetly they slept till the return of morning, when, after a hearty breakfast, they pursued their way, now with a brighter atmosphere and more buoyant hopes. The young woodsman headed the party on horseback, till beyond the difficulties of the road, when, after a friendly farewell, he returned to his dear Eliza and his pleasant home.

CHAPTER VI.

DURING April, 1824, Audubon visited Philadelphia, with the view of continuing his researches eastward along the coast.

Up to this time, though so diligent a student, he appears to have entertained no definite idea of any beneficial or advantageous result of his efforts. Never, indeed, did he dare to indulge the hope of becoming in any degree useful to his kind, much less did he dream of the rare success which should one day signalise his name. Yet, to this end did the irresistible impulse of his genius unconsciously incite him. Led on by the pure attraction of his love, as the disciple of Science, heroically and patiently he followed on, until at length her best rewards were gratefully bestowed.

On visiting Philadelphia, he had not a friend in the city, with the exception of Dr. Mease, whom he had known in his youthful days. By him, Audubon was introduced to the illustrious naturalist, Charles Lucien Bonaparte; and, through that medium, to the Natural History Society of Philadelphia. Lucien Bonaparte, he seems ever to have affectionately regarded as his earliest patron. Through him he first conceived the idea of his great work, and was incited to arrange his drawings, already classified into three distinct departments, in a

form suitable for publication. The suggestion was long a mingled source of delight and torment to Audubon. Sometimes happily absorbed in the most pleasing dreams, he fancied his work already multiplying under the hands of the engraver. Sometimes he speculated as to the possibility of his visiting Europe again, to ensure that end. At another glancing over the catalogue of his collection, all the difficulty of the magnificent scheme presented itself. Only the more impossible it seemed from the grandeur of the design, and, from the intensity of his desire to accomplish it. Then gloomy and depressed, he asked himself how could he, unknown and unassisted, hope to accomplish it? This was the critical moment of his career. As yet, his

partial achievements, though full of promise, met with but little of the patronage so abundantly awarded to more matured success, which, itself a sufficient stimulus, needs not the encouragement. The temptation was, should he abandon his pursuits, so long cherished, so dearly prized? That he felt to be impossible. To follow them at any rate were preferable, and thus renewed, in spirit, with fresh resolve, alternations of feeling no longer tormented him. Dividing his collection into separate parcels of five plates, he improved the whole carefully as much as was in his power. He then determined to retire further from the haunts of men, while nothing that his labour, time, or means could command, should be left undone, to ensure the realization of his plan. Wisely he toiled, in solitude, and self sustained. He continued to explore the forests, lakes, and prairies, in order to enrich his

collections, even penetrating to the Great Pine Swamp. In reaching it, he was rattled by his conductor down a steep declivity, edged on the one hand by perpendicular rocks; on the other, by a noisy stream, which seemed to threaten the approach of strangers. The thick growth of pines and laurels rendered the Swamp one mass of darkness. But, with his gun and note-book, Audubon struggled through its mazes, now lingering to enrich his portfolio, while wild turkeys, pheasants and grouse hovered about his feet, now beguiling his toil by listening to the poetry of Burns, read aloud by his companion while he polished some sketch in hand.

On one occasion, during his wanderings, when Audubon's ingenuity was put to the test, his talents as an artist stood him in good stead. While on the shores of Upper Canada, his money was stolen from him by an adventurer, with all the adroitness of a London pickpocket. To continue his journey without an increase to his few remaining dollars would have been impossible; so, putting his portfolio under his arm, and a few good credentials in his pocket, on reaching Meadville, he perambulated the principal streets, in the hope that a little pardonable vanity in his species, would favor his design, and induce many a one to sit for his portrait. Looking to the right and the left, he seemed examining the different physiognomies, with the critical gaze of a painter, till at length, meeting with what appeared a likely subject, attitudinizing in a doorway, he begged to be allowed to sit down, as he was much fatigued. Receiving an

assent, he very cunningly remained perfectly quiet, with his portfolio in a prominent position, till at length, the dandy asked "what was in that portfolio? On exhibiting its contents, he was complimented by the young Hollander, his companion, on the execution of his drawings of birds and flowers, when Audubon, showing him a very agreeable sketch of a friend, asked if he would like such a one of himself?

The Hollander not only assented, but promised to procure him other sitters, if his own portrait were satisfactory. As it proved perfectly so, the artist's room was soon filled with the aristocracy of the place. After a few days sojourn, the itinerant portrait painter, attired in his gray coat, his long hair flowing loosely over his shoulders, was enabled, with a light heart and a well replenished purse, to pursue his journey. After a lapse of eighteen months, spent in varied adventure, Audubon returned to Louisiana, where his family then were. Again he diligently applied himself to his vocation, and investigated now every nook of the vast extent of woodland around that fertile and beautiful State. In this, his favorite resting place, Audubon loved to loiter. Here, magnificent abundance in verdure, fruits and flowers, tells the richness of the soil. Huge cypresses interlace their broad tops, till no sunbeam can penetrate their shade; in the swamps of matted grass and lichens, turtle-doves coo in hundreds on the branches of trees-alligators plunge into the pools, and the scream of the Heron, and hoarse cry of the Anhinga, contrast with the soft melodious. love notes of a thousand forest warblers.