. Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern. far enthusiasm—for by no other name can I call myperseverance — may enable the preserver of nature to surmount the most dis-heartening difficulties. I left the village of Henderson, in Kentucky, situatedon the banks of the Ohio, where I resided for several years, to proceed toPhiladelphia on business. I looked to my drawings before my departure,placed them carefully in a wooden box, and gave them in charge of a rela-tive, with injunctions to see that no injury should happen to them. Myabsence was of several months; and when I return
. Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern. far enthusiasm—for by no other name can I call myperseverance — may enable the preserver of nature to surmount the most dis-heartening difficulties. I left the village of Henderson, in Kentucky, situatedon the banks of the Ohio, where I resided for several years, to proceed toPhiladelphia on business. I looked to my drawings before my departure,placed them carefully in a wooden box, and gave them in charge of a rela-tive, with injunctions to see that no injury should happen to them. Myabsence was of several months; and when I returned, after having enjoyedthe pleasures of home for a few days, I inquired after my box, and what Iwas pleased to call my treasure. The box was produced and opened; but,reader, feel for me,—a pair of Norway rats had taken possession of thewhole, and reared a young family among the gnawed bits of paper, which,but a month previous, represented nearly a thousand inhabitants of air! Theburning heat which instantly rushed through my brain was too great to be. JOHN JAMES AUDUBON ncy endured without affecting my whole nervous system. I slept not for severalnights, and the days passed like days of oblivion; — until, the animal powersbeing recalled into action through the strength of my constitution, I took upmy gun, my note-book, and my pencils, and went forth to the woods asgayly as if nothing had happened. I felt pleased that I might now makebetter drawings than before; and ere a period not exceeding three years hadelapsed, my portfolio was again In 1826 he sailed for Europe to exhibit his newly collected treas-ures to foreign ornithologists. He succeeded in obtaining pecuniaryaid in publishing the work, and plates were made in England. Thebook was published in New York in four volumes (elephant folio) in1830-39. The birds are life-size. The American OrnithologicalBiography, which is the text for the plates, was published in Edin-burgh, 1831-39, in five octavo volumes.
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